Airplane Noise and Altitudes

Our office has been working with various entities to mitigate the disturbances created by the FAA’s implementation of the NextGen program (where satellites and GPS are replacing ground-based radar to increase air-traffic efficiency). Our actions on the issue are indicated in the timeline below.

2018

Jun 06

FAA Liaison Request

Our office continues to support the efforts of our federal representatives. Read the letter from CEO of Los Angeles World Airport Deborah Flint requesting a direct FAA liaison for LAWA, the LAX Roundtable and elected officials.

Apr 02

City of Los Angeles Amicus Brief

We worked closely with our City Attorney’s office to file an amicus brief for the Federal Aviation Administration and ensure it reflected the concerns of our city’s residents. In summary, the City of Los Angeles supported the Petitioner’s request for a remand of the FAA Southern California Metroplex project Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact. Remand is required in order for the FAA to comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements and to evaluate changes to reduce environmental impacts. Read the brief here.

Mar 05

Letter to FAA Acting Administrator Daniel Elwell

We joined City Attorney Michael Feuer, Councilmember Bonin and Councilmember Harris-Dawson in formally requesting a meeting with the FAA, copies of any pertinent documents and to join discussion between the FAA and Culver City regarding flight path and altitude issues. Read the letter here.

Jan 10

LAX / Community Noise Round Table Meeting

Received the December/January report from the LAX Metroplex-Wide Area Ad Hoc Committee at the LAX / Community Noise Round Table meeting. Of importance are the dismal altitude trends for DAJHR & GADDO and communications issues with the FAA. Read the report here.

Jan 09

Over-Ocean Operations Report

We are compiling a report for all of the deviations of Over-Ocean Operations in 2017 and will be sharing this in a meeting with Los Angeles World Airports.

2017

Dec 04

LAX Round Table

Our office was present at the LAX Round Table Ad Hoc committee.

Nov 29

Meeting with City Attorney

CD10 met with the City Attorney’s office. As a result of that meeting, we are continuing to work with them and will be able to share more info soon.

Nov 07

Senator Feinstein Letter to the FAA

After working with our Federal representatives and various meetings with Senator Dianne Feinstein, we begin seeing action for our constituents. Read the letter letter here.

Oct 05

Received Data from LAWA

Received altitude data from LAWA for night-time hours (10 P.M. to 7 A.M.). We will be sharing this data with the LAX/Community Noise Roundtable and our constituents.

Oct 02

CD10 & CD8 Joint Letter to FAA

Joint letter from Council President Herb Wesson (CD10), Council Member Marqueece Harris-Dawson (CD8) and Council Member Mike Bonin (CD11) to FAA Administrator Huerta requesting accelerated implementation and adherence to FAA’s mandated requirement to the altitude restrictions at DAHJR and (soon) to be implemented GADDO.

Sep 25

CD10 Comments to FAA

CD10 commented to the FAA directly on the IFP Gateway in regards to MIN Alt for GADDO at 6,000 feet (HUULL, IRNMN, RYDRR).

Sep 20

CD10 Attends LAX Roundtable

CD10 attended the special LAX/Community Roundtable meeting to provide our support for the implementation of the FAA mandated altitude restriction at GADDO to 6,000 Min Alt and to change the Min Alt to “at and above” instead of “at.”

Aug 31

Altitude Refinement

Requested further altitude data refinement based on previous data BUT broken down specifically to night time hours of 10 P.M. to 7 A.M.

Aug 30

Community Roundtable

CD10 requested the assistance of LAWA to facilitate representatives from the SFO Roundtable to present to the LAX/Community Noise Roundtable and be available at the September meeting.

Aug 22

Meeting with Sen. Feinstein

Both, my office and Congresswoman Karen Bass, met with Feinstein’s Office. It was there we requested the following:

Arrange for relevant deputies of our Regional Congressional delegation to receive a briefing from the Congressional deputies of the SF Bay Area who were successful in their work with the FAA
Impress on the FAA to require observance of existing Minimum Altitude restriction by Air Traffic Control (ATC) and airline pilots, especially during late night and early morning hours when the effects of noise are magnified and decreased air traffic (hence no justification for lowered altitudes)
The FAA increase the altitude minimum at the DAHJR waypoint to 8,000 feet

Aug 14

Refined Altitude Data from LAWA

CD10 received the refined altitude data from LAWA. From this data, it was determined that 67% of flights where flying below the FAA mandated minimum altitude of 6,000 feet at the DAHJR waypoint. We shared this information with our constituents and the LAX/Community Air Noise Roundtable.

Jul 21

Senator Feinstein Letter

CD10 sent a letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein seeking legislation providing relief on behalf of our constituents’ concerns and the impact that NextGen is having on their lives.

Jun 21

CD-10 LAWA Meeting

Our office met with LAWA where the original altitude data request was presented. Based on the presentation, I requested further refinement to isolate the findings.

May 30

CD10 Meets with the L.A. City Attorney

CD10 met with the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, which extensively reviewed the Culver City lawsuit. With the LA City Attorney’s Office, we continue to explore legal options that may mitigate the negative impacts being experienced by our constituents.

May 25

Staff LAWA Meeting

My staff and I met with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) General Manager, Deborah Flint and her team where it was confirmed that our direction was to work at the federal level. CD10 requested access to LAWA’s altitude data. LAWA agreed to have their consultants prepare an exhaustive altitude report to determine altitudes of aircraft before and after implantation of the FAA’s NextGen program.