ST. CLOUD, Fla. – It's not finances, or daily stresses keeping residents in St. Cloud awake at night -- it's airplanes.
One St. Cloud mom said flight patterns have changed in the past few weeks and she's not happy about it.
"It's coming in at 2 in the morning," said Traci Isaacs, who's lived in the neighborhood since 2010. "The house shakes, you wake up."
Isaacs lives 4 1/2 miles south of Orlando International Airport. Another resident in Isaacs' neighborhood said he's noticed the change, too.
"They fly so low you can see the passengers sitting in there," he said. Isaacs' neighbor has lived in the neighborhood since 1996.
Both said that the flight pattern seemed to change a couple weeks ago, but the Federal Aviation Administration disagrees.
In a written statement, the FAA says:
"Flight paths over the area have not changed. Most aircraft overflying the area are arriving at the airport, and they are at altitudes between 1,400 and 1,600 feet on approach to the runways. Departing flights would fly over the area only if severe weather prevents departures to the north.
"More flights are over the area because number of flights at OIA has increased about 9 percent recently. Also, approximately 40 percent of arrivals land to the north, up from 20 percent a year or two ago because we are requiring aircraft to land into the wind rather than with a tail wind. This improves safety by reducing missed approaches and helps pilots make more stable approaches.
"Aircraft are operating more efficiently and gliding into the runways using less power. As a result, aircraft don't descend as quickly and are less tolerant to landing with a tail wind."
Orlando International Airport officials said they have fielded complaints from residents in Belle Isle and Conway. Now, it's St. Cloud residents hoping to voice their opinions.
"Something's definitely changed," Isaacs said, looking up toward the sky. "They're expanding OIA? This can't be happening."
Earlier in the week, OIA announced plans to expand the southern terminal, adding between 16 and 24 gates, among other things.
Isaacs worries those additions could result in even more traffic. Her neighbor plans to take new noise issues up with St. Cloud officials.
"If they haven't heard about it already, they will," he said.
To submit a complaint, call 407-825-2003.