Van Nuys Airport

VNY is a general aviation airport in the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) transportation system that includes Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). To administer our noise management program and community response efforts, we effectively pool our resources, including technical staff that oversees LAWA’s noise management branch office with the full support of community and public relations, airfield operations, and administrative staff.

VNY is surrounded by noise sensitive residential areas. In order to mitigate the noise disturbances to residents in the vicinity of VNY, please abide by the Mandatory Restrictions and follow the recommended noise abatement procedures listed below.

If you would like a copy of the VNY Pilot Guide, please contact Ryan Page, Noise Officer at 818-442-6533 or you may view/print one from our website here.

The Van Nuys Noise Abatement and Curfew Regulation (Ordinance No. 155727) prohibits aircraft generating departure noise levels equal to or above 74 decibels (per Federal Aviation Advisory Circular Regulation 36-3) from departing the airport between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. Aircraft with a noise standard rating of Stage 3 are not affected by the curfew until 11 p.m. Therefore, Stage 3 aircraft with a departure noise level below 74 decibels, and Stage 4 aircraft are not affected by the curfew at all. This regulation includes fines for violations ranging from $750 to $3,500, and a provision that may prevent violators from using the airport for up to three years.

To view the full VNY Ordinance, please click here.

To view each Ordinance separately, follow the link provided after each section.

Ordinance No. 155727 Van Nuys Noise Abatement and Curfew Regulation: Section 2 Curfew, Section 3 Repetitive Aircraft Operations, Section 4 Preferential Runway, and Section 5 Run-ups. http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/1973/73-2158-s2_ord_155727.pdf

Amended Ordinance No. 171889 The Additional Curfew Hour. This amendment adds Section 2.1 Curfew. http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/1997/97-1639_ORD_171889_02-12-1998.pdf

Amended Ordinance No. 173215 The Non-Addition Rule. This amendment adds Section 5.1 Non-addition and Subsection (gg) to Section 1. http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/1997/97-1639-S1_ORD_173215_06-10-2000.pdf

Amended Ordinance No. 181106 The Noisier Jet Phase Out. This amendment adds Section 5.2 Aircraft Operations – Maximum Noise Levels and Section 5.3 Exemptions from Maximum Noise Levels. http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2009/09-1112_ord_181106.pdf

Ordinance No. 155727 Van Nuys Noise Abatement and Curfew Regulation: Section 2 Curfew

To view the Ordinance, please follow this link: http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/1973/73-2158-s2_ord_155727.pdf

Formation arrivals and departures prohibited except for emergency response aircraft.

No Early Turn Policy (Board Resolution No. 25735)

The voluntary No Early Turn Policy requests that pilots departing VNY follow the below recommended procedures in an effort to reduce the noise level for residences under the flight path.

Pilots departing to the south from Runways 16R and 16L fly to the Sepulveda Flood Control Basin before initiating any turns, unless specifically directed by the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower.

For departures from the north Runways 34R and 34L, the policy requests that pilots reach an altitude of 1800’ MSL before initiating any turns, unless specifically directed by the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower.

For the Quiet Jet Departure Program, please click on the Quiet Jet Departure Program and Friendly Flyer Award Program categories.

Traffic Pattern Altitude 1800’MSL

Traffic Pattern Altitude 2000’ MSL

•Intersection departures are not permitted for Turbo-Jet aircraft.

•Runway 16L – Aircraft may depart from Intersection E and any
intersection North of that point.

•Runway 16R – Aircraft may depart Intersection K and any
intersection North of that point, excluding the high-speed
Taxiway H.

•Runway 34L – Aircraft may depart from Intersection G and any
intersection South of that point.

•Runway 34R – Aircraft may depart from Intersection G.

Ordinance No. 155727 Van Nuys Noise Abatement and Curfew Regulation, Section 5. Run-ups states:

“No person shall test or run-up an aircraft engine for maintenance purposes between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day. Engine run-ups shall be conducted only in areas designated in writing by the General Manager.”

The purpose of the designated run-up area is to mitigate both the safety and noise issues that are inherent with this type of activity.

Effective Monday, May 14, 2001, all persons who need to perform certain types of maintenance activity (i.e. leak checks, etc.) will be permitted to do so on their leasehold, and not be in violation of the Ordinance, provided the following provisions are adhered to:

1. Contact Airport Operations at (818) 442-6506 prior to commencing the operation.

2. All engine checks must be accomplished at idle power at all times and for a duration not to exceed three (3) minutes.

3. A minimum of one wing walker must be present outside the aircraft, in clear view of the individual manipulating the controls of the aircraft, at all times the engine(s) are running to ensure the overall safety of the operation.

4. The “jet blast/prop wash” resulting from the activity must be directed away from the service road at all times and in no way jeopardize the safety of any persons or property.

Any maintenance run-up activity not in compliance with the aforementioned provisions, as well as the time stipulations contained within the Ordinance, will be in violation of said Ordinance and handled accordingly.

Repetitive Flight Operations

“Touch & Go’s” and “Stop & Go’s” limited to fixed wing, reciprocating engine aircraft only. The preferred runway for pattern work is 16L/34R. Pattern work may be suspended at any time as deemed necessary by VNY Management, ATC or their designated agents. No person shall engage in repetitive operations in any propeller powered aircraft between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day from June 21 through September 15, and between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. of the following day, from September 16 through June 20.

For further information, please see Ordinance No. 155727 Van Nuys Noise Abatement and Curfew Regulation.

No Early Turn Policy

The voluntary No Early Turn Policy (Board Resolution No. 25735) requests that pilots departing VNY follow the below recommended procedures in an effort to reduce the noise level for residences under the flight path.

Pilots departing to the south from Runways 16R and 16L fly to the Sepulveda Flood Control Basin before initiating any turns, unless specifically directed by the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower.

For departures from the north Runways 34R and 34L, the policy requests that pilots reach an altitude of 1800’ MSL before initiating any turns, unless specifically directed by the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower.

To improve compliance with the noise abatement procedures by propeller-driven aircraft, particularly those engaged in circuit training at VNY, LAWA reached out to flight schools, pilots, and other local general aviation airports to raise awareness of LAWA’s No Early Turn procedures.

For Community Groups, see VNY Citizen Advisory Council category.

Internet Flight Tracking System

VNY’s Internet Flight Tracking System, called WebTrak, allows you to view the movement of flights and air traffic patterns within the San Fernando Valley, as well as in the western and northern portions of the greater Los Angeles area. Introduced in July 2009 as part of ANOMS to replace the previous system, WebTrak – available here – shows flight identification, aircraft type, altitude, and origin/destination airports. Real-time data in the live mode is delayed 31 minutes for security and system processing. Historical data is viewed in the Replay mode and is available for up to the previous 90 days.

Key WebTrak features include:

• An integrated noise complaint form that allows residents disturbed by noise to select an operation that may be the cause and submit a complaint with the operation information automatically filled in;

• An improved map system that allows users to pan and zoom using the Map toolbar;

• Display of noise levels (in both the Live and Replay modes) from the numerous noise monitoring terminals around VNY;

• Use of an address locator that allows for self-investigation of noise complaints; and

• A new community locator tool that allows users to zoom in on communities in the immediate areas around the airport.

For further information regarding the Van Nuys Noise Abatement Curfew Regulation (Ordinance No. 155727) please click here or see the Images / Diagrams Section.

Aircraft Noise & Operations Monitoring System (ANOMS)

The Aircraft Noise & Operations Monitoring System (ANOMS) is the state-of-the-art noise and flight tracking management system at VNY.

The system integrates a variety of data including audio recordings of air traffic control tower frequencies, noise event data from noise monitoring terminals in the surrounding community, radar flight track data, curfew operations, and noise complaint logs. ANOMS provides noise management personnel with extensive query, analysis, reporting, display, and monitoring capabilities, and allows staff to perform key duties such as:

• Investigating noise complaints and preparing monthly reports.

• Monitoring aircraft operations for compliance with noise abatement procedures.

• Conducting noise analysis of aircraft arrival and departure procedures.

• Creating noise contour maps.

• Identifying areas that are impacted by aircraft noise.

When arriving or departing from VNY, please abide by the following Helicopter Operating recommendations.

1. Departures will climb to 1300’MSL prior to departing airport property.

2. Arrivals maintain 1300’MSL until reaching airport property.

3. Runway crossings will be made midfield at an altitude stipulated by the ATCT.

4. Whenever possible, operators will avoid flights over residential areas.

5. Repetitive operations, pattern work and flight training are not permitted within the airport traffic area and over airport property.

6. Request one of six routes when arriving/departing from airport.

For further information, please see the VNY pilot Guide located here.

Quiet Jet Departure Program

As part of the VNY Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program, the Board of Airport Commissioners (BOAC) approved a voluntary Fly Friendly Program for jet aircraft that was established in 1994 to address the community noise issue. This voluntary program consists primarily of the Quiet Departure Program (QDP), which sets not-to-exceed target departure noise levels for specific jet aircraft types. Pilots adhere to the program by using noise abatement procedures approved by airplane manufacturers and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) when departing VNY.

In 2011, new jet aircraft types and target noise levels were added to the QDP to take into account changes in fleet mix, the number of new aircraft operators and new aircraft types operating into and out of the airport.

To view the updated Target Noise Levels, please visit this link:
https://www.lawa.org/-/media/lawa-web/environment/files/noise-mgt/update-new-target-noise-level.ashx or see the Images/Diagrams Section, Updated Quiet Departure Target Noise Levels.

Friendly Flyer Award Program

In 2012, the Friendly Flyer Award Program was established to identify and formally recognize jet operators that have achieved the highest levels of compliance with the mandatory noise regulations and the voluntary noise abatement programs at VNY. The Friendly Flyer Award is presented annually to jet operators that meet or exceed the following criteria during the award year:

A. At least 60 southbound jet departures

B. No violations of the following:
• Noise Abatement and Curfew Regulation
• Non-Additional Rule
• Noisier Jet Phase-out

C. 99% or greater compliance with the No Early Turn and the Quiet Jet Departure Programs.

To view the updated Target Noise Levels for the Quiet Jet Departure Program, please visit this link: https://www.lawa.org/-/media/lawa-web/environment/files/noise-mgt/update-new-target-noise-level.ashx or see the Images/Diagrams Section, Updated Quiet Departure Target Noise Levels.

The Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council was established by the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners and approved by the Los Angeles City Council in 1985. The committee reviews issues affecting the operation of Van Nuys Airport and provides advice and recommendations to the Commission, Mayor’s Office, City Council and other appropriate agencies. Providing a means of communication between the Commission, the appointing authorities, the general aviation community and the public, the Citizens Advisory Council concerns itself with all aspects of general aviation operations, facilities development and land utilization at and around the airport.

Meetings are held at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month in the FlyAway conference room at 7610 Woodley Ave., second floor. CAC meetings fall under the State of California Brown Act. Any changes must be posted 72 hours prior to any meeting. We suggest that interested parties confirm meeting dates and location prior to attending by checking our website or calling 818-442-6526. All CAC meetings are open to the general public. To view the previous monthly agendas and presentations, please follow this link: https://www.iflyvny.com/community-information/citizens-advisory-council.