Aircraft Cap at Van Nuys Will Burden Area Economy

The Los Angeles City Council recently adopted an airport noise control ordinance that would limit and phase out certain business jets at Van Nuys Airport. Those affected are the so-called Stage 2 aircraft.

Under pressure to do something by its San Fernando Valley members, the City Council approved the ordinance setting the stage for unprecedented economic loss throughout the Valley.

Passage of the ordinance came without consent from the Federal Aviation Administration and without analysis by Los Angeles World Airports to determine what the impact of shifting noise to other facilities such as Burbank Airport will have on the residents who live nearby.

But it’s not farfetched to speculate that the phasing out of Stage 2 aircraft at Van Nuys will exacerbate the problem at Burbank because planes likely will move there, where the same restrictions do not apply.

In addition, Los Angeles World Airports completed two independent economic studies and each recommended against passage of the noise ordinance.

Van Nuys Airport is one of the largest employers in the Valley, contributing $1.2 billion to the local economy and regionally providing 10,000 workers with high-paying jobs.

A recent study by the Polaris Group, an economic forecaster, estimated that in the first year, the noise ordinance will cost the area economy nearly $400 million and the city an additional $5.8 million.

But the City Council dismissed these figures without providing its own economic study.

Absent the noise ordinance, Van Nuys Airport operators have made an effort to limit noise.

More than six years ago, they developed the “Fly Friendly” program, which has reduced noise by 28% from forecasts while airport operations have increased significantly.

The Fly Friendly program has a 98% success rate, although it was anticipated it would have only a 50% success rate.

Van Nuys Airport has a noise contour of less than 1% of that of Los Angeles International Airport, where there are no noise restrictions.

The noise contour at Van Nuys is decreasing rather than increasing because of the Fly Friendly program and the newer aircraft that are quieter.

Annually, 300,000 people visit the airport during the Van Nuys air show, making it one of the most popular events of its kind. This figure suggests that the people of Los Angeles do not negatively perceive Van Nuys Airport.

We believe that politicians have listened to a few NIMBY complainers instead of the majority, which thinks that Van Nuys Airport is an important asset to the city of Los Angeles.

Yet with all the positive and significant benefits that the airport provides to the community, the City Council thinks otherwise.

We hope that the mayor will review the noise ordinance carefully and recognize the economic harm it will cause the community and taxpayers of Los Angeles.

Furthermore, we encourage the city to conduct its own study on the economic consequences of the noise regulation and to obtain a separate opinion on the legality of the ordinance.

In fact, the city attorney conceded that these kinds of restrictions could seriously injure certain operators at the airport and expose the city to monetary damages. Additionally, the city may have to defend suits alleging restraint of trade and breach of contract of lease.

Airport business people believe that this bad ordinance is not legal and will engage the city in costly litigation.