Airport Noise-restriction Laws Hard to Come By

Dozens of U.S. airports have laws that prohibit jet flights during the hours that most people sleep.

However, they predate the Congress' passing the Airport Noise and Capacity Act of 1990. Since then, airports' seeking curfews must either get the support of all of the airlines served or go through an extended review by the FAA. The law emerged after some air carriers became concerned that the growing number of airport curfews threatened their operations.

To seek binding restrictions from the FAA under the 1990 law, the applicant must perform a cost-benefit analysis and examine the restrictions' effects on air safety, interstate commerce, and the airlines' performance.

Residents who live in the vicinity of airports in Tacoma, WA, Cleveland, San Francisco, Austin, Texas, and elsewhere have pressed for noise restrictions. However, the FAA or airport officials have successfully resisted their efforts.

Some airports have turned to voluntary curfews to which both officials as well as the airlines can agree. However, the success of such agreements has been spotty.

At Westchester County Airport in New York, residents and city officials complain that airlines and cargo carriers regularly violate them. The number of flights between midnight and 6 AM reportedly has more than doubled since 1995.

Voluntary limits have proved more successful at the new Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (TX), although officials there say some air carriers violate the rules at least once a day.

This case study is adapted from an article by Shelby Grad, appearing in the May 6 edition of The Los Angeles Times.