Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association

Van Nuys & Burbank Airports

Update

The residents of Sherman Oaks have been bombarded by aircraft noise since Van Nuys Airport (VNY) has been allowed to grow from a relatively quiet General Aviation Airport to a full-fledged Commercial Jet Charter Airport all with the blind eye of the previous Mayor and his Board of Airport Commissioners.



Currently the only restriction on Van Nuys Airport air traffic is on what are considered Stage 2 Jets. Stage 2 Jets are jet aircraft built before 1980 that make more jet noise than those considered Stage 3 aircraft built after 1980. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) designated such aircraft because of the amount of excessive noise they make.



Many airports around the world have restricted Stage 2 Aircraft, like Santa Monica and John Wayne Airports back in late 1980’s. The City of Los Angeles failed to do so, thus there are over 50 Stage 2 jets based at VNY and thousands that are considered “Itinerants” that fly in from other airports that are considered their home bases. Thus, VNY could have anywhere from a few to many dozen Stage 2 noisy jets flying in and out of VNY each day.



Many of these jets are the ones that are so loud that they shake your home and cause you to stop talking on the phone, carrying on a conversation or disrupt you leisure time.



There is a limited curfew established to restrict the “Take Off” of Stage 2 jets in place at the airport. Stage 2 jets can only fly between 7 am and 11 pm daily. And they can land at VNY any time without restriction.



All other Stage 3 Jets and aircraft, including helicopters can take off and land anytime they wish.



Many helicopters are also based at VNY and often fly out of the airport as early as 5:15am. Many of these noisy helicopters are “Media” helicopters flying low over our homes to show us that the traffic on the freeway is bad. As if we didn’t already know.



There is currently no “Master Plan” for VNY so it is allowed to grow and grow until one is implemented. The SOHA supports what is called the E-2 Alternative Master Plan proposal that would instate the limits established on a Master Plan proposal in 1995, but was never implemented by then Mayor Riordan’s administration at the Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC).



A new BOAC was appointed by Mayor Hahn and is at his beck and call. We believe that Mayor Hahn and his BOAC hold the keys to making the airport more resident friendly, AND THERE IS MUCH THEY CAN DO!



Here is a small list of items we have asked Mayor Hahn to implement via his BOAC for a vote before the City Council, and then signed into law by him.



REMOVAL OF ALL STAGE 2 JETS FROM VNY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, WE CANNOT WAIT UNTIL AFTER 2010 OR FOR A POSSIBLE PHASE OUT.



STOP ALL ITINERANT (non VNY Based aircraft) STAGE 2 JETS FROM USING VNY



CONSTRUCT A SIGNIFICANT NOISE TRACKING SYSTEM OUT 5 MILES FROM VNY AND ESTABLISH STRONG PENALTIES FOR VIOLATORS AS ARE IN PLACE AT JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT IN ORANGE COUNTY.



CURFEW HELICOPTERS TO BETWEEN 10PM AND 7AM ON WEEKDAYS (except emergency aircraft)



ADOPT THE E-2 ALTERNATIVE OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR VNY



END SIGHT SEEING FLIGHTS AT VNY



ESTABLISH A NEW ALL AIRCRAFT CURFEW ON WEEKENDS FROM 10PM TO 9AM



BASE LEASE ARRANGEMENTS FOR AIRCRAFT AT VNY ON HOW QUIET THEY OPERATE.





What can you do? Keep the pressure on the new Mayor and let him know that our Quality of Life here in the Valley is unacceptable with noisy jets and helicopters and if he wishes to avoid a Valley Succession he should help us stop the noise NOW!



Join the SHERMAN OAKS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION Airport Noise Committee Email List by sending an email to Wayne Williams at: mailto:wwclick@earthlink.net



Ask Wayne to keep you informed of what the Committee is up to.



You can call and complain about airport noise to the following phone numbers.



Van Nuys Airport Community Response Line (800) 560-0010



Burbank Airport Noise Response Line (800) 441-0409



Be aware that neither of these lines will not do anything concrete to end VNY or BUR noise, they are Public Relations sponges by the Cities to drain your energy and make you feel like you are doing something. They do not penalize or stop noise in any way, as there are no laws to fine or restrict noise violators on aircraft except those listed as Stage 2 curfews hours.



You are better off complaining to your local City Council Representatives and the Mayor’s Valley Office directly.



Mayor’s Office Contact:



Jennifer Stein / Valley Office

(818)756-8505

mailto:jstein@mayor.lacity.org



Councilperson Jack Weiss

(818) 756-8083

Attn: Ken Camp / Valley Deputy

mailto:kcamp@council.lacity.org



There are also other sources of information on the Internet that are worth checking out regarding Van Nuys Airport Noise.



An excellent web page called VanNoise.org that can inform you with more information than is listed here.



Finally, there is a pitiful organization called the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) that meets once a month, on the first Tuesday of each month, at least 10 times a year (except August and December) at 7pm till about 9pm.



The misnamed CAC should be called the "Lords of the Noise". It is an airport boaster club made up of Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA) and LA City political appointees with a few out numbered citizen members. The meetings and the committee have no real value as it can only “advise” the BOAC on its thoughts, and this often only backs the status quo. If you wish to attend one of these jokes of a meeting of “citizens,” you can do so at the following location.



James Monroe High School

Odins Hall

9229 Haskell Avenue

North Hills, CA 91343



This location is one block north of Nordhoff, and one and a half blocks west of the 405 Freeway. Take the 405 north to Nordhoff and turn left... at Haskell turn right. Then turn left into the parking lot about half a block north of Nordhoff. Park at the west end of the parking lot and enter the open gate located on the north side. Proceed through the open-air cafeteria area to Odens Hall. On your Thomas Guide it is map page 501, F-6.