FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: December 22, 2011
CONTACT:
Martin
Pastucha, Director of Public Works
Tel: 310.458.8220
martin.pastucha@smgov.net
SANTA
MONICA, CA In response to community concerns and in recognition of the negative
noise impact of night pattern flying activity, all of the flight schools based
at the Santa Monica Airport have agreed to implement a voluntary limit on
repeated takeoffs and landings in the pattern at Santa Monica Airport beyond
the requirements established in the Santa Monica Municipal Code.
Under
the voluntary restrictions, renters and instructors will not fly repeated
takeoffs and landings in the pattern at Santa Monica Airport after 8:00 P.M.
during Pacific Standard Time (November to March) Monday through Saturday. During Pacific Daylight Time (March to
November), renters and instructors will not fly repeated takeoffs and landings
in the pattern at Santa Monica Airport after 9:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday.
The flight schools have also agreed to not fly repeated takeoffs and landings
in the pattern after 8:00 P.M. during Sundays throughout the year.
The
Airport currently has a night departure curfew. No takeoffs or engine starts
are permitted between 11:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M. Monday through Friday, or until
8:00 A.M. on weekends and holidays.
Exceptions are allowed for bona fide medical or public safety emergencies
only. Additionally, the Airport has a voluntary night arrival curfew. Although
arrivals are permitted 24 hours per day, pilots are requested to avoid all
operations between 11:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M. Monday through Friday, or until
8:00 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. They may still fly
during those hours, but it would not be repeated takeoffs and landings in the
pattern - it would be just one take off and flying elsewhere and then one
landing upon their return.
Federal
Air Regulations require pilots to be proficient in conducting takeoffs and
landings during night time hours. These voluntary restrictions will allow
sufficient hours for training at Santa Monica Airport to meet the demands of
night currency required by the Federal Aviation Regulations and at the same
time reduce the amount repeated takeoffs and landings at hours that are more
likely to disturb our neighbors.
The
City of Santa Monica appreciates the effort that the flight schools are taking
to reduce their overall impact on the community and enhance the Airport’s fly
neighborly program. The City will
continue to cooperatively pursue additional strategies and programs with the
aircraft community that will result in reduced impacts of aircraft operations
to the community.
For
additional information regarding the Airport’s noise abatement program, please
visit the Santa Monica Airport web page at:
http://www.smgov.net/departments/airport/.
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