Update: November 8, 2019

 
Sherman Oaks & Encino for Quiet Skies make a 20-minute presentation to the Noise Task Force on November 6, 2019, outlining the issues and viable, immediate solutions.

Sherman Oaks & Encino for Quiet Skies make a 20-minute presentation to the Noise Task Force on November 6, 2019, outlining the issues and viable, immediate solutions.

TASK FORCE MEETING RECAP

Click here to read our Task Force presentation.

The Burbank Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom was again filled for the 3rd meeting of the Van Nuys-Burbank Airport Noise Task Force.

Sherman Oaks and Encino For Quiet Skies made a formal (20 minute) comprehensive presentation about the problem here in our communities and the broader issue of NextGen, which is the rerouting of lower, stacked, more impactful paths in communities across the United States. We advocate for a return to historical, dispersed, higher altitude, and less impactful pre-NextGen paths, and waiver of Performance Based Navigation (PBN) paths that require jets to fly low and hit fixed waypoint(s) before making their turns after take-off.

Input from organizations and speakers once again reflected pleas for immediate relief from the severe adverse noise, health, and environmental impacts so many people have been suffering with for 2 years. Our solutions emphasized the need for immediate relief and a return to dispersed historic paths at VNY, where they were without noise complaints for decades. This is aligned with other groups advocating for BUR. These solutions drew applause from the audience. We along with others pointed out how the FAA quickly changed to northern departure paths at both airports during the recent fires and when the president was in town, then returned to southern departure paths.

FAA spokesperson Ian Gregor also spoke in response to questions and continued to claim that the FAA adequately provided environmental assessments and notice to the communities to which they moved HUNDREDS OF AIRCRAFT daily to. He also has claimed that the FAA doesn't move noise to other communities.

After our presentation, Councilman Paul Koretz said about the FAA creating a new PPRRY waypoint at VNY in response to less than 200 total complaints but refuses to provide relief now: "So you go from...100 to 200 complaints and the FAA responds with this policy, then you have 37,000 complaints and we don't see any response at all. So why would we not at least go back to where you were or something approximating that and then figure out how to solve your problems rather than destroy all these people's lives?"

A big shout out and THANKS to everyone who showed up and sent a message to the FAA and the members of the Task Force that we will not stand for this injustice!

1st Round Win at VNY Citizens Advisory Council

Persistent, strong community presence is working!

At last Tuesday night's CAC meeting (November 5), residents and representatives from Neighborhood Councils and homeowner groups spoke on behalf of a Voluntary Nighttime Curfew at VNY, as well as the need for representation from Council District 4 (Sherman Oaks). Both motions passed! It's now headed to the Board of Airport Commissioners for a final vote.

1. The Van Nuys Citizens Advisory Council passed the motion for a Voluntary Nighttime Curfew between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM on weekdays and until 9:00 AM on Weekends and Holidays. This would not apply to emergency aircraft.

While strictly voluntary, this is, at least recognition by the CAC that neighborhoods, not just commercial jet operators matter. Although there is no guarantee, the existence of a voluntary curfew will hopefully create awareness that our communities are adversely impacted and at least some operators will attempt to modify when they fly.

The motion still needs to be approved by the Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC). This will likely be on the agenda for their December meeting. Check our website here for details to be posted.

2. Other great news for Sherman Oaks to have more balance on the CAC: The bylaws will be amended (pending BOAC’s vote) to include 2 members from David Ryu's Council District 4. The membership is currently comprised of appointees as follows: 3 from the mayor's office, 3 from the Board of Airport Commissioners and 2 each from Council District's 2,3,5,6,7,12. With CD4 added, there will now be 20 members on the VNY CAC.

Showing up to these meetings makes a huge difference!! Thank you for all of your continued support.