Long Beach Airport
Long Beach Airport (LGB) is committed to and engaged in finding meaningful opportunities to improve quality of life within our authority to address community noise concerns. LGB owns and operates a multi-million-dollar Airport Noise and Operations Monitoring System (ANOMS) which allows analysis of aircraft spatial data including FAA radar and ADS-B, noise measurements using state-of-the-art monitors that differentiate between aircraft and other noise sources, recorded air traffic control audio,and community complaint data. Using ANOMS, LGB’s noise office will analyze key performance metrics (average altitude, noise measurements, and evening/nighttime departures) to address community noise and encourage aircraft operators to do all they can to minimize the effects of their operations in nearby communities.
The Fly Friendly Program is a 100% voluntary initiative aimed at encouraging and recognizing best practices in noise abatement and use of unleaded fuel among General Aviation (GA) LGB-based flight schools. The Airport is one of only a few airports in the nation to have a program specifically focused on GA.
Cooperation with the GA community and voluntary measures provide the best and quickest method of reducing noise exposure and are designed to augment the benefits provided by the Airport Noise Compatibility Ordinance. Additional mandatory control measures would likely require a detailed 14 CFR Part 161 process and could possibly open the existing Airport Noise Compatibility Ordinance to legal challenge.
Quarterly and annual recognition will be given to LGB-based flight schools who have made voluntary efforts to reduce noise, be actively engaged, provide educational material/training to instructors/pilots, and transition to unleaded fuel through LGB’s Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) fee reimbursement program and Subsidized Aviation Fuel for the Environmental (SAFE)subsidy program.Annual awards will be givenin gold, silver, and bronze recognition categories for Most Improved, Most Engaging, and Most Friendly.
Each quarter, LGB’s noise officewill host a Quarterly Airport Noise meeting with GA stakeholders, including representatives from LGB-basedflight schools, the Long Beach Airport Association (LBAA) and General Aviation Noise Committee (GANC).The purpose of these meetings is to provide recognition, review key performance metrics, and provide a venue for open dialogue for looking at ways to address community noise concerns.
LBAA is a nonprofit organization representingLGB tenant members. The LBAA has provided “How to Fly a Friendly Pattern at LGB” best practices to LGB based flight schools, master tenants and operators. They also are responsible forcreating the Long Beach Flight School Operator’s Pledge that has been signed by multiple LGB-based flight schools.GANC was established by the Airport Noise Compatibility Ordinance to assist GA operators when specified noise levels are exceeded. GANC provides a mechanism to assist the GA community with complying with the Airport Noise Compatibility Ordinance.
The Airport will also continue to meet with the LBAA and upon request and/or as needed, with the GANC during their scheduled meetings, to discuss noise data, the best operational practices, and community noise concerns. The Airport acknowledges the past coordination and commitment by the LBAA, GANC, and LGB-based flight schools to follow “Fly Friendly” voluntary measures.This LGB Fly Friendly Program will expand upon those existing voluntary measures, while keeping safety as a priority.
