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LA City Council wants report on frequent charter airplanes at Van Nuys Airport

The Los Angeles City Council has instructed Los Angeles World Airports, which operates Van Nuys Airport, and the city attorney to report back to the council about actions it could take to address a growth in charter flights, responding to complaints by West San Fernando Valley residents fed up with worsening noise and air pollution, especially since the start of the pandemic.

The city council asked for an analysis of existing regulations concerning charter flight operations and for recommendations to work with legislators to address community members’ concerns.

Since the pandemic, general aviation airports across the country, including in Van Nuys, have seen a surge in charter flights as people with the financial means opt for single seats aboard chartered planes instead of a seat on a commercial plane, according to a motion the council approved 10-0 on Friday, Nov. 4. The motion also called for the analysis of current charter regulations.

In written comments, some residents said Van Nuys Airport was intended to be a small, general aviation airport, but it has essentially turned into a commercial airport because people can book chartered flights out of the facility.

“Seats on charter flights are being sold to the public, which was never the intent,” resident Robin Munushian wrote. “This was done behind the backs of the residents who must endure the constant fumes and pounding of the aircraft 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Not only are residents forced to endure the barrage of aircraft, noise and emissions, we aren’t allowed to sleep.”

The council did not discuss the item before voting on it, but it received 20 written comments from residents affected by the increased charter flight activity. A few people spoke during public comments before the vote.

One caller, who did not provide her name, characterized the motion as a “vital first step” but said more must be done. A couple callers asked the council to pass a moratorium on expanding Van Nuys Airport pending a review of leases they believe were approved without required community input.

Others asked for increased user fees on flight operators or said the wealthy 1% who can afford private jets or chartered flights — which include celebrities — are taking off or landing at Van Nuys Airport while nearby residents are left to deal with the negative impacts.

“The smell of jet fumes is so bad now,” said one caller who did not give their name. “I’m asthmatic. I can’t even stay outside for more than three or four minutes.”

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Friday’s motion calling for an analysis of existing regulations and what legislative remedies may be available to address residents’ concerns was initially introduced by former Councilwoman Nury Martinez in September before she resigned last month due to her role in the latest City Hall scandal involving racist comments during a secretly taped conversation about rigging the city’s redistricting process a year ago. Martinez represented Van Nuys.

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