Van Nuys Airport

Re “Knights’ Fall Caps Day of Thrills,” July 19.

While I appreciate that the Van Nuys air show is a tradition, there is absolutely no reason for the level of plane departure noise associated with the large jet craft leaving after the show Monday. They started early in the morning and continued for hours.

My house is not under the runway or even that close to the airport, but my windows were rattling and the noise was intolerable. The pilots took off right after each other, low, loud and some circled or banked back over the neighborhoods. I have never complained about airport noise before, but today was unacceptable.

I called the airport and several council people’s offices. Van Nuys Airport staff listened to my complaint. Laura Chick’s staff was understanding. Joel Wachs’ staff person was downright rude to me.

There are plenty of ways for the airport to alleviate this situation, since they are creating the problem by hosting the show. Do not allow early morning departures of these guest jet aircraft, such as bombers and fighters, that are so noisy. Start later after the Burbank flights have thinned out, space the departures as far apart as feasible and not back to back off the south runway. Insist that the pilots take measures to lessen the sound by steeper takeoffs, lower engine noise and no immediate banking or circling back over neighborhoods. They must try to be considerate of the neighbors.

If the air show cannot minimize the impact, then the exposition should not be allowed to continue at Van Nuys. Maybe it is time to move it out to a desert airport or stick with quieter, smaller craft at this location if the city is going to have any involvement.

DAVE MORLEY, Van Nuys

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Whether or not the federal government can actually do anything about excessive noise caused by media helicopters and older Stage 2 jets at Van Nuys Airport, it was responsive and conscientious of Congressman Brad Sherman to host a meeting where San Fernando Valley residents could voice their complaints to a member of the Federal Aviation Administration Southern California task force (“Residents Sound Off Over Noise at Airport,” July 11).

Immediately apparent upon entering the Reseda High School auditorium was the fact that younger homeowners were either too busy to attend, felt their presence wasn’t necessary or that complaining to the government was a waste of time. They don’t appear to realize that their already stressful lives are going to be a lot more so if Van Nuys continues to be a haven for air traffic that other airports have banned as too noisy.

Letting the FAA know we’re bothered by the present and concerned about the future may not eliminate the problem overnight, but if the opportunity to be heard is presented, those affected should put in an appearance. Later, even if current residents have learned to live with earsplitting aircraft departures, when potential home buyers say, “Oh, you’re under the airport? That’s gotten louder every year. Forget it!” it will be too late to complain.

JIM HOUGHTON, Encino