By Philip Newman
U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) has proposed legislation to make mandatory a voluntary overnight curfew at LaGuardia Airport as part of a federal airport noise curfew commission.
“All too often, residents of Queens are jolted out of bed at late hours by the thunder of aircraft,” said Crowley, whose congressional district includes the airport.
“Those living near LaGuardia Airport deserve to get a good night's rest. While there is a voluntary curfew at LaGuardia, airlines have not consistently honored this agreement. We must have a curfew with the force of law.”
Crowley, who called for a mandatory curfew from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., mentioned one airline that operates a flight from Houston due at LaGuardia at 2:10 a.m.
The proposed legislation would establish a federal commission to study and make recommendations to Congress on implementing curfews on non-military aircraft over populated areas during normal sleeping hours. A nine-member panel would have six months to examine the feasibility of establishing airport curfews and report back to Congress.
“This legislation will help quiet the skies — not only for residents of Queens but for all United States residents who live near major airports,” Crowley said.
“As our skies become more crowded and flight numbers increase, older neighborhoods that were built next to formerly small airports have found themselves in the flight path of modern hubs. This legislation will help communities create their own rules to make their local airport a better neighbor.”
The office of Queens Borough President Claire Shulman said 150,000 people live close enough to LaGuardia Airport to be forced to endure the din of hundreds of takeoffs and landings every day.
An official of Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. who appeared at a recent aviation forum hosted by Crowley said the airport recently fined a National Basketball Association team $5,000 for an arrival and $5,000 for a departure for violating the airport’s mandatory curfew.
