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Home My WebLink About2006-05-16; City Council; 18570; Fly Friendly Program PresentationCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL 11 AB# 18.570 MTG. 5/16/06 DEPT. CM TITLE: REQUEST TO MAKE A PRESENTATION FROM THE McCLELLAN-P ALOMAR AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE FLY FRIENDLY PROGRAM DEPT. HD. CITY ATTY CITY co RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive presentation from the McClellan-Palomar Airport Advisory Committee regarding the Fly Friendly program. ITEM EXPLANATION: The City Council provides an opportunity for citizens and organizations to have an item placed on a City Council Agenda by submitting a letter to the City Manager. Attached is a letter from Ramona Finnila, McClellan-Palomar Airport Advisory Committee, requesting the opportunity to make a presentation to the City Council regarding the Fly Friendly Program. There is no Council action required at this time. FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact at this time. EXHIBITS: 1. Letter to Ray Patchett, City Manager, from Ramona Finnila, McClellan-Palomar Airport Advisory Committee, dated April 30, 2006. c0)CD0)!-j 0. 0) •H01 O HI1-1 oc oo o o oz oO V^ v /*s >^ —^-Z-^—-^ t t.—-(^£^- , s^ ^^L^^s^' November 2005 Dear Carlsbad Resident, The members of the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (PAAC) and Citizens for Palomar Airport Noise Reduction have come together to create and promote a "Fly Friendly Program" (FFP) to promote the harmonious coexistence of both the airport and residential community. The program will inform both pilots and citizens of the dynamics of the airport and it's surrounding neighbors. We hope to encourage the community to become more aware of the benefits of having a local airport. Additionally, we will strive to urge users of the airport to be sensitive to the local residents and the quality of life in their homes and yards. The purpose of this letter is to inform local residents about the airport's operations and its commitment to the Fly Friendly Program. This program encourages the aviation community to comply with the airport's Voluntary Noise Abatement Procedures (VNAP). The PAAC believes that the intention of most of the aviation community is to both respect and be sensitive to noise that is created by a commuter airport. The PAAC hopes that the community will recognize (1) the contributions the airport makes to Carlsbad, and (2) its efforts to be sensitive to the concerns of the surrounding communities. The Fly Friendly Program has been created to educate, improve and maintain positive relations between the airport and the surrounding community. The Fly Friendly program consists of the following 4 components: 1. Creating and branding a logo as a symbol of the Fly Friendly Program 2. Communicating to the aviation community, with the objective of providing 100% notification of all pilots (local and transient), of the Voluntary Noise Abatement Procedure (VNAP) arrival and departure recommendations and the need for sensitivity to surrounding neighborhoods. 3. Communicating to the community, with the goal of (1) notification to all area residents of the Fly Friendly Program, airport history and guidelines, and positive contribution of McClellan Palomar Airport to our region, and (2) conveying the strong desire of the airport community to be sensitive to noise concerns of area residents. 4. The establishment of benchmarks by County Staff to measure the effectiveness of the program Information about McClellan-Palomar Airport • McClellan Palomar Airport is owned and operated by the County of San Diego. • Palomar Airport is located off Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad, approximately 3.1 miles East of I-5 and west of El Camino Real. • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) controls air traffic in and out of the airport, and has established rules and guidelines for arrivals and departures. • The Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (PAAC), appointed by the County Board of Supervisors, is an advisory group made up of aviation minded volunteers representing a cross section of the local communities. They work with the administration of the airport and area residents to address issues pertaining to the Airport. The PAAC meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:OOPM at the Carlsbad City Council Chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive. Meetings are open to the public. • PAAC has adopted the Fly Friendly Program to improve relations between the airport and the community. • The airport employs over 300 people, and contributes over $108 million each year to the local economy. It supports area residents, local business, and national and international companies. • The airport houses a number of aviation businesses, including commercial airlines (United Express and America West) charter flight companies, aircraft maintenance firms, emergency life flights and car rental companies. In this way our airport supports local tourism, business, commerce and conventions and sporting events. • The Federal Transportation Security Act, enacted by Congress post 9/11/01, provides for a Transportation Security Agency (TSA) security presence in the airport's commercial terminal. • Palomar Airport based helicopters and aircraft provide emergency medical airlifts to area hospitals. Law enforcement, military, State and US Government, County Sheriffs, San Diego Gas Electric and other regional aircraft also routinely use this airport. • McClellan-Palomar was founded in 1957 when there were few homes in the area surrounding the airport. As the community has grown over the years, so have the services at the airport. • Palomar Airport cannot expand beyond its current boundaries without a vote of the citizens of Carlsbad. • Palomar is part of the National Transportation System and is a busy 24-hour, single runway airport averaging over 200,000 annual departures and arrivals, making it one of the busiest single runway airports in the United States. The FAA Control Tower hours of operation are 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily. Voluntary Noise Abatement Procedures (VNAP) and the Fly Friendly Program (FFP) • VNAP is a Voluntary Noise Abatement Procedure established by the Airport within guidelines established by the FAA. The VNAP is entirely voluntary, as mandated by the FAA. Adherence is, however, strongly encouraged by the airport management. Airports that have a higher number of aircraft operations, accommodating larger planes meet FAA requirements for mandatory restrictions. Palomar does not. • The VNAP Policy of quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM has been in effect since the early 1990's. • Recommended VNAP departures include (1) a departure route of 250 degrees, staying north of Palomar Airport Road until % mile off the coast prior to turning (N, S, E, W), and (2) no turns from the recommended departure route until altitudes of 1500 feet for single engine, 2000 feet for twin engine and jet aircraft and 1000 feet for helicopters. • Safety is the primary governing rule when it comes to any direction given to pilots by the FAA Control Tower. There are times when safety or weather factors may result in diversions of traffic from the preferred Voluntary Noise Abatement Procedure. • The Fly Friendly Program reaches out to local and transient pilots to educate them of our local VNAP and to encourage them to fly it. This outreach consists of notifications in manuals, flight schools, airport signage, brochures and various aviation organizations support. • A private consulting firm, URS, has been hired by the county to perform a noise and environmental study (called a PART 150 study). Findings will be presented to PAAC, including recommendations for alternative noise and environmental procedures consistent with air safety requirements. These results will then be submitted to the FAA for approval and publicized in 2006. A comparison with a 1990 PART 150 study shows that the airport noise contours (noise decibel levels) have actually shrunk since the 1990 study. • Noise reduction is due to a number of factors, including relocation of louder aircraft to North Island, newer and more quiet aircraft, and retrofitting of noise control advancements on older aircraft with hush kits, etc. These changes have significantly reduced the airport noise impact to the surrounding local neighborhoods. • To address noise concerns, local citizens may telephone County Staff @ 760-431-4646, or they may report online at http://www.sdcdpw.org/noise/. The possibility of creating an additional website specifically for noise issues is currently being explored. The members of the PAAC and the Citizens for Palomar Airport Noise Reduction will continue to support the VNAP for arrivals and departures to minimize airport noise in the community. If you have questions, please call the Assistant Manger of the airport, Olivier Bracket at 760-431-4646 or Olivier.Brackett@sdcounty.ca.gov. You may also call Gail Carroll of the Citizens for Palomar Airport Noise Reduction at 760-438-7747. You are invited to attend the meetings of PAAC, on the 3rd Thursday of each month, at 7:00 p.m. in the Carlsbad City Council Chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, Carlsbad, California. Your input is welcome. Sincerely, Palomar Airport Advisory Committee