FAA Opposes Immediate Airport Night Noise Ban

The Federal Aviation Administration dealt a blow Thursday to those seeking an immediate nighttime noise curfew at Burbank Airport. The agency said that a comprehensive noise study must be completed before any such bans are possibly enacted.

The FAA’s opinion Thursday backed the airport officials and rejected the city of Burbank’s contention that Burbank Airport was exempt from a 1990 federal mandating such studies.

The city of Burbank wants to bar flights between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., as well as limit the number of flights. Officials with the airport, which is jointly owned by the cities of Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena, have maintained that a so-called Part 161 study must be completed first.

Reps. Howard Berman (D-Panorama City) and Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) called the FAA opinion disappointing, but said it would not be the last word on the issue.

“This opinion does not preclude the adoption of noise and access restrictions, including a mandatory curfew on nighttime flights, at some point in the future,” Berman said. “It means that the airport must conduct a study to justify any restrictions,” he said.

FAA officials said Thursday that the city of Burbank could still negotiate with the airlines and the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority to make mandatory the existing voluntary curfew on flights between 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.