Quieter Skies Forecast With Airline’s Exit From Burbank
Burbank Airport will be quieter than it has been in eight years because of the departure Monday of Republic Airlines, which operated the largest number of noisy flights, airport officials said.
They said that, even with the normal increase in air traffic during the summer, noise will not reach the same level as when Republic operated there because only newer, quieter jets will be allowed for replacement flights.
“The bottom line now is that Republic is out, and anything that comes in will have to be quieter,” said Richard Vacar, Burbank Airport noise specialist. “People who live in the area will notice a difference. Republic’s departure has taken away a significant part of the noise.”
Route Reorganization
Republic announced in March that it would quit flying out of Burbank, Ontario and Fresno airports Monday as part of a reorganization of its routes. Republic operated nine flights a day in and out of Burbank Airport using DC-9 jetliners, which are noisier than newer aircraft now being used by other airlines at the airport. The airline flew to Las Vegas and Phoenix from Burbank.
Pacific Southwest Airlines won approval Monday from the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority to add two flights to Las Vegas by April 17 to fill the void left by Republic. But Vacar said PSA aircraft, which are the newer MD-80 and BAe 146 models, are quieter than Republic’s.
Airport regulations require that airlines phase out noisy jetliners over the next four years, and any new aircraft must meet federal noise standards. However, the airport authority is expected to act within a month on a recommendation that would push that date up to January, 1986.
Noise Measurement
The airport measures its noise impact by the number of acres of residential and other properties such as schools in the vicinity that are incompatible with excessive aircraft noise. Vacar estimated that noise impact had been reduced to about 193 acres from almost 400 since the three cities bought the airport form the Lockheed Corp. in 1978.
The net impact of the Republic departure and PSA flight increases represent a reduction to about 163 acres, Vacar said.
“This is the lowest it’s ever been since the authority bought the airport,” he said.
Taxiway Extension
Vacar said noise will likely increase during the summer, when airlines add flights to accommodate seasonal travel.
In another move, the airport authority approved the construction of a taxiway extension for general aviation aircraft. Aircraft housed on the west side have no direct route to take-off points on the north-south runway, so they must cross through the active runway to reach a taxiway on the other side.
The extension will allow private and business aircraft to travel to the runway along a separate taxiway on the west side.
