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News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport
SMO Flights Schools Agree To Voluntary Night Flying Restrictions
Posted Dec. 23, 2011, 12:58 am
Mirror Staff
Santa Monica Airport’s six flight schools 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.
The agreement is in response to community concerns and in recognition of the negative noise impact of night pattern flying activity.
Under the voluntary restrictions, renters and instructors will not fly repeated takeoffs and landings in the pattern at Santa Monica Airport after 8 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 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The flight schools have also agreed to not fly repeated takeoffs and landings in the pattern after 8 p.m. during Sundays throughout the year.
The Airport currently has a night departure curfew.
No takeoffs or engine starts are permitted between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, or until 8 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 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, or until 8 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.
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/.
Comments
Dec. 23, 2011, 12:45:29 pm
John Londono said...
Voluntarily limit until 2015, in order to keep the airport open, then back to business as usual. This is clearly a ruse; they cannot be trusted.
Dec. 24, 2011, 7:45:29 am
Jon Rodgers said...
I DO NOT RECOMMEND THAT YOU COMPLY WITH THIS SCHEME! IT IS NOT THE SOLUTION!!!!! INSTEAD YOU SHOULD CALL MR. JUSTICE @ 310-313-6792 AND TELL HIM TO TELL SANTA MONICA AIRPORT MANAGEMENT AND THEIR AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS TO MANAGE THEIR COMPLAINING COMMUNITIES TO TAKE AT LEAST THE SAME NOISE THAT HE NOW EXPECTS YOU TO MAKE AT ALTERNATE “NOISE RELEIVER” AIRPORTS ON SANTA MONICA’S BEHALF. BUT IF YOU STILL FEEL YOU MUST COMPLY, PLEASE DIVERT TO A “NOISE RELEIVER” AIRPORT LIKE HAWTHORNE (HHR) THAT PRESUMABLY DOES A BETTER JOB OF NOISE MITIGATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH IF THEY CAN TAKE SANTA MONICA’S PROBLEM NOISE FROM THIS SCHEME ALONG WITH THEIR OWN. HOWEVER, AS A MATTER OF COURTESY, YOU SHOULD NOTIFY THE MANAGEMENT AND THE POLITICAL LEADERS AT YOUR CHOSEN “NOISE RELIEIVER” AIRPORT THAT YOU ARE TRANSFERRING NOISE TO HELP MR. JUSTICE KEEP THINGS QUIET AT SANTA MONICA.
Dec. 24, 2011, 4:06:17 pm
Martin Rubin said...
Although marketed as some sort of holiday gift to the communities from the six flight schools at SMO, this is a major insult to the airport’s neighbors. It amounts to a gift wrapped present that contains nothing of any substance. Who are they kidding? “Voluntary” is not even enforceable! What stands out from both the fight schools letter and the City of Santa Monica’s press release is the lack of any reference to the fact that there already exists tougher restrictions to pattern flying. (Touch and Go and Stop and Go operations are prohibited on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and during weekdays between one-half (1/2) hour after sunset and 7:00 a.m. of the following morning). The flight schools have circumvented the spirit and intent of this by using a maneuver called taxi-backs. The airport’s neighbors will not be fooled and should be outraged by this empty and insulting gesture, as noise from pattern flying will continue throughout the day, most of the evening, and weekends. If the six SMO flight schools wanted to do the right thing they would move to an appropriate airport not surrounded by residential communities. Martin Rubin Director, Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution
Dec. 26, 2011, 3:11:11 pm
Pete said...
Martin, The restriction on touch and goes and stop and goes is already enforced heavily. This volunteer limit of pattern activity would also stop what you call "Taxi backs" during those hours. I don't understand what is up with your attitude. You complain every chance you get about the noise from the schools. Then, when the school directions offer to reduce their night training times you scoff at it as "insulting." What's insulting is that when someone puts forth a legitimate and level headed idea for working with you and the community you don't want anything to do with it. What? I think you just want a reason to be mad. Perhaps you need a new hobby.