Part 150 steering committees to reconvene after a 3 year silence

This is a request to add agenda items the Part 150 meeting considering noise mitigations at Van Buys Airport. The committee is using 1991 data  in an attempt to solve 2000 problems.

STOP THE NOISE! COALITION
PO BOX 260205
ENCINO, CA 91426

April 20, 2000

Mr. Maurice Laham
Environmental Management 
Los Angeles World Airways (LAWA)
One World Way, PO Box 92216
Los Angeles, CA 90009-2216

RE: VAN NUYS AIRPORT (VNY) PART 150 AGENDA ITEMS

Meeting Date: April 24, 2000, 7 p.m. Location: Airtel Plaza, Van Nuys

 It is our understanding that the Part 150 Steering Committee will be reconvened, and hold a meeting on April 24, 2000, at the Airtel in Van Nuys. We are pleased that Los Angeles World Airways (LAWA) will again move forward with this federally funded Part 150 Study.

 During the past several years, noise problems have grown worse, as more helicopters and noisy Stage 2 and Stage 3 aircraft have joined the Van Nuys Airport (VNY) fleet. The Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) has done little to resolve noise problems, and has clearly proven to be ineffective. Instead of reducing the number of noisy jets and minimizing noise, the NCP recommended a weak "Fly Neighborly" policy that did not control the noise, nor account for the increasing number of jet and helicopter operations. The size of the 65 CNEL noise contour has increased significantly over the past several years, as has the number of impacted residents and dwellings.

 The April 24th Steering Committee meeting is a new opportunity for the Airport and the community to work together to address the noise problems. Please pass this letter along to Mr. Leland Wong, who we understand will chair the first meeting.

Please place the following items on the agenda for Committee action:

1. RESOLUTION OF THE 12,500 LB. WEIGHT LIMIT ON AIR TAXIS AND CHARTERS. We understand that the reason for the delay of several years in holding Steering Committee meetings was the need to analyze the 12,500 lb. air taxi and charter weight limit issue. This matter should be placed on the agenda, with a report of the findings of the City Attorney. The Airport Commission's Resolution No. 13369, dated October 2, 1982, clearly stated an operating policy, originally established in April 1969 and later reaffirmed:

"...Van Nuys Airport should continue to be dedicated to general aviation users, and not to enlarge upon, expand or further the rights of commercial aviation users, be they scheduled or unscheduled; and WHEREAS, unscheduled air taxi operations are defined as random, infrequent, on-call for hire operations, having no predetermined or set schedule, which utilize aircraft not exceeding 12,500 pounds maximum gross landing weight... 

WHEREAS, the addition of more commercial air carrier activity and the infusion of large commercial aircraft operations, be they scheduled or unscheduled, is not compatible with the Department's goal of providing a general aviation airport in the Southern California area...

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Airport Commissioners ...reaffirmed its policy restricting Van Nuys Airport to general aviation and unscheduled air taxi operations, and specifically prohibited the operation of other scheduled and unscheduled air carrier commercial flights to and from Van Nuys Airport except with the express consent of the Board."

Virtually all unscheduled air taxi and charter operations are conducted out of Van Nuys Airport in planes that far exceed the 12,500 pound gross landing weight. These operations have greatly exacerbated the noise problem at. The Part 150 Steering Committee should address the immediate enforcement of this long established policy.

2. THOROUGH REVIEW OF ALL NOISE MITIGATION AND ABATEMENT MEASURES.

During the past 10 years the character and scope of VNY has greatly changed. Before reaffirming the Noise Compatibility Program (NCP), the Steering Committee should examine all previously adopted, as well as possible new noise mitigation and abatement measures.

The following noise mitigation and abatement measures should be thoroughly examined before submitting the Part 150 Study to the FAA:

a. The VNY noise complaint system should be improved to provide greater feedback to operators, and link it to actual noise reduction measures. The function of the noise complaint system should be expanded to effectuate reductions in noise, and not merely be used for public relations purposes.

b. Teeth should be put in the "Fly Neighborly" program. After two violations, the operator should be fined $500 for the third noisy operation. The fourth citation fine should be $1,000, and the fifth, $2,000. Any
operator who receives a sixth citation letter should be banned from using the airport.

c. Maximum daytime noise limits should be established. A Noise Regulation with penalties is needed to control noisy jets during daytime hours. Noisy Stage 2 jets--exceeding 77 dBA should be phased out of Van Nuys Airport.

d. A nighttime curfew on ALL jet operations (except emergencies) should begin at 10 p.m.., and run until 8 a.m. the next morning.

e. There should be a helicopter curfew that precludes helicopters from using the airport between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., except for emergencies.

C. THE UNBRIDLED GROWTH OF JET AND HELICOPTER OPERATIONS, EVEN WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE NON-ADDITION RULE SHOULD BE CAREFULLY EXAMINED.

According to the LAWA exhibit, dated 4/07/2000, the following growth of operations has been projected:

These significant increases in both jet and helicopter operations are projected, even with the adoption of the non-addition rule. To keep the airport compatible with the surrounding residential community, it will be necessary for the Steering Committee to consider and review new noise mitigation and abatement measures not previously looked at. These measures may call for controls that were not "proposed" prior to ANCA and may not be grand fathered by the FAA. It may be necessary to conduct a Part 161 Study to address these measures.

We understand that the completion of a Part 150 Study is an essential pre-requisite to receiving federal funds for a Part 161 Study. Now is an ideal time to raise this issue before the Steering Committee.

4. APPOINTMENT OF VICE CHAIRS FOR THE COMMITTEE. We believe that the committee should act promptly to appoint one or more vice chairs to conduct meetings, in the event that the chairperson is not available. It is a good practice for both the chair and vice chairs to be democratically elected by committee members.

Thank you for placing these items before the Steering Committee. We would appreciate your distributing this letter to all Committee members.

Cordially yours, Gerald A. Silver President--Homeowners of Encino, Stop the Noise! Coalition

cc: Elected officials, homeowner associations 

Participating Organizations

Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Assn.
Benedict Canyon Assn.
Benedict Canyon Protection League,
Brentwood Community Federation,
Brentwood Glen Assoc.,
Cahuenga Pass Neiborhood Assn.,
Cahuenga Pass Property Owners Assn.
California Country Club Homes Assn.
Encino Property Owners Assn.
Federation Of Hillside And Canyon Associations
Hollywood Dell Civic Assn.
Hollywoodland Homeowners Assn.
Hollywood Knolls Community Club
Holmby Westwood Property Owners Assn.
Homeowners Of Encino
Lake Balboa Homeowners Assn.
Lookout Mountain Associates
Los Feliz Oaks
Homeowners Assn.
Mountain Gate Community Assn.
No. Hollywood Residents Assn.
Outpost Estates Homeowners Assn.
Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn.
Sierra Club-Angeles Chapter
Studio City Residents Assn.
Studio Village Homeowners Assn.
Valley Village Homeowners Assn.
West Van Nuys Homeowners Assn.
Woodland Hills Homeowners Org.

Van Nuys Airport page