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House Adopts Waters’ Amendment Requiring Report on Aircraft Diversions from LAX to Hawthorne Municipal Airport

April 27, 2018

FAA Bill includes one of three Waters Amendments addressing Noise at Hawthorne and Torrance Airports

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, offered an amendment to require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to report on diversions of aircraft from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Hawthorne Municipal Airport, which was adopted by the House of Representatives on April 26th. The amendment, one of three amendments proposed by the Congresswoman to address community concerns about airport noise at airports in her district, was offered on H.R. 4, the FAA Reauthorization Act, which was subsequently passed by the House on April 27th.

"Diversions of aircraft from LAX to Hawthorne Airport are one possible source of airport noise for the community surrounding Hawthorne Airport," said Congresswoman Waters. "This community has reported increasing amounts of airport noise over the past year. My amendment is a first step towards understanding the causes of this disruptive noise."

Congresswoman Waters' amendment requires the FAA to include in its report the total number of aircraft diversions from LAX to Hawthorne Airport, the average number of diversions per day, the types of aircraft diverted, and the reasons for the diversions.

Congresswoman Waters proposed an additional amendment that would have required the FAA to issue regulations for aircraft operations at Hawthorne Municipal Airport in order to increase safety and reduce airport noise. She proposed a similar amendment for Torrance Municipal Airport. The amendments required the FAA to consult with the local community and local aircraft operators in developing the regulations. However, the Republican-dominated House Rules Committee did not allow her to offer these two amendments on the House floor.

"Airport noise is an urgent problem in the communities surrounding both the Torrance and Hawthorne airports," said Congresswoman Waters. "Airplane and helicopter takeoffs and landings can interrupt school children who are trying to learn, businesspeople who are trying to work, and residents who are trying to sleep in their homes at night. I will continue to look for ways to reduce airport noise and address the concerns of families in these communities."