Airport Traffic Noise Is a Cost of Safety : Irate Valley Residents Want Reduced Levels, but Conditions Make Proposals Unrealistic

The crowded air routes above the San Fernando Valley are a source of ire for residents who endure the noise associated with traffic from three airports, all in rather close proximity. There is Whiteman Airport, whose 317 daily flight operations are expected to more than double by the turn of the century; Van Nuys Airport, one of the busiest general aviation sites in the nation, and Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, a fast-growing operation with 576 flights per day.

Aggravation over noise and flight paths has led to lawsuits, among other things. Most of Burbank’s departures and virtually all of its large commercial flights, for example, take off in a southwesterly direction. That has led to a pitch for a so-called “fair share” takeoff plan that would direct more flights to the east, sparing the earlobes of southern neighbors. And folks who do not even live in the San Fernando Valley, such as those in West Hollywood, want to have “noise sensitive” neighborhoods declared, over which flights out of Van Nuys Airport would be restricted.

But the governing of the Valley’s crowded skies is rightly based more on safety requirements than noise conditions. Times reporter Hugo Martin’s recent story on airspace crowding offers another opportunity to drive that point home.

At Burbank, the “fair share” plan is grossly unrealistic. Although the location of the future Burbank terminal would allow large jets to resume eastward takeoffs on the airport’s east-west runway, safety factors would still restrict this, according to Sherry Avery, the Federal Aviation Administration’s manager of the Burbank Air Traffic Control Tower and Approach Control. Pilots will still prefer the main north-south runway because of its length, prevailing wind conditions and the weight of their aircraft.

The east-west runway is shorter and lacks a downward tilt that heavier aircraft need for a speed boost. The east route also leads to the Verdugo Hills, adding the need for higher cloud cover and greater visibility for takeoffs to the east.

Aircraft departing Burbank to the east most often have tail winds as well. The stronger the tail wind, the lighter a plane must be to make a safe takeoff. And winds come out of the east less than 5% of the time.

There are other complications as well, such as the fact that Burbank air traffic is routed to stay 1,000 feet above the Van Nuys traffic pattern, and Van Nuys traffic must stay relatively low to stay beneath Burbank’s landings. Because of the high terrain to the south, large Van Nuys aircraft must also make an immediate right or left turn after takeoff.

Knowing this won’t make those departures any less noisy, but perhaps you won’t take them quite so personally now.