Airport Noise Includes Ringing of Cash Registers
Gerald Silver and Myrna Silver say in their article “Chopper Nuisance Grows at Van Nuys Airport” (Feb. 5) that noise levels have grown at the airport.
It must be remembered that one of the things that has grown at Van Nuys Airport is a strong business base. Since the General Motors plant closed and the Hughes Aircraft Co. operation in Canoga Park moved to Tucson, Van Nuys Airport has become the largest employer in the San Fernando Valley.
Every operation puts money back into the tax base of the community. If it were not for the revenue acquired through fuel sales, labor costs, rent from leaseholders, parts and maintenance, state and city sales tax, local property taxes would skyrocket. Most of the fees are charged back to customers through the helicopter rates, leaving a small margin of profit for a lot of hard work.
Helicopter noise depresses home values? The state of the economy and earthquakes don’t have anything to do with it? The Silvers can’t read the 12-inch numbers on the helicopters? Could it be the helicopters are flying too high--how big should the numbers get? What is the “well documented adverse effect on wildlife” they mention? The Silvers say helicopters are not regulated, yet a myriad of regulations govern them.
The Jan. 14 helicopter accident mentioned by the Silvers is not a basis for further restrictions. We cannot punish an entire industry for the bad judgment of one individual. You wouldn’t restrict drivers from the freeways because one driver drives too fast and causes a fatal accident.
These helicopters save countless lives, report traffic conditions for commuters and bring the public news about local events and disasters.
DALE E. HOUSE
Woodland Hills
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