Airport Noise and Safety Committee - February 28, 2008
MINUTES
Airport Noise and Safety Committee
Thursday, February 28, 2008 - 5:00 pm
Fullerton Council Chamber
303 W Commonwealth Avenue
CALL TO ORDER
Member Atkins assumed the Chair position by mutual consent, and called the meeting to order at 5:57 p.m. ROLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Fullerton:
Jeff Harris
Michael Johnson - ABSENT
Ashok Patel, Alternate Chair Buena Park
Tom Atkins, Chairperson
Dottie Jones
Heidi Oliveira
STAFF PRESENT:
Rod Propst, Airport Manager, Fullerton
Susan McGraw, Administrative Assistant, Fullerton
Jay Saltzberg, Buena Park APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Minutes of November 29, 2007, were motioned for approval by Member Harris, seconded by Member Jones, and approved unanimously. 1. NOISE AND OPERATIONS REPORT/AIRPORT INCIDENTS - Public comments on individual complaints. Airport Manager Propst presented the Noise and Operations report and Airport Incidents. Operations for the 2007 calendar year is 78,679, which totals nearly 10,000 more over 2006, and 5,000 more over 2005, etc. The ops count is increasing and accounts for a different mix of aircraft, including the more high-end aircrafts based at the Airport, i.e., Cirrus, VLJ, and composite-fiber aircraft. Member Harris inquired if fuel prices have had an impact. Manager Propst responded that planes are still flying. Approximately 70% of those operations have a business component. What the demand will be if hits $5 is unforeseen. Complaints Manager Propst reported four complaints from Fullerton, one from Placentia, and none from Buena Park; three of these were helicopter complaints and two were directly related to Air Combat. Historically, the majority of complaints are usually helicopter complaints and the majority of those tend to be media helicopters. However, these complaints are almost all law enforcement. 1. November 30, vicinity of Euclid/Orangethorpe, helicopter flying ‘around and around’ – Reached the complainant on December 10 and discussed public safety operations and complainant seemed satisfied. 2. December 7, vicinity of Brookhurst/Commonwealth, ‘helicopter flying so low it rattled the house at 3:00 a.m.’ – Discussed public safety helicopter operations and although not happy with the noise, the complainant accepted the information. 3. December 12 - A complaint was left with the answering service that airplanes were ‘crossing over/under each other too close to residential area’. Manager Propst stated that AirCombat pilots are safer than most pilots; however, he was never able to connect with the complainant to discuss the circumstances. 4. January 28 – received a complaint from Kim Sanders, 633 West Fern Drive, that a police helicopter was flying so low, she could see his face. Manager Propst was unable to connect with her. He did however check with the ATCT staff who responded that the helicopter was coming in to the Airport, but not on a “recommended VFR entry route”. 5. February 16 – Albert Rodriguez, 1014 Loma Vista Place, complained that AirCombat noise when taking off at 8:05 was unusually loud and shook the house. Manager Propst advised that due to wind, Runway 6 was in use causing increase in noise departure to the east. The complainant was satisfied. 2. AIRPORT MONTHLY SAFETY INSPECTIONS Safety – Mr. Harris did the December 2007 inspection – the results were satisfactory with the exception that fuel trucks not grounded. Information will be passed on to the appropriate operators. Mr. Atkins visited in January and completed a satisfactory inspection with remarks that were noted. Mr. Johnson inspected the Airport in February with satisfactory comments except that AirCombat had two gates open with unmonitored access to the airfield. This has been corrected. The State of California inspected the airfield in early January and essentially found no discrepancies except lights burnt out and lenses in wrong direction. Not corrected as yet, but will make a nighttime inspection with our Lead Airport Supervisor. Two ‘distance remaining’ signs have been installed on the runway one-half the way to the end of runway. This was at the direction of the FAA. This is not a usual sign in that it simply reads “1/2”. Member Harris inquired if the State had anything to say about it. Manager Propst responded that this was a matching grant, they saw the project, but no comments were received. Incidents December 26, 2007 - Cessna 172 student solo taxied into a parked trailer; top of wing badly wrinkled. Tower had instructed the student pilot to expedite his taxi off the intersection onto the parallel because of helicopter coming in behind him. January 1, 2008 – Grumman Tripacer hit a red-tailed hawk. A wildlife strike report was filed. There are probably five times as many bird strikes as are reported unless there is significant damage. Wildlife hazard management is a real issue at airports. Fullerton has a program in place to eradicate pigeons that roost on the airport. Runway Incursion – a tow truck came in on the north side next to Cardinal Air. The driver had been given the gate code, saw the hangar on the south side and thought it was where he needed to go, so he proceeded across the runway. A plane had to abort landing, a report was filed with the FAA, and Cardinal Air was contacted with strong instructions, stating that a security breech has been committed through that leasehold. Chuck Street will be installing new signs with arrows, will be writing an SOP letter to his staff, and all gate cards with personal pin numbers will be revoked. Further, a letter from the Airport Administration office will be mailed to all FBOs and airport tenants reminding them of their responsibilities when allowing access to the airfield. 3. MANAGER’S AIRPORT UPDATE Hangar construction is nearly complete and the City is due to take possession of buildings 6 and 7 this week, asphalt is completed. Currently advertising in the Pacific Flyer, but will increase the ad to ½ page. Manager Propst attended the City of La Mirada City Council meeting on January 8 regarding the reconstruction of the KFI Tower and was asked what the Airport was doing to make it safer, in essence trying to shift the blame onto the pilots flying in and out of Fullerton. The tower was unanimously approved with a radiating cap on top lit with high-intensity strobe lights during the day and red strobe lights at night. Referring to previous minutes regarding the LA and OC Land Use Commissions, language is now being addressed to allow review of the Fullerton Municipal Airport by either Commission. At present, the LALUC cannot do anything about OC and vice versa. Construction should be underway and completed sometime Summer 2008. The Airport operating budget is projected at $1.9 million, up about $400,000 based on the new hangars. The rental from the hangars pays the annual payment on the loan for construction, $565,000. Any increase in net assets will go to the general fund to pay the interest and principal on a $3m loan acquired more than 15 years ago. Increases in rental fees are still in discussion at staff level. Airport Day will be September 13, 2008. Gates open at 8:00, Opening Ceremonies begin at 10:00, and closing at 4:00. Lots of airplane displays, both antique and state of the art, cars, booths, demonstrations provided by police, fire, OCFA CHP, OC Sheriffs’ departments. A calendar of meetings was requested to be sent to Committee Members. COMMITTEE COMMENTS None PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no comments from the public. ADJOURNMENT The Noise and Safety Committee Meeting adjourned at 5:56 p.m. to the next quarterly meeting, Thursday, May 22, 2008. Member Ashok Patel will Chair the meeting and Member Jeff Harris will serve as Alternate Chairperson. |
