AIRPORTS
While Council District 4 does not have any airports within our borders, our constituents, and residents of Los Angeles in general, are affected by their operations. For CD4, Van Nuys Airport (VNY) and Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) are the most proximate, and most impactful, especially as regards flight paths and noise and particulate pollution. In addition, new aviation technologies like Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) have the potential to drastically change our skies. While aerial transportation is governed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), our office works closely with our City, State, and Federal partners to advocate for our constituents.
An FAA initiative, NextGen, changed flight paths in the area. For BUR and VNY, the waypoints (the point where planes turn towards the runway) were shifted to the south without an appropriate assessment of the change. Rather than track the 101 freeway, the flight paths now veer further south, affecting new community residential areas.
After years of collaboration and effort, we are pleased to announce that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has revised and redesigned departure procedures for Van Nuys Airport (VNY). These revised procedures are expected to restore flight paths closer to their original alignment, providing some measure of relief to our hillside communities in Sherman Oaks and Encino.
This update, which went into effect on February 20, 2025, marks a significant step forward in partnering with the community to alleviate noise impacts by securing modified flight paths. The updated procedures include modifications to waypoint locations to reduce the southward shift of flight paths that occurred during the FAA’s Metroplex implementation — a prior redesign of Southern California airspace aimed at increasing efficiencies and improving access to airports.
Regarding the Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), the FAA and the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority (BGPAA) are reviewing flight patterns and noise. The airport authority in this case – BGPAA – is not a City of Los Angeles entity like LAWA. Currently, the BGPAA is undertaking an update to their Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study, as part of the previously-constituted Southern San Fernando Valley Airplane Noise Task Force. To provide comments on the study or to sign up for updates, click HERE. You can also find the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Settlement Agreement Departure Procedure Amendments being led by the FAA HERE and the letter our office, along with other Valley council offices submitted on behalf of the City HERE.
HOW TO VOICE CONCERNS
VAN NUYS AIRPORT (VNY)
For issues related to VNY, there is a public advisory body called the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council (VNY CAC). Their meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday of each month, at 7PM.
- DATE: First Tuesday of every month*
- TIME: 7PM
- LOCATION: Van Nuys City Hall Council Chambers, 6262 Van Nuys Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
* The VNY CAC meets 10 times a year, excluding the months of July and December.
Locations may change so so check the agenda 3 days before the next monthly meeting HERE.
Written public comments are also accepted before the day of each meeting and can be emailed to vnycac@lawa.org. You can learn about other programs and information about VNY at https://www.iflyvny.com/.
For noise complaints for VNY, please go here for more information on the different ways to file.
HOLLYWOOD BURBANK AIRPORT (BUR)
Noise complaints for BUR can be made at the following website or by calling the toll-free 24-hour Noise Concerns Hotline at 1-800-441-0409.
LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL REPRESENTATION
Both Encino Neighborhood Council and the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council have committees dedicated to Airport issues, if you live in those communities, you may also want to connect with them, respectively.