Agenda Item 24 Correspondence - LBAA
Good afternoon honorable mayor, city council member Kerr and members of the council.
Just a brief email from the Long Beach Airport Association (LBAA) relative to Item 24 scheduled on the 9/12/23 City Council Agenda. See attached.
The LBAA supports the transparency of these questions and the preparation of a comprehensive report to review, identify and communicate the facts related to the management, operational rules, regulations and policies specific to LGB general aviation and flight training.
We acknowledge that flight training activity at many of the nation’s airports has increased. In response to the need and demand to increase the supply of trained commercial pilots, and the industry identifying flying careers as non baccalaureate degree technical training, supporting work force opportunities. Many of those young pilots training in the LA basin and at LGB specifically, are training for professional commercial careers. We believe that LGB training activities and general aviation operations do take place professionally and consistently with all regulatory and legislative requirements.
We believe Item 24 report should include a review of local, regional and national aviation general aviation trends, LGB federal grant assurance obligations, the application of the LB Airport Noise Ordinance, a policy that provides grandfathered protection under the 1990 Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANCA). And lastly, the value of the voluntary measures and efforts implemented by LGB Airport based businesses and flight schools to best mitigate and improve the environmental conditions at LGB Airport.
The business and users of LGB Airport acknowledge and support the City’s most coveted noise ordinance. There has been no suggestion or desire by the LBAA to open and modify the current noise ordinance. We likewise encourage the City Council and City Attorney, as part of this comprehensive review, to evaluate the potential risks from any modifications to establish new rules, regulations or restrictions, and the legal and/or unintended consequences that would result in risking the integrity and protections now provided under the established LB ordinance. Modifications which may otherwise put at risk, or eliminate the diverse multiple aviation and aeronautical users, possibly skewing the balance of uses that LBAA believes provides the best means to protect the quality of life in the community.
The LBAA has a historical record of successful engagement on maximizing airport economic benefits while best mitigating and protecting the quality of life in the LB community. We will continue to convene and review those voluntary measures that have been implemented by flight training programs to mitigate community impacts. A review that must consider all of the best practices and industry standards and regulations that assure safe flight activity at LGB. We will continue to evaluate new
Agenda Item 24 Correspondence - LBAA
potential measures that may further these efforts without violating any rules, policies or unreasonably discriminate and restrict legal access to the national airspace system and the federal assurances provided to aeronautical users. Our efforts will be to continue to evaluate operational facts, and to reach out to other regional users and businesses to share and communicate the LBAA flight training best practices.
We appreciate your review of this communication and providing opportunities for all interested stakeholders, including our members and users.
We will continue to be available to engage in these discussions and to be a resource for rationale and reasonable solutions.
Sincerely
Curt Castagna
President
(562)824-8554