Van Nuys Air Expo

* Re “A Sign (Up) From Above,” June 26.

Once again, this year’s Van Nuys Aviation Expo has been an inconsiderate imposition on those of us who live around the airport. While we try to tolerate the expo itself, the unnecessary levels of noise we are subjected to on the days before and especially after are intolerable! Friday’s arrivals were noisy, but Monday’s departures of fighters and other ridiculously loud aircraft was more than we should have to bear. What will it take to stop these pilots from endangering and torturing residents?

In addition, the media do the airport’s bidding by incorrectly reporting the grossly inflated airport public relations claims of hundreds of thousands of people in attendance at the expo every year in an attempt to rationalize its existence. As anyone in the area can clearly see, the attendance is only in the tens of thousands at best. The expo is in no way a significant boost to the area’s economy. In fact, the cost to taxpayers is way out of proportion to any conceivable gain, especially when weighed against the imposition on those of us who live here.

If the expo cannot be a good neighbor and especially if it cannot pay its own way, then we should demand an end to the public subsidies of this annual event, which does not belong in a major urban area.

DAVID MORLEY

Van Nuys

* Once again, the Van Nuys air expo proved to be a big draw for San Fernando Valley residents. This family, free event has been a tradition for many years and continues to attract 300,000 people of all walks of life who just love airplanes. The military aircraft are impressive but the pilots are even more of a standout. The pilots stood by their jets and patiently talked about flying to young and old. The public then sees the human side of how special these pilots really are. The aerobatics were performed expertly by Patty Wagstaff and Sean D. Tucker and the crowd loved it. The huge turnout proves that the Valley supports the Van Nuys Airport and the air expo.

JAMES ACOSTA

Van Nuys