FAA Meets With San Fernando Valley Residents Over Helicopter Noise Complaints
SHERMAN OAKS (CBSLA.com) — San Fernando Valley residents Monday made their concerns heard, telling officials they were tired of hearing low-flying helicopters roar over their homes.
Congressman Berman hosted a public hearing for the community to discuss the matter with the Federal Aviation Administration at Millikan Middle School.
"This was an outrage and this should not be allowed to happen," L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky said at the meeting, referring to a low-altitude helicopter flight which swept over the Hollywood Bowl during a classical music concert -- drowning out the music onstage.
The forum came after Berman and other L.A. County officials sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation secretary Ray LaHood to alert him to the alleged problem.
"We have shared our frustration about this problem with our friends, neighbors and local elected officials. Now the FAA must hear our voices and implement changes that place the well-being of Valley residents before the interests of a few helicopter operators. We are long overdue to find a commonsense solution to this constant problem," Berman said in a written statement.
Input from Monday's meeting would factor in to the FAA report on the situation.
In 2011, Berman introduced the Los Angeles Helicopter Noise Relief Act to "address the growing safety and noise concerns among Valley residents caused by low-flying helicopters" above their communities.
