Thursday, February 9, 2012
Long Beach Airport Noise Violations Up, Though Still Rare
by Keith Higginbotham | City Beat | 06.21.10 | 
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1:15pm | Long Beach Airport has experienced just over a 150-percent increase in the number of commercial aircraft violating noise ordinances for the first five months of the year compared to the same period in 2009, according to the airport's monthly statistic report.
  
In addition, total noise violations at the airport, including commercial, general aviation, charter and other aircraft are up 4.8 percent through the end of April compared to the first five months of 2009.
 
Despite the increased year-over-year percentages, the actual number
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of total violations compared to number of total flights remains statistically very low—130 violations out of about 130,000 flights, or about 0.1 percent of all airport flights for the calendar year to date.
  
Airport officials also point out that a significantly smaller number of violations were recorded in the comparison year of 2009, skewing the current numbers higher as a percentage, and total overall noise violations for 2010 remain below levels experienced just a few years ago.
  
While Long Beach Airport is technically open 24-hours, all airline operations must be scheduled between 7:00am-10:00pm. Operations during the 10:00pm-11:00pm and 6:00am-7:00am periods are allowed if the reason is attributable to weather, air traffic, or mechanical issues. Despite heavy discouragement by airport staff not to use the airport past 10 p.m. or before 7 a.m., the airport is not permitted to close the runways overnight.
  
However, strict decibel limits, monitored by 18 noise sensors placed around the airport area, are set by municipal code for various times of the day. The permitted decibel level allowed to be generated by aircraft taking off or landing at the airport during normal airport hours drops significantly during the 10:00pm to 11:00pm and 6:00am to 7:00am periods. The permitted levels becomes even more stringent during the 11:00pm to 6:00am period. The permitted noise levels falls so low during this last period that, according to airport officials, no commercial aircraft can operate during this time frame without violating the noise ordinances.
  
Due to these more stringent noise level restrictions, the vast majority of noise violations occur during the more restrictive 10:00pm-11:00pm, 11:00pm-6:00am, and 6:00am-7:00am time frames.
  
Aircraft owners that receive noise violations during the 10:00pm-11:00pm or 6:00am-7:00am period are subject to a $100 to $300 fine, while violators during the overnight 11:00pm-6:00am period can receive fine as high as $6,000.
  
So far this year, the airport has collected $155,200 in noise violation fines.
  
On the commercial side, JetBlue had 54 violations through the end of April, compared to just 19 during the January to April period last year. Only two of the other four commercial carriers servicing Long Beach have received noise violations this year--UPS has received four and US Airways has received one. About 50 percent of JetBlue's violations occurred in the 10:00pm-11:00pm or 6:00am-7:00am periods, with nearly all of the carrier's remaining violations occurring during the overnight 11:00pm-6:00am period.
  
About 0.5 percent of all commercial flights have resulted in a noise violation so far this year.
  
On the general aviation and charter side, 71 noise violations have been issued so far this year, down from 101 reported through the end of April in 2009.
  
Just over 0.06 percent of all general aviation, charter and miscellaneous flights have resulted in a noise violation so far this year.
  
Commercial traffic at the airport, including commuter services, is down 5.2 percent through the end of April to 11,876 flights. Combined with total non-commercial traffic handled at the airport, which is up 11.4 percent through the end of April, total flights at the airport for the first five months of the year are up 9.7 percent to 130,664 flights, all compared to the same period in 2009.    


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7 Comments so far.
Resident
What does The city do with the money collected from the nois violation fines? I hope it is going to some sort of program for noise abatment in and around the airport. I am just wondering and no I do not live in the flight path.

Angel
This should not come as a surprise anyone! And it will continue to increase due to lack strict enforcement of violations. After all, as long as the air lines can contribute to Library funds, it was my impression during the recent election debates that it seemed like the City's "informal" position is that its OK to violate our noise ordinance!

BUGGA BOO BOO
Why don't they just take that violation money and buy cotton balls for your ears?

Anonymous
The comment about buying cotton balls -- have you been in the area when military planes come in or trying to watch a tv show when the planes start coming in around 7 p.m.? There is no hope of even carrying on a conversation. Yes, we see the wheels come down on the planes over our home. We are not considered part of the area that can have sound proofing provided by the city.

Angel
Hey mr. BUGGA BOO BOO Your comments represents both your intelligence and class (or lack of )! The name you selected -BUGGA BOO BOO is a good choice!

Eastside resident
I live on the eastside by Community Hospital, somewhat in the landing path of LB airport and sometimes I hear the planes coming in. But that noise PALES in comparison to the military planes that roar overhead on the weekend. The fly low, they swoop - the noise is HORRIFYING as is the sight of the planes. The cats run for cover, I often go outside to see if something is about to crash in my yard. I'm sure there are a million conservatives out there who will say that's "the sound of freedom." I say it's the sound of your tax dollars burning up the skies. Why don't we hear about those noise violations??? And remember, the war budget leaves every child behind.

Dacman
When you live near an airport there will be aircraft noise and some of it very loud. I was born and raised here in Long Beach (Los Altos) on the approach end of Rwy 30 and still live here in the same area and love the the sound of the aircraft flying over the house. We live in a progressive and busy city and rely on the airport to bring in much needed visitors and their dollars. Curfew violations and the money it brings in is a good thing as well. This means the airport doesn't need to ask the city for money who in return will tax us (another topic to complain about) which is well....what most people do these days. In closing I've said it before and I will say it again it's very simple "If you don't like the noise.....move!" Cheers Dacman

City Beat
Keith Higginbotham takes you inside City Hall and reports weekly on the decisions being made.

Keith Higginbotham is a freelance journalist and writer who most recently served as the West Coast editor for the trade magazine American Shipper, covering the shipping and logistics industries. Prior to this, he served as the Advertising and Multimedia Manager for the Port of Long Beach. He began his journalism career more than a decade ago as the Trade and Transportation beat reporter at the Long Beach Press-Telegram.

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