Judge set to decide Van Nuys noise dispute

Following a three-day trial without jury in mid-July, a federal district court judge in Southern California was set to decide a lawsuit filed by NBAA, the National Air Transportation Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and five other aviation entities challenging the legality of the so-called non-addition rule for Stage 2 jets at Van Nuys Airport (VNY). The rule prohibits most Stage 2 aircraft that were not based at VNY during calendar year 1999 from being based, parked or hangared there for more than 30 days in any succeeding year. The eight plaintiffs want the rule declared unconstitutional and unlawful, and are seeking a permanent injunction preventing the city of Los Angeles from enforcing it.