Van Nuys Airport
Management Report on
Aircraft Noise and Operations
Presentation to Board of Airport Commissioners
June 3, 2021
Metroplex Procedures Recap – Implementation and Changes
April 2017
June 2017
August 2017
2018 May
FAA published Metroplex RNAV procedures with FATKO waypoint, instead of the JAAYT waypoint identified in the Environmental
Assessment (EA) for Metroplex
LAWA notified FAA of ten-fold increase in early turns with the
publication of new RNAV procedures with FATKO, citing inconsistency with the Metroplex EA, and asked FAA to address
FAA responded they were redesigning the RNAV departure
procedures; aircraft apparently were turning quickly and had potential conflicts with other operations (BUR arrivals over VNY and
helicopters). In the interim, FAA implemented a Standard Operating Procedure for air traffic controllers to issue turns to aircraft after
reaching Victory Blvd.
FAA published revised RNAV procedures with a new waypoint (PPRRY) located in the Sepulveda Flood Basin, that was consistent with the original waypoint (JAAYT) proposed in the Metroplex EA;
PPRRY was within 32 feet of JAAYT per the FAA
Metroplex Procedures Recap – Southerly Shift
Summer 2018
November 2018
Noise Comments increased significantly – primarily from hillside communities south of VNY
Results of LAWA data
analysis presented to VNY CAC, confirming southerly
shift of departure flights using
new RNAV procedures. • “2018 Metroplex” departure flight paths: more
turns occur farther south and more dispersed
• Increase in noise comments from individuals located in Encino, Sherman Oaks, and Studio City due to shift of flight paths to the south.
• Approximately 150 to 300 individuals submit noise comments each month
• “Pre Metroplex” departure fight paths: darker red colors indicated more concentration of flights and fewer flights turning over the hillside communities
• Noise comment locations dispersed over various communities around VNY
• Approximately 15 to 20 individuals submitted noise comments each month
Metroplex Procedures Recap - Alternatives
March 2019
August 2019
Based on continued engagement and dialogue with LAWA, FAA conducted further analysis to determine possible alternative departure procedures.
FAA presented to the VNY CAC a feasible
alternative called notional departure procedures, after considering more than eight different options for moving the flight path farther north, to mirror as
closely as possible pre-Metroplex flight paths (orange lines reference approximate location).
Notional procedures were deemed by FAA as only ones feasible, but also shifted flight paths north and away from hills, similar to pre-Metroplex flight paths.
FAA Notional Procedures
Metroplex Procedures Recap – Resolution Efforts
Southern San Fernando Valley Airplane Noise Task Force (Task Force), established by LAWA and BGPAA, held 7 meetings and provided 16
recommendations to address BUR and VNY noise issues.
Included Recommendation 2 for FAA to modify VNY RNAV flight paths.
FAA responded to the Task Force noting that to initiate the process to revise the VNY RNAV departure procedures, LAWA (as the airport
authority) had to submit a request using FAA’s IFP Information Gateway.
Once submitted, the FAA would conduct an initial feasibility study to determine moving to the next step of convening a Full Work Group.
LAWA submitted IFP Gateway request to FAA, per Task Force
recommendations and FAA direction, to revise RNAV departure procedures using the 2019 notional procedures developed by FAA. LAWA also
requested FAA implement interim procedures to provide more immediate relief. FAA initiated the process to study revision of notional procedures, but declined to implement interim procedures.
LAWA participated in the FAA Full Work Group – a technical workshop with representatives from FAA and industry/operator stakeholders; no
community members were allowed. FWG discussed notional procedures and considered possible changes/tweaks to waypoint locations.
Subsequent to FWG meeting, FAA provided a revised waypoint for proposed procedures.
August 2019 – April 2020
October 2020
April 2021 September
2020
Federal Aviation Administration
VNY RNAV SID FWG Design Summary
HARYS and ROSCO RNAV SIDS
Blue line – New amended departure design Yellow dotted line – Original notional design Green line – Simulated projected / typical
flight path of large jet with new design.
Proposed track angle from VNY to 1st Fix is too sharp at 104°.
ATC needs aircraft heading 113° for
divergence from BUR RWY 08 arrivals.
FWG 1st FIX moved approximately 2nm per LAWA request – FWG approved.
WLKKR RNAV SID
Blue line – New RNAV departure design
Yellow dotted line – Original notional design ATC require aircraft heading 213° if not
turned before 1st New Fix – for other traffic Green line – simulated projected / typical flight path of large jet with new design
1st FIX NEW moved .4 closer to VNY – per LAWA request – FWG approved.
HARYS and ROSCOE WLKKR
IFP Gateway Request – FWG Process
7
• LAWA will meet with FAA to get better understanding of waypoint location fix that resulted from the FWG meeting
• LAWA and FAA will hold Community meeting to brief Community on revised notional procedures
Next Steps
• If consensus provided on FWG proposed procedures, then FWG can provide final approval to continue with the IFP Gateway process
• If no consensus, then the process ends and the existing RNAV procedures
remain in place
Certain scheduled operations are permissible at general aviation airports:
•
FAA allows Part 135 on-demand aircraft charter operators, who own/manage the aircraft, to offer up to four scheduled round-trip flights per week in aircraft with up to nine seats•
DOT permits Part 380 public charter companies, who do not own/operate the aircraft, to advertise and sell single seats on flights conducted at general aviation airports in aircraft with over nine seats•
Only a Part 380 public charter company may publish and advertise scheduled flights beyond what is permitted for Part 135 on-demand aircraft charter operators•
Flights operated under Part 380 are not considered “scheduled” operations by the FAA•
FAA has stated that current on-line offerings for flights at VNY are permitted under Part 380•
LAWA is seeking further clarification on this item from legal counsel, FAA and DOTScheduled Operations at General Aviation Airports
Are scheduled operations permissible at VNY?
Scheduled Part 121 commercial air carrier service (airline, regional air carrier, cargo) is prohibited at airports
that do not hold a Part 139 operating certificate, such as VNY.
Additional LAWA Efforts to Address VNY Noise Issues
9
•
LAWA worked with Department of Homeland Security to restrict the hours of the Customs and Border Protection Office at VNY, perSSFVA Noise Task Force Recommendation 10
•
LAWA initiated a VNY Departure Noise Study in April 2021, perRecommendation 4 of the SSFVA Noise Task Force, to evaluate various departure techniques to obtain the lowest noise levels from aircraft
departing VNY
•
Initial data review has shown a small percent of aircraft that are extending their required altitude hold down past the end of the runway – may be an opportunity to work with FAA to clarifyprocedure to pilots so they are higher when flying over hillside areas.
•
LAWA implemented the VNY Quieter Nights Program in March 2020•
Encourages jet aircraft operators to avoid arrivals and departures at VNY between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. whenever possible, unless the aircraft are involved in military, law enforcement, emergency, fire or air ambulance/life flight operations.Quieter Nights Program Milestones
10
•
Launched in March 2020•
Dedicated Quieter Nights Program web page (March 2020) (https://www.iflyvny.com/vnyquieternights)•
VNY airfield signage for pilots (July 2020)•
Program flyers and posters distributed to VNY and itinerant jet operators (August 2020)•
Included in FAA Airport Master Record and Whispertrack (Nov 2020)•
Tenant, operator and industry outreach; digital ad campaign on aircharterguide.com (ongoing)•
Action plans received from nine tenants/operators: Clay Lacy Aviation, Signature Flight Support, Western Jet Aviation, Jet Aviation,Aeroplex/Aerolease Group, Castle & Cooke Aviation, Gulfstream Aerospace, Paramount Pictures and Sun Air Jets
•
Quieter Nights Program incorporated into VNY Friendly FlyerAwards Program starting 2020: new criteria for jet operators to show a reduction in annual nighttime jet operations vs. 2019 baseline
Statistical Update: 1 st Quarter 2021 vs. 2019 Baseline
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• Nighttime jet operations
36% less nighttime flights than 2019 baseline (not including life flights)
• Total jet operations (Day and Night)
3% more operations than 1Q 2020 9% less operations than 1Q 2019
• Total jet operations – March 2021
53% more jet operations than March 2020 4% more jet operations than March 2019 (return to pre-COVID levels)
12.3
7.6 7.9
Next steps for Noise
12
• Complete VNY Departure Noise Study by Summer 2021 to obtain the
lowest noise levels from jet aircraft departing VNY per SSFVA Noise Task Force Recommendation 4
• Confirm departure altitude data from VNY Departure Noise Study and work with FAA to determine opportunity to increase altitude of these lower flying jet aircraft by clarifying hold-down altitude requirement on departure
•
Quieter Nights Program: Continue outreach, engagement and promotionof QNP
13