AIRPORTS
VAN NUYS AIRPORT – DOES THE CITY COUNCIL REALLY PROTECT US?
Jay Weitzler, Airport Committee Chair
January 2025 | Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Newsletter
Once again, the hot mess masquerading as our City Council voted to protect the business interests of Van Nuys Airport (VNY) tenants at the expense of the health of surrounding residents in Van Nuys and Sherman Oaks. In this instance, it seems they were not properly prepared, or didn’t care enough to prepare, to make an informed decision on whether to allow possible expansion of the airport, resulting in increased noise and pollution for neighbors. The issue was whether to allow a helicopter business, Bonseph-Helinet, to sign a lease for up to 25 more years or deny the lease in support of the many residents protesting the Council’s own denial of the lease earlier this year. The residents and their Councilmember, Imelda Padilla, contended that the lease did not protect against expanded jet or helicopter use and did not contain proper measures to restrict noise and environmental impacts. Bonseph has operated a helicopter charter business at VNY for 35 years, supplying aircraft to the entertainment industry and fire departments, and transporting medical patients to hospitals in Southern California. These are fine, even commendable, operations – but the new lease does not appear to have protections limiting Bonseph to those activities. Considering their plans to build new ground facilities, offices, and hangers – and spend $26 million to do so – we reasonably expect they will expand their business and increase the number of flights. The result will make VNY, already the largest general aviation airport in the country, even more of an environmental disaster. When the City Council denied the lease in March, they were apparently unprepared to make a final decision and remained so until the last minute when the issue came up again – after Bonseph appealed. Suddenly, the DAY BEFORE THE VOTE, it was brought to their attention that the FAA had come to a preliminary decision that the Council had violated certain Federal rules against limiting aeronautical activities in the lease denial. The LA City Attorney’s office and Mayor Bass then warned the Council that the FAA could now withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to both VNY and LAX if this lease was not allowed. In view of this news, the Council reversed course and granted Bonseph their lease as well as agreeing to settle the lawsuit Bonseph had filed in the interim. Why, we ask, didn’t the City Council properly explore the possible denial of funds in advance of the vote? There does not seem to be any contact by councilmembers directly with the FAA to work around the theoretical denial of grant money or even any inquiry as to how much would be at stake. It seems the Council did nothing to learn if a denial of funds could be avoided. Might our City Council, representing about four million people, have attempted to negotiate the denial of money with the FAA directly? Since the FAA decision was “preliminary” and no amount was even discussed, did the Council reach an informed decision based on knowledge, or did they just guess? While a denial of a substantial grant is certainly a factor in deciding the issue, how much are we really talking about in view of a city budget of almost $13 billion? Is guesswork the way our city is governed? We ask and hope for a lot more than that when our health and safety is at risk.
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
Jay Weitzler, Airport Committee Chair
August 2024 | Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Newsletter
In all our battles with the various agencies that oversee the issues confronting our neighborhood and our city, sometimes we feel that the battle isn’t worth it or that we won’t really make a difference because we’re only a small cog in the giant wheel of bureaucracy that just grinds us down and doesn’t listen. So, we sometimes ask ourselves “Is It Worth Fighting City Hall”? Well, Peacock aired an episode on one of the real estate sales shows that illustrates exactly why SOHA fights to keep our neighborhood free from excessive airport noise and those tall apartment houses overlooking your back yard. The episode focused on a young couple who bought their first home in Studio City without proper awareness of the aircraft noise and without an appreciation of the loss of privacy and visual impairment that a several-story apartment overlooking their yard would present. Although sales listings must disclose flight paths affecting the property they, like many excited buyers, did not give it much thought. Unfortunately, after living in their very beautiful home for only a little more than a year the couple decided the airport noise impacted their work-at-home business to such an extent they had to sell and move to a quieter area. When the home was listed for sale, potential buyers were aware of the airport noise and of course noticed the intrusive apartment looking into their yard. As a result, the value of the house was dramatically reduced, and the young couple were forced to sell at a loss of well over $175,000. That might give us some idea of how these intrusions affect our property values. Were the unsophisticated young buyers partially to blame for the loss because they didn’t do due diligence before they purchased the home? Perhaps, but many of us have lived in our homes for far longer than the noise from our two neighboring airports became a problem. And we now face the prospect of the state and the city mandating construction of tall apartment buildings on our residential streets, many without adequate tenant parking. Unless Maria Kalban, her committee, and others are successful in stopping laws allowing such construction, that is our future fate. And our property values will reflect these intrusions along with the quality of our lives. That is why we in SOHA work so hard to advocate for our interests and that is why we care. That is why we do what we do.
A NEW TERMINAL AT BOB HOPE AIRPORT
Jay Weitzler, Airport Committee Chair
June 2024 | Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Newsletter
As some of you probably know, ground has been broken for the new $1.3 billion, 355,000-square-foot terminal replacing the old but charming facility at the Hollywood Burbank Bob Hope Airport. This happened several months ago but the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority just reached a guaranteed “maximum” price for the construction. Of course, maximum these days seems more the new minimum, but we can hope. According to the Authority, and we hope in line with their predictions, the new and much larger terminal will greatly improve the passenger experience and earthquake safety, as well as complying with newer building safety and environmental guidelines. There will be more shopping and dining available, more space, a new baggage claim area, and a new lobby, as well as a new access road and parking structure. While there is little question that the new terminal will be larger, have more amenities, and be easier to navigate, the question remains whether this new investment will encourage even more airlines, more takeoffs, and more landings, causing increased noise and air pollution to all of those of us already terribly affected by current aircraft. There are eight carriers at the airport and more than 6 million passengers annually. We wonder how many more might be using it after construction is complete in October 2026, the present scheduled date. The FAA has not been cooperative over the years in responding to the thousands of complaints from impacted residents and we doubt they will stop siding with the demands of carriers for increased flights that will impact our community even more negatively. To that end, remember that the FAA and NASA, of all agencies, is still online to begin testing the new concept of small Air Taxis (also called Advanced Air Mobility vehicles) at Bob Hope Airport as soon as next year. Testing of these aircraft has already begun in some other areas. We encourage all residents to very closely scrutinize this concept of increasing low-altitude air flights. We have been supported by our Congressmember Brad Sherman in this effort, but as we all know, the FAA is its own animal and does not seem to care very much about the effect of aircraft on those most directly affected. We will continue to monitor these developments and call for membership voices in opposition when appropriate. In the meantime, let us continue to make our voices heard.
CITY COUNCIL PUTS BRAKES ON VAN NUYS AIRPORT EXPANSION
Jay Weitzler, Airport Committee Chair
March 2024 | Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Newsletter
Good news for efforts to regulate Van Nuys Airport (VNY)! Just this past Friday, the LA City Council denied the request from the Bonseph-Helinet company to redevelop and expand their helicopter operations at VNY as they enter into an expected 25-year lease. In addition, while Bonseph had not specifically requested they be allowed to expand into jet service, their application might have allowed that to happen. The council urged Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), which controls VNY operations, to complete the VNY Specific Plan before allowing expansion. As we know, there has not been a formal review of Van Nuys Airport operations since the last specific plan way back in 2006. The council is also requesting a new advisory body, the Community Council, be formed to add more input from the airport’s neighbors about designing operations and expansion. At present, the voices heard are overwhelmingly airport business based, explaining the enormous growth of VNY over the last five to ten years without any community input. SOHA thanks member Tom Materna for his time and efforts urging the City Council to adopt these motions to protect our neighborhoods.
BURBANK AND VAN NUYS AIRPORTS BOTH GETTING BIGGER AND NOISIER
Jay Weitzler, Airport Committee Chair
February 2024 | Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Newsletter
Once again, the FAA has completely ignored valid concerns of neighbors under take-off routes of our major commercial airport, Bob Hope/Burbank. As we all know, this airport is extremely busy and serves routes all over the country. Unfortunately, as a result of changing flight paths during takeoffs (and to some extent landings), a large group of Valley residents are subjected to outrageous amounts of noise and pollution poisoning the atmosphere and the very ground under which these planes fly. This is particularly obnoxious for people living in the Santa Monica Mountains. Planes are told to take off at altitudes that sound high, but those altitudes are figured from sea level, not ground level. For example, a 1,500-foot “altitude” may be only 250 to 500 feet above hillside homes. For many residents, this has resulted in planes so low they can see the pilots as well as receiving enormous noise and pollution covering the outside of their homes and patios. Does the FAA care? Not at all! Despite lawsuits filed by the city and the urging of our citizens and politicians, the Burbank Airport has begun the modernization and expansion of their terminal. After claiming the changes were needed for safety reasons, the airport’s Executive Director, Frank Miller, just told reporters the new terminal will result in “the availability to have more service from existing carriers.” Larger and more jet traffic will be coming to Burbank Airport and its surroundings despite several near misses of aircraft this past year. Burbank also apparently plans to go to the Route Americas Conference in, of all places, Bogota, Columbia to promote the new terminal to new and existing carriers. We must continue our efforts to restrict the expansion of the airport as much as we are able and join with our neighbors in Studio City and Encino in these efforts. Likewise, efforts are underway at Van Nuys Airport to modernize the site and increase its efficiency. LA World Airports (LAWA) runs Van Nuys Airport and has commissioned a study to examine the footprint of the airport and change certain locations to better utilize their land. They are likely preparing to increase the number of aviation businesses at the expense of non-aviation businesses based on efficiency studies. These studies will undoubtedly lead to a further and continued expansion of jet flights over Sherman Oaks, which have been going on for many years. There is a portion of this “Vision” study that will be helpful to nearby residents of the airport since a buffer zone of berms and trees will likely be created, but for those under takeoff and landing paths, efficiency at the airport can point in only one direction – more aircraft using the airport, more jets, more noise, more helicopters, and more pollution. SOHA will continue to monitor this situation and join those who wish to decrease – not increase – the number of aircraft and the hours of operation at Van Nuys Airport in the middle of our residential communities.
VAN NUYS AIRPORT UPDATE
Jay Weitzler, Airport Committee Chair
January 2024 | Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Newsletter
We have some potentially good news regarding the latest Van Nuys Airport (VNY) shenanigans. Last week Motion 23-1339 was presented to the City Council that could lead to a specific Airport Plan at Van Nuys and a moratorium on development until the plan is complete. Councilmember Padilla introduced the motion, seconded by Councilmember Raman. This is very important and very necessary to end the continued expansion of the VNY Airport by stopping the recategorizing of non-aeronautical businesses into more jet and helicopter flights. If the motion is adopted by the council, it would also require modernization of operations and a consideration of the need to reduce toxic emissions from allowed flights. As you know, VNY has turned into a jet airport for the wealthy few at the expense of everyone else because of the lobbying and marketing efforts of business interests, including the Van Nuys Airport Association (VNAA) and its leadership. Without an existing Airport Specific Plan, LA World Airports and its VNY staff have been listening to VNY developers, charter companies, and fixed-base operators to expand the use of jets. This has resulted in massive, highly damaging air pollution and an increasing carbon footprint of the operations. With this motion, we hope the LA City Council will begin to pay attention to the continued VNY Airport expansion, begin to halt the damage, and start reshaping the landscape into one that is compatible with its location in a very densely populated area surrounded on all sides by homes, schools, day care centers, parks, and small businesses.
VAN NUYS AIRPORT UPDATE
Nancy Sogoian, SOHA Airport Committee Co-Chair
November 2023| Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Newsletter
First, some good news regarding Van Nuys Airport (VNY)! You may recall the Bonseph Helinet proposal, which was ostensibly a rebuild to modernize an old airport hanger on VNY site. Unfortunately, the proposal’s lease language left a backdoor loophole which, by omission, would have allowed jet plane storage and jet flights from the new hangar, neither of which are part of existing hangar activities. As a result of community stakeholder scrutiny by SOHA's Airport Committee, SONC, the CD4 Council Office, and the public concerned with increased noise, pollution, and safety, LAWA (Los Angeles World Airports, which oversees/manages VNY and other airports) has tabled the project. It’s uncertain whether the Bonseph Helinet project will be reintroduced in the future, but it will not proceed for the foreseeable future. SOHA is also watching developments with Advanced Air Mobility (AAMs otherwise known as “air taxis”) and will provide updates periodically on AAM developments. In brief, LADOT, the Mayor’s office, the LA Planning Department, the FAA, NASA, and other entities are working on introducing a “first in the nation partnership” for air taxis in Los Angeles, with a goal in time for our 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Our preliminary information is that these AAM air taxis will serve intercity travel of perhaps two to four people and/or goods – and will likely be electric. There are certainly health, safety, privacy, and flight path concerns. SOHA IS WATCHING – STAY TUNED!
AIR TAXIS OVER SHERMAN OAKS SOON?
Jay Weitzler, SOHA Airport Committee Co-Chair
August 2023| Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Newsletter
The news is taking Los Angeles almost by surprise, but the FAA is promoting the development and experiment of what are generously called Advanced Air Mobility Vehicles (AAM) – more commonly “Air Taxis” – which may be flying over us as soon as next year or 2025 – and certainly by the 2028 Olympics if the Air Taxi proponents have their way. Studio City For Quiet Skies has conducted rather extensive research into this issue and believes that the FAA and the AAM industry intend to develop very large-scale operations with thousands of aircraft operating over densely populated areas such as ours. These small, but apparently quite noisy aircraft will be designed to carry only two to four people and will be operating at very low altitudes, perhaps only 400 feet above our homes. There are serious questions involving proper research and regulations designed for these vehicles as the FAA appears to be fast tracking the approval process. We are concerned that the billions of dollars being spent by Toyota, Boeing, Delta, and others are not being spent for our best interests. These Air Taxis will likely only appeal to those few who can afford flying over traffic to go to sporting events, concerts, or other events and will likely not help the general population. We have serious reservations as to whether Air Taxis will be worth the noise, pollution, and violations of backyard privacy we hold so dear. SOHA encourages you to go to the Studio City For Quiet Skies website (studiocityforquietskies.com) and look at their “Newsletter” section to get much more information and see how you can demand the FAA and other regulatory organizations conduct proper research and perform extensive community outreach to determine the benefits and risks of this new industry – before it’s too late.
AIRPORTS UPDATE
Nancy Sogoian and Jay Weitzler, SOHA Airport Committee Co-Chairs
June 2023 | Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Newsletter
Van Nuys Airport Update by Nancy Sogoian – As discussed in recent newsletters, the current Bonseph Helinet proposal’s lease language – ostensibly rebuilding a new helicopter hanger and facilities to replace an old helicopter hanger – does NOT specifically prevent the rebuilt site from the addition of more jet flights from Van Nuys Airport. This lease omission represents permission and is seen as a backdoor loophole to more flight expansion. In addition to SOHA’s opposition to Bonseph Helinet’s lease as written, VNY apparently also seeks to utilize its off-site airport-owned property as additional locations for flight expansion. In 2021, VNY expanded jet flights via building a new facility, and SOHA represents Sherman Oaks in opposing MORE noise and pollution via Bonseph Helinet and/or the utilization of off-site, airport-adjacent property for purposes of increased harm to our community via increased flights. Bonseph Helinet is due to be presented to the LA City Council soon, and SOHA will urge the Council NOT to approve the lease as currently written. Burbank Airport Update by Jay Weitzler – As previously noted, expansion and remodeling of the Burbank Terminal has been sent back to the airport and their contractors to change some items preparatory to a satisfactory Environmental Impact Report. This will probably delay the actual expansion but not eliminate it. There are, however, two FAA Reviews now open for comment – Noise Policy and Advanced Air Mobility. We encourage you to go to www.studiocityforquietskies.com for details and sign up for their newsletters as there will be a number of updates coming soon. We must continue to resist expansion because of both safety – there were near misses in both February and March of this year – and unremitting noise to our neighborhoods.
AIRPORTS UPDATE
Nancy Sogoian and Jay Weitzler, SOHA Airport Committee Co-Chairs
May 2023 | Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Newsletter
Van Nuys Airport “VNY” Update by Nancy Sogoian – Airport issues are complex, technical and involve local, state and federal entities, including LAWA (LA World Airports, which manages LAX, VNY, and other airports), BOAC (Board of Airport Commissioners), and FAA (Federal Aviation Association, which determines flight patterns, hours, and more). VNY’s Bonseph Helinet proposal ostensibly modernizes and expands an old hanger facility used for medical, TV news, and other helicopter services. However, Bonseph Helinet’s proposed lease does NOT specifically preclude the rebuilt hanger from housing (or flying) jets, and therefore omission = permission for expansion of jet flights at VNY. Bonseph is a builder of hangars, terminals, and office space which partnered with Aeroplex Group (property management services) to complete the VNY Bonseph North Facility in 2021, exclusively occupied by Sun Jets – which expanded flights from VNY. Helinet Aviation provides a variety of helicopter services including charter – and boasts a new 6-seat, twin-engine helicopter. While we support modernization of the old hangar site, this proposal opens the door to increased jet flights and more charter helicopters. Our CD4 Council Office agrees Bonseph Helinet’s proposal in current form is a back-door loophole for expansion of flights and believes the lease in current form should not be approved by City Council. Stay tuned ... Burbank Airport “BUR” Update by Jay Weitzler – LA GETS A “WIN” IN THE BUR TERMINAL CASE! Last month, the Ninth Circuit Court directed the FAA to address deficiencies in its construction noise analysis, in its cumulative impacts analysis, and the resulting deficiencies in its Environmental Impacts analysis. Though only a partial win since it dealt only with construction noise for Burbank’s new proposed terminal and not issues directly related to aircraft noise, pollution and resulting health problems, it will at least delay construction of the new terminal since they need to file a satisfactory EIR. There is no question that a new terminal will increase operations and make the noise and pollution much worse than it is now. We still must deal with these very serious issues, and we will keep you informed of new developments.
AIRPORTS UPDATE
Nancy Sogoian and Jay Weitzler, SOHA Airport Committee Co-Chairs
April 2023 | Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association Newsletter
As many are aware, Van Nuys Airport is the busiest general aviation airport in the nation – fourth busiest for private jet flights – but flight expansion efforts are underway which would bring even more noise and pollution. SOHA’s Airport Committee is working to determine the scope and status of proposed flight expansions, including charter companies operating regular flights to other cities despite our understanding that no commercial airlines are permitted to fly regularly scheduled routes from Van Nuys. The Bonseph Helinet proposal to rebuild about 4.5 acres of an older hanger area is concerning. It would modernize the site and build new hangars (but not increase the airport’s current footprint). BUT it would almost certainly result in adding jets and increased helicopter flights with more noise and pollution. The current use of helicopters for vital medical needs and TV news should continue. However, in current form, Bonseph Helinet’s proposal is a no-go. SOHA’s Airport Committee is working to protect our community and will provide periodic updates.