Call Your U.S. Senators Today! Provision Under Consideration Would Impose Curfew at Burbank Airport

The U.S. Senate began work this week on a mini appropriations bill that includes funding for the Department of Transportation, and HAI President Matt Zuccaro is very concerned over an amendment to be offered by California Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would impose a nighttime curfew on all airport operations at the Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR). These types of amendments are devastating to local businesses and are a negative impact on the aviation system.

“We see more and more of these types of legislative aircraft noise mandates coming from U.S. Senators seeking to placate a small minority of their constituency,” said Zuccaro, adding “this is the worst example of regulation by legislation whereby the role of the FAA is diminished and there is little regard for industry voluntary efforts. This is but one more dangerous precedent which circumvents the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990. Passage of Senator Feinstein’s amendment to scale back operations at Burbank is another nail in the coffin for general aviation, adding to politically imposed operating restrictions across the nation.”

Matt Zuccaro urges all U.S.-based HAI members to pick up the phone today and/or email their two U.S. Senators urging them to oppose Senator Feinstein’s Burbank Airport amendment. The answer to noise issues raised by local communities does not lie in the hands of individual lawmakers, it rests with air carriers, general aviation interests, local airports, and community interests working together to reach a compromise that works through local programs and upholds long standing congressionally mandated policies implemented to support the U.S. aviation and airport system and sustain viable economic entities that support general aviation.

Contact information for U.S. Senators may be found at www.senate.gov.