Noise a growing issue for Palomar
Aircraft noise is an increasingly troublesome issue for McClellan-Palomar Airport. Reacting to community pressure, county officials are considering imposing access restrictions, a curfew, and aircraft restrictions on the airport. The airport already has a variety of voluntary noise-abatement restrictions in place, but complaints from nearby residential developments have prompted some county officials to push for making those limitations mandatory. AOPA has told county officials that curfews and similar access restrictions can only be imposed by the FAA.
Some of the residents who are complaining about noise may have received fair warning. Newer housing developments near the airport fall under a noise impact notification area, which requires developers to notify prospective buyers in writing of the proximity of the airport. The language of this notification specifies that the airport is in use 24 hours a day and mentions the use of the airport by both military and commercial traffic.
Van Nuys noise restrictions on hold
Pressure from AOPA, NBAA, and other aviation groups has led the Los Angeles City Council to temporarily defer a measure that would place restrictions on Stage 2 aircraft at Van Nuys Airport. The 90-day deferral, which will give the council more time to study the issue before taking action, followed a letter from Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president for regional affairs. In the letter, Dunn warned that the proposal was discriminatory and could not be justified from a noise mitigation standpoint.
The proposal would prevent new Stage 2 aircraft from being based at the airport and limit the time that transient Stage 2 aircraft could visit the airport to 30 days per year. In the letter, Dunn asked that the airport complete a noise study currently being conducted under FAR Part 150 and have that study approved by the FAA before proceeding. In addition, the letter recommended that no action be taken until a noise variance hearing currently being conducted by Caltrans Aeronautics concludes.
The letter went on to say that AOPA believes that the proposed restrictions on Stage 2 aircraft at Van Nuys violate the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990. Implementing restrictions in violation of that Act could jeopardize federal funding for all airports owned by the City of Los Angeles.
The issue is a concern for general aviation pilots because, if successfully implemented, it could set a dangerous precedent for noise-related restrictions at other airports.
VFR waypoints being evaluated
AOPA is using an online survey to help evaluate the new VFR waypoints being tested in Los Angeles and San Diego. The survey is intended to gauge the usability and benefits of the new VFR waypoints for pilots who are using the new system. Once the survey results have been tallied, AOPA will go back to FAA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials to try to resolve any problems that users bring up in the survey. Since the waypoints are being tested only in Los Angeles and San Diego, there are ample opportunities to change and improve the system before it is instituted on a wider scale. The waypoint locations for the current tests were established by local user groups with substantial cooperation from the FAA Western Pacific Regional Air Traffic office. Pilots who have used the system, including AOPA members and nonmembers, are encouraged to complete the survey, which is available on AOPA Online ( www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/1999/vfr_waypoints.html).
Aviation economic impact study planned
At the request of AOPA and a number of other aviation groups, Caltrans Director José Medina has agreed to have his department undertake a study to determine the social and economic impact of aviation on California. Funding to conduct the study has been set aside for the 2000-2001 fiscal year. The results of the study will be used to inform the public as well as local, regional, and state policymakers about the important role that aviation plays in the well-being of the state.
Progress made toward statewide aviation coalition
Progress is being made toward the establishment of a statewide aviation coalition for California. After a number of meetings to discuss the possibility of creating such a coalition, feedback from state and local aviation groups has been overwhelmingly positive. AOPA Regional Representative Jack Kemmerly has worked with representatives of other aviation organizations to study similar coalitions elsewhere, including recently formed groups in Kansas and Missouri. Kemmerly and others are now drafting a constitution and bylaws for the proposed coalition and hope to register the coalition with the Secretary of State shortly.
Dunsmuir Municipal-Mott Airport reopened during daylight hours
Working with AOPA, pilots at Dunsmuir Municipal-Mott Airport have been granted a partial reprieve after some of the trees along the approaches to the airport were removed. The airport has been reopened to traffic in both directions during daylight hours only, but the airport’s problems are not over.
The City of Dunsmuir has filed a lawsuit against those who have opposed the logging needed to keep the airport open. Property owners who declined to allow the city to cut trees on their land and the U.S. Forest Service are named as defendants in the lawsuit.
The airport’s problems began after the surrounding trees were declared a hazard to navigation. For months, efforts to have the trees removed were stalled, leading to the eventual closure of the airport. In all, about 40 acres of trees needed to be cleared to make the approaches safe.
Pilots hope that the pending lawsuit will force property owners to the west of the airport to cut down trees that encroach on the airspace surrounding the field. It’s not clear if or when a settlement might be reached that would allow the airport to reopen for night operations.
Humboldt County Airports plan for improvements and additions
Arcata/Eureka Airport and Humboldt County’s other airports are planning for the future with scheduled improvements and additions to the 10-year master plan.
Among the items scheduled to be completed this year are taxiway improvements for Arcata/Eureka. Specifically, the terminal ramp will be altered to allow it to better handle large aircraft such as Boeing 737s.
In addition, the Humboldt County Airport Advisory Committee plans to work on formulating programs to be added to the 10-year master plan, which covers all Humboldt County airports, including Arcata/Eureka. The master plan is scheduled for completion by the middle of 2002 and runs through 2010.
Among the additions to be considered is the extension of Runway 14/32 to the southeast for a total length of approximately 7,200 feet. Growing public demand for scheduled jet service at the airport prompted the idea of expanding the runway. Currently, the threshold for Runway 14 is displaced by about 800 feet because the end of the runway approaches a cliff that drops down into the ocean. Among the considerations for minimizing the danger posed by the terrain is the creation of a crushable concrete overrun at the end of Runway 32.
County airports can expect other changes to arise out of the impending retirement of County Airports Manager Ray Beeninga. Beeninga is scheduled to leave his post in the summer or fall.
Torrance could suffer further encroachment
Torrance city officials are reportedly considering leasing property belonging to Zamperini Field Airport to a tennis club adjacent to the airport. The club would use the property as a parking lot. Local pilots are investigating whether or not the property falls under regulations restricting it to aeronautical use only. AOPA and the Torrance Airport Association have long opposed nonaviation use of airport property surrounding the airport.
San Luis Obispo facing development
The FAA has responded to an environmental impact report on a proposed development near San Luis Obispo County-McChesney Field Airport. In its response, the FAA noted that the proposed development falls under the approach path to Runway 11 and emphasized the need for height restrictions on buildings but did not discuss potential noise problems.
Local pilots have proposed a number of measures to mitigate the impact of this and other nearby residential developments, and head off the noise complaints that have followed residential construction near other airports. These measures include conducting noise studies at each potential development site before the development plans are accepted by the city; requiring construction techniques and acoustic insulation designed to minimize interior noise; and requiring noise disclosure statements to prospective buyers. AOPA is working with local pilots to ensure that appropriate protection for the airport is in place before any development begins near the airport.
Develoment appeal halted at Chico
A developer has temporarily set aside his plans to appeal a decision rejecting an 89-home development near Chico Municipal Airport. The proposed development, known as the Stonecreek Subdivision, was rejected by the local planning commission and was opposed by AOPA, the Caltrans Division of Aeronautics, the Chico Chamber of Commerce, the Butte County Airport Land Use Commission, the California Pilots Association, and others on the grounds that the development could pose both noise and safety hazards to residents and affect operations at the airport. But developer Dan Drake had hoped to revive the plan through the appeals process. Strong opposition to the appeal persuaded Drake to set aside his motion. At Drake’s request, the Chico City Council recently voted to table the measure, but it could be revived at some time in the future.
ALUC authority disputed
The Butte County Board of Supervisors has tried to delegate its authority to override decisions of the County Airport Land Use Commission to the County Planning Commission. Attorneys for Caltrans, however, have rendered a legal opinion on the issue indicating that the board of supervisors cannot delegate its authority in this way.
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