TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file the monthly Airport activities
reports. (District 5)
DISCUSSION
As requested, the following is a report on various activities at the Long Beach Airport.
Airport Passenger, General Aviation and Cargo Activity - The June 2005 Monthly Airport Activity Report (Attachment 1) provides monthly and year-to-date statistics for airline passengers (total and enplaned), aircraft operations by user category, and cargo carrier tonnage. The statistics in general show a 4.7% increase in year-to-date passenger activity (1,503,222 vs 1,436,129). Total passenger counts for June were 280,820 compared to last year's 264,340, an increase of 6.2%. Monthly general aviation operations compared to last year were up 6.1 %, (28,530 operations vs. 26,894). Monthly cargo volumes were down 2.2% (4,357 tons vs. 4,455).
Noise Activity - The June 2005 Monthly Airport Noise Statistics Report (Attachment 2) details noise complaints based on type of complaint (e.g., related to airline, private jet operations, helicopter). It also identifies specific aircraft noise events that generated five or more complaints and includes a plot map showing complainant location and the number of repeat violations, along with a listing of aircraft operators receiving their fourth or greater violation.
The Airport's Noise Office receives and investigates noise calls and complaints from local citizens and all other sources. In June, the Noise Office received 549 complaints from citizens compared to 223 complaints received in the previous month. Of the 549 complaints received, 479 complaints pertained to permissible aircraft activity that was not in violation of the City's Noise Compatibility Ordinance. The rise in the number of complaints can be attributed to an increase in complaints from 10 individuals rather than any changes in Airport operations.
As requested, the following is a report on various activities at the Long Beach Airport.
Airport Passenger, General Aviation and Cargo Activity - The June 2005 Monthly Airport Activity Report (Attachment 1) provides monthly and year-to-date statistics for airline passengers (total and enplaned), aircraft operations by user category, and cargo carrier tonnage. The statistics in general show a 4.7% increase in year-to-date passenger activity (1,503,222 vs 1,436,129). Total passenger counts for June were 280,820 compared to last year's 264,340, an increase of 6.2%. Monthly general aviation operations compared to last year were up 6.1 %, (28,530 operations vs. 26,894). Monthly cargo volumes were down 2.2% (4,357 tons vs. 4,455).
Noise Activity - The June 2005 Monthly Airport Noise Statistics Report (Attachment 2) details noise complaints based on type of complaint (e.g., related to airline, private jet operations, helicopter). It also identifies specific aircraft noise events that generated five or more complaints and includes a plot map showing complainant location and the number of repeat violations, along with a listing of aircraft operators receiving their fourth or greater violation.
The Airport's Noise Office receives and investigates noise calls and complaints from local citizens and all other sources. In June, the Noise Office received 549 complaints from citizens compared to 223 complaints received in the previous month. Of the 549 complaints received, 479 complaints pertained to permissible aircraft activity that was not in violation of the City's Noise Compatibility Ordinance. The rise in the number of complaints can be attributed to an increase in complaints from 10 individuals rather than any changes in Airport operations.
Further analysis of the noise complaints revealed the following:
. 51 % (281 of 549) of the complaints were generated by 10 individuals; 113 were generated by one individual;
. 56% (308 of 549) of the complaints were related to operations between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.;
. 20% (111 of 549) of the complainants reside in Seal Beach or Huntington Beach;
. 87% (479 of 549) of the complaints were related to operations that were not in violation of the City's Noise Compatibility Ordinance.
This above referenced information is displayed on the Airport's website (www.lqb.orq), . and is updated on a monthly basis.
Other Airport Activity
In addition to coverage in the last two editions of the WAVE, sent to all Long Beach utility users, the August/September edition of the WAVE will provide an update on the proposed Terminal Area Improvements Project and related EIR.
. Noise Monitoring System Upgrade and Internet Flight Tracking System WebTrak, an internet flight tracking system, has been successfully installed and can be accessed through the Airport's website at www.lqb.orq or via the City's website at www.lonqbeach.qov/airport. WebTrak provides a general overview of Long Beach Airport flight operations that includes aircraft identification, origination and destination, altitudes, and noise levels. Airport specific information, for Long Beach and surrounding area airports, is designated by color-coded aircraft symbols. For safety reasons, the flight tracking data is delayed ten minutes. WebTrak will automatically display the slightly delayed track data upon start up.
A second phase of WebTrak, which will allow community members to explore customized and summarized flight track and aircraft noise information, is expected to be available by the end of the year.
The Airport's six noise enforcement monitors and a new long-range Passur radar were successfully installed in May 2005. Six additional noise monitors will be upgraded in each of the following two years.
. Concession RFP - On July 12, 2005, City Council authorized agreements with Paradies, to provide gift and news concessions and Creative Host, to provide food and beverage concessions. Preliminary planning meetings are ongoing and, pending contract finalization, both concessionaires are expected to be operational on October 1,2005.
. ANAC Noise Abatement Efforts - At their July meeting, the Airport tenant based Aviation Noise Committee (ANAC) finalized their Noise Abatement Flight Training Curriculum. Airport staff will send copies of the curriculum to flight schools throughout the region. Long Beach Airport flight schools will be given the Curriculum at a briefing to be scheduled at the new Airport Information Center. ANAC also approved correspondence from its organization to Fed Ex, requesting replacement of their B-727 aircraft at Long Beach Airport with a quieter aircraft. In addition ANAC also approved communications to advise operators of "high-noise" aircraft flying between 10:00 p.m.
and 7:00 a.m. of the consequences of late night high-noise events, both in terms of community annoyance and impact on the Airport's noise budgets.
. Antonov 124 Cargo Aircraft - In mid-September, a Polet Airlines Antonov 124 aircraft is scheduled to arrive at Long Beach Airport from France carrying a satellite for Boeing Sea Launch. The Inmarsat-4 communications satellite will be transported from the Airport to the Port in a container. The very large Antonov 124 (second largest aircraft in use in the world) is scheduled to land on Runway 12, which runs southwest from Carson Street, as opposed to the normal airline approach from Runway 30. Due to the size of the aircraft and its noise footprint, the arrival of the aircraft will be noticeable to residents and businesses in the surrounding area. The Antonov will depart three days later and should be fairly light, carrying only the empty satellite shipping container. The aircraft will arrive and depart during daylight hours.
. Request for Commuter Slots - On July 15, 2005 the Airport received a request from Smooth Flight Holdings, Inc., for conditional allocation of 22 commuter flight slots. A commuter flight slot is defined as regularly scheduled passenger service utilizing aircraft weighing less than 75,000 Ibs.
Prior to accepting the request from Smooth Flight Holdings, Inc., additional information was requested. The requested information has been received and, per the City's Flight Allocation Resolution, a decision and a response by the City must be provided to the requestor within 30 days of a completed application/request, which in this case will be by the close of business on September 1, 2005.
The City's Noise Ordinance provides for a maximum of 25 daily commuter slots.
Currently, America West Airlines operates three commuter slots. The allocation of the 22 remaining commuter slots to Smooth Flight Holdings, Inc., and/or any other entity, would bring the Airport to its maximum allowable level.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
[Fiscal Impact]
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
CHRISTINE F. ANDERSEN
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS