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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Noisy Van Nuys Jet Phase-Out Near Approval

The phasing out of noisy older jets at Van Nuys Airport could begin this summer under an ordinance that goes before the Board of Airport Commissioners next month. Reducing the number of noisy aircraft has long been a contentious issue for the board of Los Angeles World Airports, pitting nearby residents against businesses based at the Valley airfield. If approved by the board at the May 4 meeting, the ordinance would then go to the Transportation, Commerce and Tourism Committee of the Los Angeles City Council. Provided that no other council committee would want to review the ordinance, the council would vote in June, said Robert Holden, an environmental supervisor with LAWA. Implementation of the phase-out would begin 30 days after approval and be accomplished over seven years, Holden said at an April 7 meeting of the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Committee meeting. The ordinance sets noise limits at the airport for departing aircraft beginning with jets with a noise level of 85 decibels. On or after Jan. 1, 2016 no aircraft would be able to operate at Van Nuys at more than 77 decibels. In the final environmental review of the ordinance, the airport agency expects that passage would result in some older aircraft being retired, others modified to reduce noise, and others being relocated to other general aviation airports, including Camarillo Airport and William J. Fox Airfield near Lancaster.

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