L.A. residents sound off on helicopter noise
Aug. 07--Helicopters have hovered for decades as background noise for Los Angeles. News choppers follow police car chases. Paparazzi whirl above Hollywood stars. Official helicopters chase brush fires and thugs.
But Angelenos sounded off Monday to federal transportation officials at a hearing in Sherman Oaks that they were finally up to their ears in helicopter rotor noise.
"Media, tour operators and paparazzi -- these combine to provide significant activity and noise pollution," said Bob Anderson of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association. "Enforceable, legal restrictions are necessary."
The hearing, hosted by Rep. Howard Berman and conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration, called upon residents to speak out on the negative impact of heli noise across the region.
An estimated 250 residents and homeowner groups packed a hall at Millikan Middle School to say they'd had enough.
They had had enough, they said, of being shaken to the bones by helicopter thrum.
They'd had enough of commercial and noncommerical helicopters cutting through neighborhoods near Van Nuys and Torrance airports.
They had had enough of news choppers hovering over neighborhood crime scenes.
And they'd suffered enough tourist and paparazzi choppers dicing up the skies from the Hollywood Hills to Los Angeles. Even the Hollywood Bowl is being buzzed by as many as nine helicopters a night, officials said.
Last Thursday, an unidentified
helicopter drowned out a violin solo of Beethoven. Concerts and future recording contracts are at stake, Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said.
"This was an outrage," Yaroslavsky told FAA officials, playing a recording of the Hollywood Bowl downdraft. "This should not have been allowed to happen."
The power to restrict aircraft lies with the FAA. On Monday, its officials were listening.
Acting upon a request by Berman, the federal transportation agency said it would accept testimony from residents and helicopter industry groups.
A report on how to quell the noise is expected within a year. Regulations may be soon to follow.
"We want to examine every remedy we can for (helicopter) noise," said FAA Regional Administrator Bill Withycombe, who was joined by a dozen other FAA officials. "We are here tonight to listen."
Residents called for height restrictions, routes and neighborhood curfews, in addition to easy chopper I.D. markings.
"Enough is enough," said John Baird, president of the Southeast Torrance Homeowners' Association. "There is no replacement for meaningful mandatory action by the FAA."
Helicopter noise has shared the L.A. backdrop for decades. But it was during the so-called Carmaggedon closure of the 405 Freeway last July that irritation hit its zenith.
With the hush of the freeway came a rush of media, paparazzi or touring choppers -- and a crush of complaints to Berman's office.
The result was his Los Angeles Helicopter Noise Act, which would regulate commercial flights but has stalled in Congress with a corresponding Senate bill.
"Unlike airplanes, helicopters are mostly unregulated," said Berman, D-Valley Village, joined at the hearing by Reps. Brad Sherman and Adam Schiff, both supporters of his bill. Councilman Paul Krekorian also complained about the commercial helicopter racket.
"For far too long my constituents have complained on this issue -- sleepless nights and noise," Berman said. "Without legislation, we're dealing with a Wild West" over Los Angeles.
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