SANTA MONICA—In December of 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration began a flight pattern test that would last for 180 days. This test was created to see if the path was changed for the small propeller planes that took off from the Santa Monica Airport would reduce delays experienced at LAX. SMO and LAX are very close in proximity and both of their primary departure tracks end up converging west of the airports, which created many problems for the bigger jets which have to take off from LAX. Because small propeller planes at SMO are much slower than the larger jets from LAX. On most occasions the jets would have to wait on the runway to let the smaller planes get out of their path before taking off, which would create extensive delays. This not only created many delays at LAX, but also at SMO.

The flight pattern test consisted of making the smaller propeller planes make a turn immediately after taking off from the Santa Monica Airport. These planes would then fly over the Sunset Park and Ocean Park neighborhoods, instead of less populated areas. In the FAA’s interim review of the test, it states, “Prior to the test, the average number of delays minutes per month were 594. Since the test began this number has been reduced to 87 minutes, an 85% decrease.” Despite improved delay times, thousands of residents of the surrounding neighborhoods complained about the noise coming from the planes flying over their homes. The complaints started rolling in when the test began back in December. Just since May 1, 2010, there had already been 3,500 noise complaints.

The experimental flight test just ended just weeks ago on June 8, but residents have noticed that there hasn’t been any decrease in the noise coming from flyovers. The FAA has stated that they will have a final report finished, about the test route, in August. They do not know if they will make the route permanent, but if it is considered, they will do a thorough analysis of what the public has to say about it.