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Health & Fitness

Blog | Santa Monica Airport: Noise, Air Pollution Complaints

Santa Monica Airport wants your noise and fume complaints.

For those of us who wonder whether community complaints are useful, I have assembled the following information.

The Santa Monica Airport Commission has recently asked airport staff for more information to be supplied in their monthly noise reports.

This new graphic look at community complaints could prove to be very useful.

It is interesting to note how the method to complain online [File a Noise Complaint] using the airport's on-line form says "Noise Complaint Form" (Picture of form attached above).

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How to complain about jet emissions is not apparent, which probably accounts for the mere four "Fumes" complaints in the SMO  May, 2012 Noise Management Report and five "Fumes" complaints in the June, 2012 report. However, they do record them as is noted in their new graphic charts on page #5 of the noise reports.

In 2004, just after my wife and I founded Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution (CRAAP), we notated  information regarding the smell of jet exhaust from SMO. We noted in that year alone,  just under 1,000 fume events; noting only the events we were certain about. I made some graphs from the data and I took that information to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. You can look at the material here:  "Fume Event Graphs".

Find out what's happening in Santa Monicawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I have another webpage on my Jetairpollution.com website titled, "Noise & Fume Complaints Received" . On that page read how some SMO neighbors are affected by noise and fumes.

So, I strongly urge all who are bothered by noise and or fumes from SMO aircraft operations to take the time to record your complaints about fumes as well as noise!

With the fate of the airport dependent a great deal on community involvement, now is the time to do whatever we can to shed light on our health and quality-of-life concerns.

Filing complaints is an easy process. Keep a log in a notebook and record a batch all at one visit. If you have questions or problems file your complaint over the phone at the SMO Noise Hotline: (310) 458-8692. Or you can email me at jetairpollution@earthlink.net for help.

The following information is taken from the SMO website page, File a Complaint

Our neighbors turn to us for answers. When you call to voice your concerns and objection to aircraft operations, you help us gauge and better understand what’s occurring in your community. In return, we take appropriate action by verifying the source of your complaint using our sophisticated web-based AirScene software. This allows us to educate pilots, aircraft owners and operators when we contact them in writing, by telephone or in person. Your airport recognizes the value in obtaining feedback from you. If you have a complaint about aircraft operations or want our noise management team to look into an event there are several ways getting in contact with us.

Noise Hotline: (310) 458-8692

  • Email
  • File a Noise Complaint using our on-line form
  • WebTrak
  • Visit our office during business hours (Monday-Thursday 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM and alternate Fridays 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM)
  • Mail your request to following address:

Mailing Address

Santa Monica Municipal Airport
Attn: Noise Management Office
3223 Donald Douglas Loop South
Santa Monica, CA 90405
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