Patrick Carreno Lands Permanent Aviation Director Position at Dallas Love Field
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Dallas Love Field has a new director of aviation, and he says he’s committed to addressing the noise complaints that have plagued surrounding neighborhoods for months.
Patrick Carreno previously served Love Field as assistant director of operations. He’s led the city-owned airport in an interim capacity since Mark Duebner retired in November.
“Really, what’s exciting here is we’ve got an amazing team,” Carreno told CandysDirt.com. “The airport has a lot going on. It’s got some challenges, and it’s got some opportunities. It’s a big economic driver, a big part of the community.”
The new director said in a public statement that he’s committed to “continuing the advancement of the department’s key priorities” — one of which is working with community stakeholders to reduce noise around the airport.
Dallas Love Field Noise Stakeholder Group
Dallas Love Field has experienced significant passenger growth over the past year, so it’s important to maintain good relationships with the community and offer a pleasant customer experience, Carreno said. That could mean anything from better utilizing terminal space to making sure there’s enough parking and access to the airport.
It also, no doubt, means listening to residents’ concerns about noise pollution.
“We’ve worked for the last year with a noise stakeholder group,” Carreno said. “They’ve carved out a lot of recommendations that we’re supportive of. We’re looking forward to continuing that partnership to improve the noise program.”
Residents in the stakeholder group were told at a mid-July meeting of Love Field’s Environmental Advisory Committee that the Federal Aviation Administration oversees flight activity and therefore the Love Field administrators can’t do much about noise or flight patterns. Undeterred, they’re working with the aviation staff to prepare a presentation with at least 14 recommendations to take to the Dallas City Council in September.
“We have to be proactive and listen,” Carreno said. “There are things that are in our control. What’s really good about the stakeholder group is it’s a diverse group and I think we all agree that when we update this program, it’s an ongoing process. I think that’s what we have to continue to do, to show up as an airport and show them that we’re listening. We’re telling them what we need and they’re telling us what they need.”
Neighbors have suggested balancing the number of departures and arrivals between the Lemmon Avenue and Denton Drive runways, saying the noise appears to be concentrated on the Lemmon Avenue side.
“Historically we have seen that 50-50 balance from a commercial aspect,” Carreno said. “It’s a lot simpler and safer from an airline perspective … Where it gets harder is, on the Lemmon side, that’s where the bulk population of our general aviation traffic is, so the private jets are over there. Noise is very important, but safety is No. 1. A lot of times if they’re landing on that runway, then they don’t have to cross another runway. If you land on the Denton side and you have to taxi back, you’re then crossing an active runway that’s very busy. It’s not the safest.”
Carreno Addresses Noise Pollution
“Use and lease agreements” with the airlines that operate out of Love Field expire in 2028, Carreno said, providing an opportunity to again address the noise issue directly with the airlines.
“There are procedural things that we can work with the FAA on to help make improvements,” he said. “It’s voluntary but we can build the voluntary noise program restrictions into the new lease agreements.”
Proactive measures on the horizon include potentially opening a noise office within the environmental division to monitor noise violations. High-level procedural changes also have been suggested, Carreno said. Those will be included in the September council presentation.
“There are some extra studies we can take on, exploring sound insulation programs and sound barriers,” he said. “We can encourage less use of reverse-thrust type of things in operating procedures, depending on the weather and whether that’s safe or not.”
Carreno’s Qualifications
According to a press release issued by Dallas Love Field, Carreno will oversee Dallas Love Field, Dallas Executive Airport, and Dallas Vertiport.
Under his leadership as interim director, Love Field renewed its Level 3 Airport Carbon Accreditation, “meeting stringent carbon management strategies and engaging its partners in carbon footprint measurements.”
Carreno also assisted in brokering a deal with Dr. T.O. Souryal, the former Dallas Mavericks team doctor who is harnessing wind and converting it to energy, testing his JetWind Power Corporation technology at Love Field.
Dallas Love Field joined the Hidden Disabilities Program in March, which provides lanyards to those who need assistance, additional time, or additional space when navigating the busy airport. Love Field is the first airport in North Texas and the third in the state to initiate the program.
“The combination of these initiatives drives the airport’s safety, sustainability, and inclusivity efforts to position the department at the top of the aviation industry,” according to the city press release announcing Carreno’s new position.
Carreno told CandysDirt.com the Aviation Department is hiring and welcomes applicants to join the team.
“Dallas is growing,” he said. “We’re part of that. We’re an economic engine. We want to work with the community and our stakeholders as we grow that economic engine. I think that’s very important to our future success.”
