RAISING A RACKET : Residents’ Complaints About Noise From LAX Taking Off in 1988

Noise complaints from residents near Los Angeles International Airport have increased dramatically in the past two months, but officials do not know whether a new hot line for complaints or the closure of a runway is responsible.

In March, the airport received 257 complaints, contrasted with 90 during the same month last year, LAX figures show. In February, the airport registered 266 complaints, contrasted with 63 during the same month in 1987, the figures show.

The hot line was installed in late January and the runway was closed in mid-February. Figures for January were about the same as in 1987: 104 complaints this year, 108 the year before.

Why the complaints have increased so much is somewhat of a puzzle, airport officials contend. “I don’t think we have a scientific analysis of what’s causing it,” said airport spokesman Lee Nichols.

Publicity Cited

Airport officials speculate, however, that the publicity the hot line received in the media is one reason for the increase.

Moreover, unseasonably warm weather in recent weeks may be another reason, they say. Complaints typically increase during the summer when people spend more time outside and leave doors and windows open.

Yet another reason, according to the officials, could be the closure of one of the airport’s four runways for reconstruction. Work on the crumbling runway, known as “24 Left,” began in mid-February amid predictions by airport officials that residents in El Segundo, Westchester and other communities near LAX might experience more noise as traffic was shifted to other runways.

In addition, runway 24 Left is one of the two “inside” runways that are near the terminal, resulting in greater use of the outside runways that are closer to populated areas. The two inside runways had been used mostly for takeoffs, when aircraft are loudest. Since the closure, which is expected to last into June, more flights have had to take off on the outer runways.

Reminder to Airlines

In a March 15 letter to the 80 or so airlines operating at LAX, the airport’s executive director, Clifton Moore, urged them to use “particular diligence” in avoiding so-called early turns on takeoff. Takeoffs at LAX generally are to the west, over the ocean, and pilots heading in other directions are supposed to avoid turning while still over land to reduce noise.

Moore said Thursday that the letter was reminder to airlines to abide by noise mitigation measures. He said he periodically sends out such letters to ensure pilots “straighten up and fly right,” and last month’s was not related to the increase in complaints. He said he did not know what accounted for the increase.

Airport officials say they have no evidence that the runway closure has caused an increase in noise problems for people living near the airport. But Wesley Joe, El Segundo’s environmental officer who handles aircraft noise complaints from residents, said he has noticed an increase in early turns since the runway was closed.

“I would say that the frequency of complaints regarding early turns is the highest I have experienced since I have been here the last 2 1/2 years, and I would attribute it to the runway closure,” Joe said.

“Especially the last month,” Joe said. “I’ve gone out and sat near Imperial (Highway) for, say, 10 minutes or so; when I did that in the past, I didn’t notice any early turns. This time I notice an early turn almost every time.”

Salvatore Grammatico, president of the Coalition of Concerned Communities, an organization of about 12 homeowner groups that has tangled with airport officials over noise, said he and other members have noticed an increase in jet noise since work began on the runway.

One recent evening, Grammatico said, he was awakened by a jet taking off at 12:02 a.m. Sixteen minutes later, a second aircraft roared over his house just east of Marina del Rey. Even though he had a window open, Grammatico contends that the noise was excessive.

“Do I have the right to keep my window open or what?” Grammatico said. “If it comes down to that, I think this country is the pits.”

Airport spokeswoman Nancy Niles said that of the 257 complaints registered in March, most came from El Segundo, Westchester and Inglewood residents. Sixty dealt with early turns, she said.

People can call 64-NOISE to register complaints or ask questions.