Despite soldiers toting guns across the city, it was good to know that some television channels were upbeat with the airport opening. ModerNine was the first to air special coverage, which started with a farewell at Don Muang and live photos from Suvarnabhumi. Once again, iTV deserves praise for its more extensive coverage and unbiased approach.

Our insider in MCOT, which operates ModerNine, said that it was because Airports of Thailand, which operates Suvarnabhumi Airport, is one of the company's clients, and under the advertising contract, ModerNine is obliged to "overlook" any negative news about the airport.

Whatever! Without their coverage, most people must have been oblivious to the change against the backdrop of the coup. The scenes of Suvarnabhumi completely lit up on the night of September 27 indicate that we are heading for something grander.

Of course, not all are elated, particularly residents living near the airport, and in particular those with homes adjacent to the runways where every five minutes a jetliner lands or takes off.

As reported by The Nation yesterday, Wanida Sanwanitchpattana was one of the unhappy folks. Indeed, the photo taken of her in front of her house with a huge plane overhead looks startling, and for aircraft spotters, quite interesting. For Wanida the peace she has enjoyed for so long has disappeared forever.

It was touching to read her message to Suvarnabhumi director Somchai Sawasdeepon. Somchai was invited to stay at her house for free, with breakfast thrown in, to experience what she must now endure. He declined the invitation.

Wanida had salt rubbed into her wounds if she saw an interview on television on Wednesday night. The captain who was to fly Thai Airways International's last flight from Don Muang to Shanghai gave a message to residents near Suvarnabhumi.

He said his house is near Don Muang. At first, he was sleepless because of the noise, but after 20 years, he could not sleep without the familiar roar of aircraft.

 "To residents near Suvarnabhumi, in the first stage you could be annoyed by the noise, but after a few days you will get used to it. Soon you will not be able to sleep without it," he said, in a voice that sang with pride at the opening of the sleek new complex.

I don't know when Wanida will get used to it, but I do know that there is nothing she can do about it. In a country where any sense of community living is weak, the opinions of residents living near a huge construction project count for little.

achara_d@nationgroup.com