Aviation Safety

Re: “Noise Abatement Causing Near Misses, Pilots Charge” (March 12):

Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport emphatically agrees efforts to address airport noise should not be allowed to compromise safety, and it is for that reason we have steadfastly refused to dictate flight procedures as part of our noise reduction program.

We have held fast to this position despite pressure from the Los Angeles City Council, Rep. Howard Berman (D-Panorama City) and homeowner groups demanding we impose runway choices on pilots. Our position is that determinations of safety belong in the cockpit. Some airlines at Burbank do use a power cutback for noise abatement on takeoff, but they do so at their own option, not at the dictate of Burbank Airport. Furthermore, the procedure was developed by the airlines in concert with the FAA.

Neither we nor the Air Transport Assn. are aware of any pilot complaints concerning noise-driven takeoff procedures peculiar to Burbank Airport, and the Airport Authority does not advocate any special flight procedure in the interest of noise abatement that a pilot would judge to be detrimental to safety.

Our success in noise abatement is due primarily to conversion to the newest, quietest jets, which now impact 95% fewer acres of residential land than in 1978, even though the number of flights has increased.

ROBERT W. GARCIN

President, Airport Commissioners

Burbank