Airport Foes Chalk Up Quiet Gains : But recommendations on noise may not take wing without approval by myriad agencies

The noise-weary public in the San Fernando Valley and in the region in general can take comfort in the fact that the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners has heard their appeals. The question now is whether its recommendations will fly.

First, the Los Angeles Board of Commissioners approved a recommendation Tuesday to prohibit more of the noisiest type of private jets from using Van Nuys Airport. But please hold your applause. It’s true that City Council approval would be the next step in the process, and Mayor Richard Riordan has indicated that he would look favorably on reasonable efforts to reduce noise, but a further step may be required.

Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners President Theodore Stein is right when he says that the city can’t simply evict those noisy Stage 2 aircraft from Van Nuys. The question of whether Federal Aviation Administration approval is also required, and whether that approval would be forthcoming, must also be considered.

Federal legislation enacted in 1990, for example, prohibits aircraft operators nationwide from the imposition of new restrictions on the operation of commercial aircraft without prior FAA approval. Overall federal policy also states that artificial restrictions on airport capacity are not in the public interest, so there may very well be conflicting concerns here.

The board has also moved on two other noise-related recommendations: requesting that the FAA establish a 1,000-foot minimum altitude for helicopters in the entire Los Angeles area, or at least establish one such altitude minimum for helicopters flying along the Ventura Freeway. Right now, FAA flight rules do permit helicopters to dip below that level if the pilot feels it is safe to do so. That’s also because helicopters, in an emergency, are far more capable of sudden and safe landings from low altitudes than fixed-wing aircraft. Again, however, it is an iffy proposition, since a compelling public need must be established.

The FAA has already denied an overly broad proposal by Homeowners of Encino to set a mandatory minimum altitude for helicopters flying over populated areas. The Los Angeles-area proposal may also be considered extreme. And even those who predominantly start off along the Ventura Freeway route might have something to say about a minimum altitude. That includes news media, city services and business flights.

The airport commissioners may have come no closer to a workable plan than raising their colors on behalf of frustrated airport neighbors.