Burbank Airport

Paul Clinton CIVIC CENTER -- Taking his opposition to the terminal deal a step further, Councilman Bob Kramer has signed a petition floated by a local political action committee that would require stricter noise controls on any new facility at Burbank Airport. Kramer signed Thursday after an hourlong discussion with Ted McConkey, a petition author and former councilman. "I met with him and signed it," Kramer said. Both Kramer and McConkey were elected to the council in 1995 after demanding a mandatory curfew on flights during nighttime hours and a cap on the number of annual flights, which Burbank Airport officials must secure to build a new terminal if the petition is approved.

Measure A should not have passed, but it did due to a well-orchestrated campaign by its rabid zealots. The campaign against it was negligible. An inept Stacey Murphy and partner were ineffective and even damaging in the forums. Bob Kramer and Marsha Ramos were neutral, probably thinking of votes for the next election. Basically, the initiative was unnecessary, and the cost of $100,000 to put it on the ballot with more costs for the city to defend it is incredulous.

Paul Clinton AIRPORT DISTRICT -- United Airlines will add a flight to Burbank Airport that violates the voluntary nighttime curfew, even though both airport and city officials have objected to the move. The flight, which will arrive from San Francisco at 11:15 p.m., will be added to the schedule on Oct. 31. United spokesman Alan Wayne said the late arrival, Flight 2231, couldn't be avoided. The plane departs San Francisco at 10:08 p.m., eight minutes after Burbank Airport's voluntary curfew goes into effect.

Paul Clinton AIRPORT DISTRICT -- Bob Keller was on his way from Burbank Airport to Vancouver. He wasn't going to let fear stop him. Keller stepped aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 441, bound for Seattle, at about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, less than 24 hours after Alaska Flight 261, also bound for Seattle, crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Port Hueneme killing 88 people. Keller could have canceled his flight. "Could have," Keller said as he rushed to check in to the counter at Gate B5. "Didn't want to."

Ryan Carter Bob Hope flew into and out of many an airport in his day, but the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport was closest to his home in Toluca Lake. Now, the airport is likely to bear the legendary entertainer's name before the end of the year. The Airport Authority on Monday unanimously approved an agreement with Hope's family to rename the facility the Bob Hope Airport, paving the way for a deciding vote by the Joint Powers Authority. "There couldn't be a more deserving individual than Mr. Bob Hope," Burbank Airport Commissioner Don Brown said Monday, adding that renaming the facility would be historic because only a few airports in California are named after individuals.

I want to assure Grace Farenbaugh (Nov. 18) where I live in Toluca Lake, there is very little noise from planes flying into and out of Burbank Airport. The main source of noise, when it occurs, is from low-flying helicopters. I would bet the air pollution she speaks of comes mainly from automobiles. Property values are not declining. They are going through the roof. Furthermore, the quality of life in Toluca Lake could be referred to as excellent.

Robert Shaffer BURBANK AIRPORT -- Presidential hopeful George W. Bush made a stop in Burbank on Tuesday night on an abbreviated campaign stop in Los Angeles. Bush, in a contentious Republican primary with John McCain and Alan Keyes, flew in to Burbank and was scheduled to give a short speech to supporters at a rally at the airport. The Texas governor has two campaign events scheduled in Los Angeles today. The first is at Los Angeles International Church, the other a town hall meeting with Latino voters.

Paul Clinton AIRPORT DISTRICT -- Federal Aviation officials indicated the agency will approve Burbank Airport's request to insulate additional rooms at Luther Burbank Middle School to aircraft noise, airport officials said. Commissioners of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority voted Jan. 18 to apply for a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to pay for the bulk of the work. The Airport Authority requested the grant after Luther Principal Marilyn Ramsey wrote a letter in October asking for insulation for the school's auditorium and music room.

Paul Clinton AIRPORT DISTRICT -- United Airlines has canceled several flights at Burbank Airport due to stormy weather and crew shortages. United, with an average of 30 daily arrivals and departures in Burbank, began canceling flights last week, airport spokesman Victor Gill said. The airline has canceled 99 of its 2,400 daily operations, according to a recorded message at the airline's Chicago headquarters. United canceled at least eight flights Friday and six Monday between Burbank and San Francisco, Gill said.

Amber Willard AIRPORT DISTRICT -- A 48-year-old Los Angeles woman was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon at Burbank Airport after she allegedly attacked an airline employee. Gloria J. Stewart tried to use a credit card to purchase a Southwest Airlines ticket to Las Vegas at 10:20 a.m. Thursday and became upset when an employee cut up the card under after being alerted by the woman's bank that it was invalid, police said. Stewart allegedly lunged at the employee, who was behind a counter, and fell down, Lt. Bob Giles said.