FAA Plans To Study Flight Plan Changes At Hollywood Burbank Airport

BURBANK (CBSLA) — The Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday that it will order an environmental assessment of proposed departure procedure changes at Hollywood Burbank Airport to address noise concerns and complaints of some residents.

The decision was made after two public workshops on the proposed flight changes were held in November in Burbank, according to the FAA, which is developing a timeline for preparing the assessment. The additional study "will evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed amendments" to departure procedures and "any reasonable alternatives to the proposed amendments," according to the FAA.

A date had not been set for the proposed changes to go into effect.

Back in October, dozens of angry residents from communities including Studio City, Sherman Oaks and Encino packed a meeting at Burbank Vista Library to voice their complaints about a new FAA transportation system which is sending departing planes south directly over homes and schools, such as Carpenter Elementary and Walter Reed Middle schools in Studio City.

Local elected officials praised the decision to conduct the assessment. In a statement Monday, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) said that "the FAA needs to listen to Valley residents before they make it impossible for residents to hear themselves think."

Last year, Sherman called for a full environmental review process to address noise issues.

Last week, Sherman, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Kamala Harris and Rep. Adam Schiff called for the establishment of an Aviation Noise Roundtable to address noise concerns in the San Fernando Valley.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)