BURBANK AIRPORT NOISE CURBS PROPOSED.

Byline: Lee Condon Daily News Staff Writer

Noise at Burbank Airport could be reduced by a stricter curfew on night flights, a sound wall at its northeast border and routing departing night flights away from homes, according to a preliminary study released Wednesday.

Coffman Associates, a noise consultant hired by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport, used computer models to look at steps that could cut noise at the airport. The city of Burbank, trying to block the airport's expansion plans because of complaints from residents about noise, is pressing for night curfews and caps on flights.

A study released a day earlier said the area affected by Burbank Airport would increase 17 percent if air traffic doubles in the next 12 years as projected unless mitigation measures are taken.

The latest report was intended to identify noise solutions that merit further study, said Mark Johnson, an associate with the consulting firm. The document is part of a larger study of noise surrounding the airport that has been jointly funded by the airport and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Johnson said it is unlikely that the FAA would approve a full curfew on night flights because of its reluctance to restrict interstate commerce. His comments echo the position of the airport.

However, Johnson said there may be ways to strengthen the informal curfews already in place at the airport, including banning all of the noisier planes and all commercial aircraft from taking off between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

``While it's difficult to envision how a full curfew could be implemented, we know there's enough concern about nighttime noise that we want to keep this discussion open. We want to look at options for partial curfews,'' said Johnson, who presented his findings Wednesday to a community advisory panel of airline officials and residents.

Other possible noise solutions that the consultants say merit further study are:

Building a 20-foot-tall, 2,500-foot-long sound wall along the east side of the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. Consultants wrote that such a wall could reduce ground noise from the airport affecting about 120 residents by 3 decibels.

Building a structure where smaller planes could be serviced. Consultants found significant noise is made on the ground during engine ``run-ups'' that are part of maintenance procedures.

Encouraging pilots of Gulfstream business jets to use ``quiet flying procedures'' developed by the manufacturer that involve throttling back the engines after takeoff.

Encouraging all pilots to use techniques that will make takeoffs quieter.

Routing night flights over corridors where there are few homes, such as along railroad tracks that run through Burbank. Such takeoffs would require pilots to use electronic navigational aids to keep their aircraft above the narrow path.

Buying and demolishing homes along the corridor, as Los Angeles International Airport officials did in El Segundo in the 1960s.

The consultants rejected a long list of other accepted noise reduction techniques, saying they would have little impact at Burbank Airport or are not legal under current laws and regulations.

For example, runways at the airport cannot be lengthened because of restrictions in the authority's joint-powers agreement.

Ron Vanderford, a member of the advisory committee, said he doubts the consultant's suggestions will have much impact, adding, ``I think it would be a minor lessening of noise.''