FAA To Hear From Helicopter Pilots, Residents On Noise Pollution

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Southland lawmaker will hold a public hearing Monday night to discuss a recent government report on helicopter noise across Los Angeles County.

KNX 1070's Vytas Safronikas reports Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) will host the Congressional field hearing with representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), homeowners and helicopter pilots.

Homeowners have long complained about disruptions caused by news choppers, paparazzi, tour operators and public safety agencies.

The FAA will present the findings from its recently completed report, which found the noise pollution emanating from low-flying helicopters is concentrated to high decibel levels by the unique terrain of canyons and valleys.

The report also found the noise levels can sometimes grow loud enough to drown out normal conversations and can disturb normal sleep cycles.

Schiff, along with Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, has introduced the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act (H.R. 456), which would require the FAA to set regulations relating to flight paths and altitudes for helicopter flights in Los Angeles County.

However, he cautioned residents that the legislation is unlikely to be a cure-all for every source of noise pollution.

"Some of the flights are gonna be unavoidable, the law enforcement flights, a lot of our media flights," Schiff said. "But even those actors can do a better job."

Separate panels of representatives from homeowners groups and the helicopter industry will have the opportunity to question FAA officials and share their views on the issue.

The hearing was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Theatre at the Autry National Center in Griffith Park.