TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file the Airport activities report. (District 5)
DISCUSSION
Included are the Monthly Airport Activity Reports for August 2007.
Airport Passenger, General Aviation (GA) and Cargo Activity - The Monthly Airport Activity Report provides monthly and year-to-date statistics for airline passengers (total and enplaned), aircraft operations by user category, and cargo carrier tonnage. Total passenger counts through August were 2,002,670 compared to last year's 1,903,279 an increase of 5.2%. GA operations, yea r-to-d ate, compared to last year are up 13.9%, (257,244 operations vs. 225,782). Cargo volumes, year-to-date, are down 0.3% (33,788 tons vs. 33,884).
Noise Activity - The Monthly Airport Noise Statistics Report includes four separate reports with current month and year-to-date totals. The four reports are as follows:
· Noise Complaints - Summarizes noise complaint information for commercial (which includes cargo carriers), GA, and other operations.
· Noise Complaint Plot Map - Identifies the origin of the complaint.
· Commercial Late Night Activity - Summarizes activity between 10:00 p.m. to
11 :00 p.m. and 11 :00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. by airline.
· Noise Violations - Summarizes violations for airline and GA operations.
Provides a complete listing of each violation, includes violator's name, date and time of violation, aircraft type, aircraft noise level, and the time specific allowable noise level.
The Airport's Noise Office receives and investigates noise inquiries and complaints from local residents and residents who live outside of Long Beach. For the month of August the Noise Office received 189 complaints compared to 125 complaints received during the same period in 2006.
Further analysis of the August noise complaints revealed the following:
· Total number of complainants: 73
· 56% (153 of 273) of the complaints were related to operations between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
· 10% (27 of 273) of the complainants reside in Seal Beach or Huntington Beach.
The above referenced information is displayed on the Airport's website (www.lqb.orq).
OTHER AIRPORT ACTIVITY
§ Southern California Regional Airport Authority Update (SCRAA)
As a follow-up to the September 12 Board meeting, SCRAA consultant RRM Design Group has been meeting with key stakeholders in order to address expressed concerns over the SCRAA mission, operating rules and form of governance. As part of this. effort, Councilwoman Rae Gabelich and Airport staff met with RRM Design Group on October 8, 2007 and relayed the concerns of the City as expressed in Council Resolution 070044. Subsequent to these meetings, RRM Design Group will send a detailed questionnaire to both key stakeholders and other interested entities.
Input received through RRM Design Group efforts will be shared in a public SCRAAsponsored meeting tentatively programmed for late-November.
§ FAA Runway Safety Action Team
On October 11, 2007, the FAA conducted a special Runway Safety Action Team meeting at Long Beach Airport. (Long Beach is one of the FAA's 20 "special emphasis airports" for runway safety.) One of the major discussion points was simplifying airport geometry, and the FAA will be recommending a temporary closure of the Airport's cross wind runways while they conduct a system safety analysis of the safety benefits and risks of permanent closure. The Aircraft Owners' and Pilots' Association (AOPA) has indicated that they will strongly oppose the closure of any runway.
Other key runway safety issues addressed include the stoppage of on-call Customs services at Long Beach and other area airports; and the FAA's inability to repair the Airport's approach lighting system. While these two issues are unrelated, both result in aircraft diversions to LAX and John Wayne, both also highly incursion-prone airports.
Over the next few months, the Airport will be participating in the safety analysis, and working with Airport user groups on runway safety issues, including the potential closure of the cross-wind runways.
A full report and recommendations from the FAA is expected within 45 days.
§ ExpressJet Airlines Service Announcement
On October 8, 2007, ExpressJet announced they would begin flight service from LB Airport to Renorrahoe, Monterey and Fresno on November 11, 2007. Jim Ream, ExpressJet President & CEO, made the announcement during the launch event held at the Airport. ExpressJet Airlines will utilize the 50-seat Embraer ERJ145 aircraft, which is recognized as quiet and fuel-efficient.
§ Airport Concessions - Prop Room Restaurant Remodel
Creative Host Services, the Airport's food concessionaire, began the full remodel of the Prop Room Restaurant on October 4. In order to complete the remodel in a safe and timely manner, full closure of the restaurant was necessitated. The newly remolded restaurant, which has been renamed Legends of Aviation Restaurant and Bar, is expected to reopen in January 2008. Legends will offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus and a full line of items packaged to-go. Made-to-order selections, signature dishes, appetizers, soups, salads, and sandwiches will be served. The restaurant will maintain an art deco interior and will include two outdoor patios, plasma televisions, and a 180-degree view of the airfield.
§ New Airport Community Guide to Noise and Quick Glance Handouts
The Airport Noise Office has created two new publications, a Community Guide to Airport Noise and the Noise Quick Guide handout. The two publications provide a simple, easily understood overview of the City's Airport Noise Compatibility Ordinance.
Both publications include a section titled, "Ten Key Components of the Airport Noise Compatibility Ordinance". The Community Guide also includes responses to the most frequently asked questions, a noise monitor location map, a summary of the violation process and a list of contact numbers.
Copies of the publications will continue to be mailed to residents, complainants and interested parties. Requests for copies of the publications may be submitted to Airport Public Affairs via email, IbartIongbeach.gov, or by calling Airport Public Affairs at (562) 570-2678.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is not time critical.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
CHRISTINE F. ANDERSEN
AIRPORT DIRECTOR
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APPROVED: |
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PATRICK H. WEST |
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CITY MANAGER |