CAA: GA News, "Livermore Municipal Airport noise threatens night flights"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Saturday, January 12, 2002 

Airport noise threatens night flights 
By Bonita Brewer
THE CONTRA COSTA (CA) TIMES 


LIVERMORE -- In response to noise complaints, the city's Airport
Advisory Commission on Monday will consider asking pilots using
Livermore Municipal Airport -- especially those flying jet aircraft --
to voluntarily refrain from taking off and landing in the middle of the
night.

The commission's meeting will begin at noon at the Dan Lee Terminal
Building.

Several jets have operated at the airport at night in recent months, and
some have been noisy and generated complaints, according to airport
manager Leander Hauri. He said none of the flights involved emergency
medical transports and are believed to have instead entailed deliveries
of parts to local businesses.

"I am concerned that if these few but very disturbing operations
continue or even increase, more and more public opposition can be
expected, which could ultimately result in demands for regulatory
access," Hauri said in a memo to the commission.

Currently there are no rules or regulations that limit access to the
Livermore Airport strictly on the basis of noise, since the facility is
not legally classified as a "noise sensitive" airport under allowable
guidelines for residential areas. Therefore, Hauri said, the Federal
Aviation Administration will not accept anything but a voluntary
approach to noise issues.

"The voluntary approach to resolving operational noise issues is the
most effective and has worked very successfully at other airports," he
said.

He proposes a request be issued to pilots, especially those operating
jet aircraft, to voluntarily refrain from flying between 10 p.m. and 6
a.m.


   Post your opinion on this story in the CAA General Aviation Forum
http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID2

*****************************************