Impact of flight curfews debated

The City Council on Friday discussed whether to oppose a planned curfew for flights at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, a restriction that could divert aircraft to busy Van Nuys Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.

The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority has proposed banning most takeoffs and landings between 10 p.m. and 6:59 a.m. to reduce aircraft noise in surrounding residential neighborhoods, including some in Los Angeles.

Councilman Tony Cardenas, who drafted the resolution, contends that the curfew would force aircraft to divert to airports that also have noise problems, including Van Nuys, already the busiest general aviation facility in the world.

Consultants estimate that a ban would shift 16 flight operations a day to Van Nuys, most of them private and corporate jets. That would more than double the number of late-night flights at that airport, which has nighttime noise restrictions for some corporate jets.

Council members postponed further discussion of the resolution until Tuesday.

-- Dan Weikel