Airport Noise

I wonder how many readers are aware that we have a 24-hour airport in Burbank. There has been little said about the night noise that routinely awakens those of us who live near the airport. This night noise is created by “running up” the engines of planes on the runway, either for maintenance or prior to a late-night takeoff.

I know I’m not the only mother who has had to console a frightened child about these scary sounds that awaken us late at night. Many more homes are being disturbed by this relentless, repetitive nighttime noise.

We live about 1 1/2 miles from the airport but we are still awakened by this night noise, and the commuter jets that take off at various altitudes and hours.

I have done some homework on the “run-up enclosures” that many airports have installed to protect the environment. There are three kinds available. They cost in the neighborhood of a million dollars, and would considerably reduce this offensive noise.

Please consider how much was spent on airport public relations last year, the price of the lawyers, the noise studies, etc. Clearly this money could be better spent on addressing the needs of the community and the environment.

Noise needs to be a priority environmental concern of Burbank. For any noise study to be considered truthful, the study must accurately measure the 24-hour activity of Burbank Airport. A noise study cannot be considered accurate if it doesn’t measure all airport noise--including unscheduled flights and nighttime activity.

JAYNE MCKAY, Burbank