Judge Backs Van Nuys Airport Curbs on Noisy Jets

A federal judge ruled Monday that the city of Los Angeles can place limits on noisy charter and commercial jets at Van Nuys Airport in response to complaints from neighbors.

Charter companies had challenged a city ordinance restricting access to the nation’s busiest general aviation airport by loud Stage 2 jets, saying it was unfair and unconstitutional.

But the ruling by U.S. District Judge Stephen Wilson upheld the ordinance, which was passed in November in response to long-standing complaints from residents about excessive noise at the airport. Wilson, without elaborating, wrote that the ordinance is constitutional.

“It’s excellent news,” said Bret Lobner, a senior counsel with the Los Angeles city attorney’s office, who handled the case. “This has been 11 years coming.”

Jon Winthrop, president of the Air Group, one of five companies that filed the suit, had no comment.

Like other plaintiffs, Winthrop said he needed to study the decision before deciding whether to comment or file an appeal.

In the past, the companies have said the airport restriction was unfair because it determined which planes can be based there and for how long without regard to the number of times they fly or whether individual flights violate noise limits.

They argued that the older jets are still relied on heavily for corporate travel and that limiting their use could hurt business at the airport, which they say contributes $1.2 billion a year and at least 10,000 jobs to the San Fernando Valley economy.

The limits prevent all but about 50 of the older jets from being based at the airport after 2011.

Those 50 or so Stage 2 jets--most of which were built before 1985--are exempt and can stay there as long as their owners can keep them flying. The rules allow companies to replace the noisy jets with similar models through 2005, though those replacement jets have to be substituted with quieter aircraft after 2011.

Initially, the Los Angeles City Council imposed other anti-noise measures, including a nighttime departure curfew and a voluntary “‘fly friendly” program.

Angry neighbors said those restrictions didn’t work. Some have complained that even the restriction on Stage 2 aircraft won’t go far enough to reduce noise.

Lobner said that, like many California airports, Van Nuys exceeds state noise limits and operates under a variance issued by the state Department of Transportation. The latest three-year variance was issued in May 2000.

“We still believe the rule is a good compromise,” said Stacy Geere, a spokeswoman for the airport, one of four owned and operated by Los Angeles. “It balances the needs of the aviation business with the interests of community members.”