Politics & Government

Flight Schools Offer Olive Branch, Limit Nightly Noise

The six schools at Santa Monica Airport volunteer to reduce nighttime takeoff and landings in a move to "establish harmony" with the airport's neighbors.

The flight schools at Santa Monica Airport are extending a peace offering of sorts to the neighborhood activist groups calling for their demise.

The schools announced today that they will voluntarily limit their noisy nighttime takeoffs and landings.

The restrictions are an effort to "establish harmony with the neighbors living in close proximity to the airport," said a letter signed by each of the respective presidents and owners of the six flight schools.

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Those residents living closest to the airport, some as close as 300 feet to the tarmac, have rallied support from members of the Los Angeles and Santa Monica city councils and state Sen. Ted Lieu in their cries to quiet the airport and eliminate what they say are emanating from jets.

Under the new agreement, renters and instructors will not fly repeated takeoffs and landings after 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday between November to March. The six flight schools will also not fly repeated takeoffs and landings after 8 p.m Sundays throughout the year.

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They may still fly during those hours, but it would be just one take off and flying elsewhere and then one landing upon their return, city officials said in a press release.

"We, and all of our neighbors, have been unhappy for years with the exploitation of our part of ; the private aircraft companies and flight schools; and the wealthy clients who overuse these dangerous jets which pollute our parks, endanger our streets and disrupt our peace," .

Flight school _operator Joe Justice—who helped form Friends of Santa Monica Airport—has said he is troubled by the mounting animosity toward SMO.

The airport already has a night departure curfew. No takeoffs or engine starts are permitted between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekdays or until 8 a.m. on weekends and holidays.

Additionally, the airport already has a voluntary night arrival curfew. Although arrivals are permitted all day-long, pilots are asked to avoid all operations between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, or until 8 a.m. on weekends and holidays.

This voluntary pattern flying restriction will result in a net reduction of 15 hours per week during daylight savings time and 21 hours per week in non-daylight savings time where they could legally engage in repeated takeoffs and landings while pattern flying, city officials said in a press release.


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