MEDIA CHOPPERS RETURN WITH LIMITS.Byline: Dominic Berbeo Staff Writer VAN NUYS - News media helicopters are partially returning to Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. skies - though still limited from zipping off to some hot spots hot spots acute moist dermatitis. - but some residents say the break from live traffic and car chases shows the city can do without them. Choppers, many of which fly out of Van Nuys Airport Van Nuys Airport (IATA: VNY, ICAO: KVNY, FAA LID: VNY) is a public airport located in Van Nuys, California in the San Fernando Valley, within the Los Angeles city limits. , are back in the air for the first time since the Sept. 11 attacks, but pilots still are restricted from air space around LAX, Van Nuys, Burbank and other airports. ``The restricted air space keeps us from getting to some of the most congested con·gest·ed adj. Affected with or characterized by congestion. congested ENT adjective Referring to a boggy blood-filled tissue. See Nasal congestion. parts of Los Angeles to help people get where they're going,'' said Crys Quimby, president of the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . Still neighbors around Van Nuys Airport, where some 65 helicopters are regularly stationed, say the noisy helicopters should be scaled back permanently. ``Traffic reporting A traffic report is an element of a radio program or TV news broadcast that informs listeners about general traffic conditions, locations and severity of traffic accidents, road construction detours/slowdowns, etc., on roadways within the broadcast area. has been going on now without the helicopters and without problems,'' said Gerald Silver, who heads the Stop the Noise coalition, aimed at reducing flights from Van Nuys. ``The helicopters are more about entertainment value than news reporting.'' Silver pointed out that motorists still receive traffic reports supplied by Caltrans cameras and sensors placed on freeways around the county. Security rules in place since the federal government initiated severe restrictions nationwide continue to ban copters from flying in a 20- to 30- mile radius from the airports unless pilots stick to a filed flight plan, according to Jerry Snyder, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), component of the U.S. Department of Transportation that sets standards for the air-worthiness of all civilian aircraft, inspects and licenses them, and regulates civilian and military air traffic through its air traffic control . The limit keeps pilots from being able to improvise and head to traffic hot spots in the large restricted areas. But pilots say they are frustrated because they haven't gotten a clear response on the specific reasons for the restrictions, or a time line for lifting them, from the government. ``We're just trying to get a simple answer why,'' said Sam LaFoca, a helicopter pilot for KTLA-TV (Channel 5), who has been grounded and without full-time work since the attacks. ``We're frustrated ... this is our job they're talking about.'' Snyder of the FAA said it was uncertain when the bans would be lifted. |
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