Fullerton : Council Allots $1,500 to Monitor Noisy Planes

The City Council has allocated $1,500 to buy sound-monitoring equipment that they hope will help educate residents and track down noisy and low-flying aircraft.

Purchase of the equipment was one of several actions taken by the council this week regarding the Fullerton Municipal Airport, which became a major issue in Tuesday’s election.

Airport officials plan to use the portable equipment to demonstrate what sounds are heard at different levels, City Manager William C. Winter said. They also will use the equipment in the homes of residents who have complained about persistent low-flying and noisy aircraft.

In response to fears of some residents that the city plans to expand the airport runway--thus allowing bigger airplanes to land at the general aviation airport--the council adopted a resolution limiting the length of the runway to 3,120 feet.

“It is not their intention to extend the runway,” Winter said.

The council also set fines for violators of airport regulations and authorized the hiring of a private firm to test the airport runway to ensure that the 12,500-pound weight limitation established in 1971 is adequate.