Update: February 23, 2019 — Sherman Oaks & Encino for Quiet Skies

A status update was provided by LAWA’s Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) public meeting on February 21, 2019.

BOAC MEETING (Feb. 21) RECAP

Once again, on Thursday, Feb. 21st, Sherman Oaks & Encino for Quiet Skies and residents made the trek to LAX to learn if the Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) will support our request to invoke Section 175, based in part on documentation we presented at two previous meetings on January 17th and February 7th.

Thanks to all who turned out! An Encino resident spoke about the frequency of departures and their substantial increase during voluntary curfew hours. A Bel Air resident emphasized the high fire hazard dangers of low-flying aircraft over mountainous terrain with narrow roads during a disaster, and reiterated SOEQS research that we submitted at the last meeting, which indicates the NTSB has investigated over 4,500 aircraft crashes in mountain areas since 2000.

The Commissioners reported during the meeting that Los Angeles World Airport (LAWA) staff has been communicating with the FAA’s Western Regional office about the rationale for relocating aircraft over the Santa Monica Mountain area with its 2018 PPRRY waypoint. The FAA is aware there is a problem and has requested LAWA’s help in facilitating meetings with City Council members.

Secondly, they reported on the approval of Councilman Koretz’s motion by the City Council’s Trade, Travel & Tourism Committee that goes to full Council next week on February 21. If the City Council adopts the Motion, LAWA will send a letter to the FAA requesting they undertake the Section 175 process to address noise impacts at VNY consistent with the City Council request.

We thanked LAWA staff, BOAC members and the City Council for their responsiveness to our concerns on behalf of tens of thousands of residents in Sherman Oaks, Encino, and parts of Studio City and Bel-Air, and picked up on what Commissioner Jeffrey Daar said: they need to ask the FAA to revert back to 2.2. DME while the Section 175 process is being undertaken.

Chairman Sean O. Burton noted that he and one of the other BOAC members along with several City Council members will be meeting with the FAA in Washington D.C. in the near future, relative to VNY.