It has been a constant for over 10 years that helicopters fly too close to the ground in Los Angeles California.
With the one exception of the LA Police Department flying on an "emergency" mission; helicopters need not be flying around Los Angeles. Even then a good number of times, the "emergency" helicopter mission brings no police cars with their sirens sounding. I dare the Police Department to publish any statistics that show they capture or prevent more crime by flying helicopters in comparison with sending squad cars.
In July of 2008, I installed the DTV (Digital Television) converter box for my television. Now it's an Apex brand. My Sony TV has a much more sensitive tuner. I have a rabbit ears antenna. Everytime a helicopter or airplane flies near me, the television picture and sound break up. Often it takes several seconds for the picture and sound to return.
In Los Angeles, the FAA spokesperson is
Jerry Snyder
(FAA): 310-725-3580
email: jerry.snyder@faa.gov
The F.A.A. (Federal Aviation Agency) has a webpage about aircraft noise.
Aircraft Noise Issues
(http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/aep/aircraft_noise/)
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has procedures to respond to the public about aircraft noise questions or complaints within the United States. You can find information below to contact an FAA official if you have a question, concern, or complaint:
* Report noise associated with an airport, concerns about wildlife disturbances, or get information about ongoing noise abatement studies and FAA’s sound insulation program
* Report noise not associated with an airport or civil helicopter noise
* Report a safety or noise issue caused by low flying aircraft
If you think FAA officials are not responsive to your inquiry, you can contact FAA’s Aviation Noise Ombudsman. The Noise Ombudsman serves as a public liaison for issues about aircraft noise questions or complaints.
Contact information
Federal Aviation Administration,
Aviation Noise Ombudsman, AEE-2
800 Independence Ave. S.W.
Washington, DC 20591
The section labeled: "Key Officials" listed the following people:
Key Officials
Nancy D. LoBue
Acting Assistant Administrator, Aviation Policy, Planning and Environment
Nan Shellabarger
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Aviation Policy, Planning and Environment
Denise Petinga Donohue
Manager, Program Management Staff
John M. Rogers
Director, Office of Aviation Insurance Programs
Gary A. O'Toole
Acting Director, Office of Aviation Policy and Plans
Carl E. Burleson
Director, Office of Environment and Energy
Lynne S. Pickard
Deputy Director, Office of Environment and Energy
As I can find contact points for these people, I will add that information.
The
Aircraft Noise Ombudsman is created by law. See:
http://airportnoiselaw.org/ombud.html
Which, in September of 2008 said:
Federal Aviation Administration's Aviation Noise Ombudsman
The Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996 required the FAA Administrator to appoint an Aviation Noise Ombudsman (see below). According to the Act the ombudsman shall "serve as a liaison with the public on issues regarding aircraft noise" and "be consulted when the Administrator proposes changes in aircraft routes so as to minimize any increases in aircraft noise over populated areas." The Aviation Noise Ombudsman is charged by the FAA with performing the following duties:
* In consultation with the Air Traffic Airspace Management Program, Environmental Programs Division, review proposed aircraft route changes over noise sensitive areas to assure required statutory, regulatory and policy processes have been followed and an appropriate level of community awareness and involvement has been achieved prior to implementation of a proposed change;
* Communicate with local officials and other interested parties regarding aviation noise issues, coordinating as appropriate with responsible FAA offices;
* Respond to routine inquiries, directing them to other FAA or local airport officials when feasible;
* Review aviation noise concerns raised by the public that have not been resolved at the local FAA level, and facilitate their resolution. Refer any concerns raised by the public that are outside FAA’s purview to the appropriate airport and airplane operators; and
* Periodically prepare and issue a public report of activities.
On June 20, 1997, the Ombudsman issued an initial public report of Ombudsman activity covering the period from January 6 through June 6, 1997. Since then other reports have been prepared, but none apparently after 1999.
Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-264)
SEC. 1210. AIRCRAFT NOISE OMBUDSMAN.
Section 106, as amended by section 230 of this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
``(q) Aircraft Noise Ombudsman.--
``(1) Establishment.--There shall be in the Administration an Aircraft Noise Ombudsman.
``(2) General duties and responsibilities.--The Ombudsman shall--
``(A) be appointed by the Administrator;
``(B) serve as a liaison with the public on issues regarding aircraft noise; and
``(C) be consulted when the Administration proposes changes in aircraft routes so as to minimize any increases in aircraft noise over populated areas.
``(3) Number of full-time equivalent employees.--The appointment of an Ombudsman under this subsection shall not result in an increase in the number of full-time equivalent employees in the Administration.''.
I have been told by someone, I can't remember who said this to me, that the reason that helicopters fly so low in Los Angeles is that they are avoiding the jets (commercial avaiation) landing and departing from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport (BUR), located in Burbank, California. To this I say, does not the commercial aircraft as well as the helicopter have radar and other forms of collision avoidance systems, including the helicopter pilots? I think they like to fly near the ground, unnecessarily close to the ground. The building I currently live in is a 30 unit apartment. The helicopters often make the building vibrate from the "prop wash".
It is my hope that by putting up this weblog, that others will come and comment as well as using the information I have provided to contact officials who will, if (and when) enough complaints are registered ACT.
Also, I see the Los Angeles World Airway (formal name of LAX) has a Noise Management webpage:
http://l-a-x.org/lax/laxNoiseMgmt.cfm
with a Noise Complaint form
http://l-a-x.org/lax/noiseform/complaint.asp
I filled it out, asking the form to remember my information and I've requested a written response, too.
