New Airport Manager Announces Changes

Operational and administrative changes are underway at Van Nuys Airport in an effort to resolve issues and complaints that have beleaguered the busy general aviation field for years.

Beginning next week, the 79-member airport staff will be reorganized, and eight new members will be added to increase efficiency, address noise and business policies and improve operational procedures, said Jens O. Rivera, newly appointed airport manager.

In two separate actions Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Board of Airport Commissioners approved leasing additional administrative and operational space for the airport and separate offices to implement a soundproofing program to reduce the impact of aircraft noise on neighbors.

The action marks the launch of Rivera’s mission to resolve long-standing problems at the 725-acre facility, which critics have called the forgotten stepchild of Los Angeles World Airports, which owns and operates the field.

Rivera, former acting manager and assistant manager at Ontario International Airport, assumed the position at Van Nuys on March 1. “Part of my charge was to look at all the operations at Van Nuys--the business, the administration and the airfield operations--to look at what’s needed and what we can do to improve it.”

Immediate actions include reinstatement of a so-called Part 150 committee to study solutions to noise problems, a 24-hour operational staff to monitor noise and curfew violators, and development and management of business policies, including leaseholds of airport property, Rivera said.

“I need to get our internal operations in order so that we can function effectively in our external operations,” he said. “There’s quite a bit of work that needs to be done. . . . We need to pay a lot more attention to the issues.”