July 8, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Residents Still Report Noise From Santa Monica Airport:

For years, aircraft noise from Santa Monica Airport has been a source of contention for surrounding residents. To address this problem, Santa Monica’s Airport Commission has held annual workshops. This year’s meeting consisted of presentations that focused on data gathered in 2010.

Stelios Makrides, the City’s airport operations administrator, gave a presentation on the 2010 Santa Monica Airport Noise Management Program on April 25. He noted that the total number of aircraft operations (take-offs and landings) in 2010 was 104,950, a decrease of approximately 6 percent from operations in 2009. Propeller aircraft made up 85 percent of the total 2010 operations, a drop of 6 percent from 2009. Jet aircraft operations represented 12 percent, a drop of 7 percent from last year. Helicopters represented 3 percent, an 8 percent drop from 2009.

During 2010 there were 116 noise violations, which is a 19 percent reduction from 2009. A violation occurs when an aircraft creates noise that exceeds 95 dBA (a decibel measurement unit for sound detectable to the human ear), a maximum arrived upon through an agreement between the City of Santa Monica and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Noise levels are measured at sites 1500 feet from each end of the airport’s runway.

Penalties for a violation include a warning, a $2,000 fine for the initial violation, and up to a $10,000 fine for subsequent violations, or being banned from using the airport after multiple violations. Airport Director Robert Trimborn said “these fines are the highest in the nation. In 2010, 106 warnings were issued, eight $2,000 fines were collected, one fine of $5,000 was collected, and one aircraft was banned. Jet aircraft was responsible for 93 of the 116 noise violations in 2010, and propeller aircraft incurred the remaining 23 violations.

A presentation was also given by Vincent Mestre, from P.E. Landrum and Brown, on the 2010 Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) noise contours for Santa Monica Airport (SMO) that was prepared by Landrum and Brown. The CNEL data was collected at each of the six permanent noise-monitoring sites around the airport and compared with CNEL noise levels that were predicted using computer noise modeling. The computer modeling surveys the number of aircraft operations by type, flight tracks, flight profiles, types of aircraft, typical operational procedures, and average meteorological conditions, as well as other parameters. The measured CNELs were very close in value to those predicted by the computer noise modeling and fell below the guideline (65 decibels) set by California and the FAA.

After the presentations, members of the community had the chance to ask questions and comment. The Director of Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution, Martin Rubin, told the commission the workshop is staked against the community.

“It’s all figured out in order to quell community complaints,” he said. “The 1984 agreement [between the City and the FAA] was supposed to settle the noise issues. It didn’t work. The noise has gotten worse despite what your models say.”

Culver City homeowner Laura Shrewsbury says she cannot enjoy her yard anymore because of the noise from flying aircraft. “I have called your noise management office almost every day because I cannot hold a conversation or engage in my livelihood (writing)… I keep being told there’s been no change in the flight patterns but something has changed in the last three months . . .You should be proud of yourselves with all your charts and decibel levels but it’s not working for me,” she said.

Professional sound editor, Robert Nokes, said, “I can’t drive around Santa Monica in a (Honda) Civic with a big muffler blasting and waking people up at 7 in the morning. Why do individual recreation pilots have the right to destroy our lives?”

Another speaker, Richard Kalbro, claimed that the aircraft noise is much louder than what is being reported. He asked about supplying evidence about how noisy it is near his home. Airport Commission Chair Ofer Grossman responded, “Under the 1984 agreement only the information from noise two monitors count for law enforcement purposes. They are the oldest ones we have.”

Commission Vice-Chair E. Richard Brown also responded that politics could play a part in this issue. “It’s the members of Congress that have any clout with the FAA … they are the ones in a better position than any local or state politician to try to press this issue for some changes,” he said.

in News
<>Related Posts

Anti-Drunk Driving Resolution Introduced as City Council Honors Late Palisades Teen Killed in Crash

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Levi, who was set to attend the University of Virginia this fall, was killed by a drunk driver on May...

Free and Reduced Price School Meals Available for Eligible Families in Santa Monica-Malibu District

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Parents in Need Encouraged to Apply, SMMUSD Commits to Nutritious, Accessible Meals By Brandyi Phillips, SMMUSD Chief Communications Officer Santa...

Big Blue Bus to Raise Fares for First Time in Nearly a Decade

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

The fare increase aims to offset rising costs for fuel, utilities, and supplies, according to the agency. The Santa Monica...

Shore Hotel: A Local Destination for Summer Fun

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bring on all things summer. Walking or biking along Santa Monica Pier, you might find yourself taking a pause at...

Santa Monica’s 150th Anniversary to be Celebrated with Vibrant State of the City Event

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, beach chairs, and picnics to enjoy during the performances Santa Monica will mark its...

Soprano Golda Zahra Returns to BroadStage For a One-Night-Only Musical Celebration

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Hailed as “the rising star of the opera world” by The Hollywood Times, internationally acclaimed soprano Golda Zahra makes her much-anticipated return to BroadStage in...

(Video) Hundreds of Drones Light up the Sky for Palisades to Celebrate July 4th

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The Event Marked One of the First Large Gatherings Among Palisadians Since the January Wildfires. The Event Marked One of...

Transform Your Life: The Free Virtual ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT Debuts July 18-20, 2025

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT, a transformative three-day virtual event, is coming, July 18-20, 2025, offering participants worldwide a free opportunity...

Santa Monica Home Defies Convention: Architect Eric Owen Moss Debuts Shape-Shifting Design

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Pistachio-Colored Marvel Boasts Curving Walls, Sharp Angles, and Challenging Design A striking residence in Santa Monica is turning heads with...

Caitlyn Jenner’s Friend and Former Foundation CEO Dies in Malibu ATV Crash

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

ATV Plummeted 350 Feet After Rear-Ending Vehicle in Malibu Sophia Hutchins, former CEO of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation and longtime...

New SaMo Bridge Program Refers 56 People in First Month; 37 Connected to Services

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

According to city officials, the program is on pace to meet its goal of serving 260 individuals annually Santa Monica’s...

Multi-Family Venice Property on Rare Double Lot Lists at Over $5M

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

In total, the four units provide 5,398 square feet of living space A multi-family property located one block from Venice...

Hama Sushi Hosts Weekly Music and Comedy Open Mics

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The venue, a Venice Beach staple since 1979, has recently expanded its legendary happy hour to the entire patio Hama...

Connections Breakfast to Network Local Business Professionals in Malibu

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The event, sponsored by Malibu Country Mart, will feature a breakfast mixer where attendees can meet new contacts  A Connections...

12th Annual Gopher Scramble Golf Tournament to Benefit Venice Heritage Museum

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The museum opened to the public in March 2024 at the Main Street Design Center with its inaugural exhibition, “This...