Curbs on Night Flights Opposed by Physicians

Proposed curbs on nighttime jet flights from Van Nuys Airport would jeopardize some organ-transplant programs and cause critically ill patients to die, surgeons and organ-transplant program administrators said this week.

Proposals to close the Van Nuys Airport at night, or to lower the allowable takeoff noise level, are being considered as part of a $300,000 federal study of noise at the airport.

At an airport news conference organized by one of the busiest organ-transport services on the West Coast, physicians pleaded with city officials and anti-noise groups to forgo further restrictions on nighttime operations.