The monthly reports compiled by the monitoring center show that more than 70 of the 295 total complaints this year between January and June came from Willow Glen residents, and during January, February, March and May, Willow Glen's complaints topped those from other parts of the city.

The San Jose Civic Center area, the Rose Garden neighborhood, and the Shasta/Hanchett area were among the top five areas from which the noise monitoring center received complaints.

And the number of complaints from Willow Glen was even higher than that from the civic center area, which is closer to the airport.

Jamie Locquiao, the airport's noise abatement manager, said he is not surprised that Willow Glen has a significantly higher number of complaints on account of the fact that its citizens are well-educated about airport projects.

"Historically Willow Glen residents have been a very active group about environmental issues," Locquiao said. "They are very well-organized."

San Jose District 6 Councilman Ken Yeager said aircraft noise will always be a problem since Willow Glen is under the airport's flight path.

"We just need to impose more strict rules to maintain curfew hours," Yeager said.

Currently the city of San Jose regulates that airlines and cargo carriers do not schedule flights between 11:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Also, airlines can't fly old and noisy planes between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Exceptions to the regulation include flights that cannot land or take off within their restriction time because of weather delays, mechanical delays or air traffic control reasons. Smaller general aviation planes, military aircraft, emergency flights and newer business jets are not restricted.

However, no punishment is imposed on airlines that fail to observe the curfew.

Despite the continued high number of complaints, Yeager said the situation has improved, in part because airlines must now agree to abide by the curfew before the city council approves any new contract or lease with them.

The airport's curfew monitoring committee also works with airlines to keep their plane schedule within the curfew hours.

Airport officials held community meetings in November 2001 and April 2002 to give Willow Glen residents a chance to air their concerns, and a hotline has been set up, giving residents the opportunity to register complaints anytime.

Marina Dyke, community liaison for the airport's neighborhood services group, said the high number of complaints from Willow Glen could be attributed to the success of the neighborhood meetings.

"Because of the meetings we have had, people are more aware of the problem and they know which number to call," Dyke said. "It is good that people take the initiative to register their complaints so we can review the complaints and work with airlines whose planes break the curfew."

Cathy Marshall, a member of the airport's curfew monitoring committee, also encourages concerned residents to report their complaints.

"The monitoring center always knows there's a violation because it has to record it. But if you don't let them know you care, they will not address the problem," she said.

For answers to questions about the airport curfew, call 408.501.0956. To register a complaint, call 408.452.0707.