TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file the attached 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 August 2005 Monthly Airport Activity Report (Attachment I) 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 4.8% increase in year-to-date passenger activity (2,088,876 vs 1,992,942). Total passenger counts for August were 292,914 compared to last year's 285,089, an increase of 2.7%. Monthly general aviation operations compared to last year were up 5.1%, (29,078 operations vs. 27,657). Monthly cargo volumes were up 2.1% (4,861 tons vs. 4,760).
Noise Activity - The August 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 August, the Noise Office received 408 complaints from citizens compared to 670 complaints received in the previous month. Of the 408 complaints received, 344 complaints pertained to permissible aircraft activity that was not in violation of the City's Noise Compatibility Ordinance.
Further analysis of the noise complaints revealed the following:
o 62% (253 of 408) of the complaints were generated by 10 individuals; 49 were generated by one individual;
o 65% (267 of 408) of the complaints were related to operations between 1O:OO p.m. and 7:00 a.m.;
o 10% (40 of 480) of the complainants reside in Seal Beach or Huntington Beach;
o 84% (344 of 408) 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.Iqb.org), and is updated on a monthly basis.
Other Airport Activity
In addition to coverage in the last four editions of the WAVE, sent to all Long Beach utility users, the November edition of the WAVE will provide the following update on the proposed Terminal Area Improvements Project and related El R:
The City is currently finalizing the Airport Terminal Area Improvements Project Draft EIR and will soon be releasing it for public review. It is anticipated that the Draft EIR will be available for public comment no later than November. The Draft EIR document will be made available for review on the City's website and at the City's main library.
Per EIR guidelines, the public comment period will last 45 days. The City will conduct a public information and comment session on the Draft EIR on Saturday, December 3, 2005, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The information session will be held in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 333 W. Ocean Boulevard, and validated parking will be provided.
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.Iqb.org or via the City's website at www.longbeach.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 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.
Airport Concessions - Effective October 8, 2005, Paradies and Creative Host, the Airport's new concessionaires, began operations. Both concessionaires are expected to complete the build out of their facility improvements over the next year.
Allocation of Commuter Slots - America West has provided the Airport a notice of intent to relinquish two of their three commuter slots, effective November 1, 2005. Discussions are ongoing regarding the commencement of service for Smooth Flight Holdings (I9 flight slots) and Delta Airlines (3 flight slots), which were allocated Conditional Commuter Flight Slots on September 1, 2005.
Annual Noise Budget Analysis Report - Based upon the findings of the Annual Airport Noise Budget Analysis, conducted for the period of October I, 2004 through September 30, 2005, the commercial air carriers exceeded their allowable noise budget. Therefore, pursuant to the City's Noise Ordinance, LBMC 16.43.040, no additional commercial supplemental flight slots, beyond the existing 41-flight level, will be allocated for 2006.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
JetBlue Airways Emergency Landing - On September 21,2005, JetBlue Airways flight number 292, departing Burbank, California bound for JFK Internationat Airport, departed at 3:17 p.m. local time with 140 customers and 6 crewmembers on board. The flight crew received an indication that the landing gear did not retract. This was confirmed, by conducting a flyby over LB Airport, and the flight was advised to lower its weight by burning fuel. After circling the greater Los Angeles basin for three hours, the aircraft landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport at 6:19 p.m. local time. There were no injuries. In response to the incident the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD), Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) and Airport personnel were placed on alert. A total of 25 pieces of equipment and over 150 personnel were deployed.
Annual Airport Safety Exercise - On September 28, 2005, Airport Operations conducted its annual FAR 139 mandated safety tabletop exercise. The exercise was moderated by Casey Chel, Emergency Services Coordinator, and was attended by representatives from the Airport, four airline carriers, American Red Cross, LBFD, LBPD, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), FAA Control Tower, LA County Coroner, and Boeing, among others.
Emergency Response - On September 28, 2005, Airport Security and LBPD detected a suspicious rental van with out-of-state license plates, blocked windows, and unidentified equipment protruding from one window, parked just outside the Long Beach Airport fence line at the departure end of Runway 30, in a no parking zone. Based on established security protocols the area was immediately closed to the public. A command center was established and the Airport's two main runways were closed to departing aircraft. After a thorough investigation, it was determined that community members had placed the vehicle at the location in order to "monitor air quality." After one of the responsible community members responded to the scene, the vehicle was inspected and removed from the restrict d location. In response to this three and one-half hour incident, 40 LBPD officers were deployed, as well as personnel from the Airport, LBFD, L.A. County Sheriff, L.A County Sheriff Bomb Squad (along with bomb dogs and bomb detection robot), the FBI, TSA, and FAA. In addition to street closures (Pixielcover and IndustrylCover), two airlines had flight delays, adjacent businesses evacuated their facilities, and some Boeing operations were impacted. A review of this incident is ongoing.
Public Affairs Activities
"Volunteer Village," Thursday, October 6 - A recruitment expo for volunteers sponsored by Long Beach Non-Profit. Airport staff provided information on the Airport's Tour Guide and Ambassador programs. Other participating agencies included the Aquarium of the Pacific, Carpenter Center, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, American Red Cross, Rancho Los Cerritos, and LBUSD.
Youth Leadership Long Beach, Class of 2006, Saturday, October 8 - For the fourth consecutive year the Airport, along with Toyota AirFlite, hosted the Youth Leadership Long Beach Orientation Session. Thirty LBUSD high school students were selected to participate in this year's class.
Council District 5 Community Meeting and Airport Tour, Monday, October 'lo - At the request of Concilmember O'Donnell, the Airport hosted a !jth District community meeting and Airport tour. The event was conducted from 6:OO p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
FEMA Service, Sharon Diggs-Jackson, Airport Public Affairs Officer, has been invited to participate as a backup Public Information Officer with FEMA. She will be stationed at the FEMA Joint Information Center, located in Atlanta, GA, from October 12 - 26,2005.
Aviation Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC), Thursday October 13 - The Airport hosted the monthly ATAC meeting at Toyota AirFlite. ATAC is comprised of Southern California airport managers, and their mission is to provide technical aviation advice to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG).
Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Saturday, October 15 - The Airport hosted the quarterly CFI meeting that included a flight instructor safety forum co-hosted by the FAA Flight Standards District Office. The meeting was held at Toyota AirFlite, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Young Eagles Day of Flight, Saturday, October I5 - Airport staff provided support to Million Air, an Airport fixed-based operator, with this event that featured 30 youth and several flight instructors participating in a day of flying and celebration.
"Festival of Flight", Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22-23, 2005 - A two-day celebration of flight that infuses arts and sciences to honor aviation. The Airport will have a booth featuring information on "Long Beach Aviation Legends." The event is sponsored by Northrop Grumman and the California Science Center and will be held at the California Science Center located in Los Angeles, Exposition Park.
Neighborhood Resource Center, Monday, October 24 - The Airport has been invited to provide information and respond to questions regarding volunteer opportunities, WebTrak, and the proposed terminal improvement projects. The monthly workshop is held at the Neighborhood Resource Center, from 6:OO pm to 7:30 pm.
Long Beach Veterans Day Parade, Saturday, November 5 - The Airport will staff a booth during the celebration held at Houghton Park immediately following the parade. General Airport information and information regarding the "Long Beach Aviation Legends" will be provided.
Military Aircraft - The US Military has advised the Airport of an increase in military fighter jet fueling activity, arrivals and departures, throughout the month of October.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is time critical.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
CHRISTINE F. ANDERSEN
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS