Good Information For All Residents and Business Owners.

Rancho Palos Verdes City Councilman Doug Stern sent out an Email with concerns and facts about residents' means of making their own remarks about the possible now classification for skies over Long Beach Airport:

Update – Possible Airplane Routing Over Peninsula May Impact Residents
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There is a proposed change in airplane airspace designation that would likely cause a significant increase in general aviation air traffic over and near the Palos Verdes Peninsula. I wanted to alert you to this fact, as you may wish to let the FAA know your thoughts. The deadline for comments is September 21, 2010. Below is the City Staff statement on this topic, links for additional information, and the contact information to write to the FAA.
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On September 7, the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council voted unanimously to oppose the Federal Aviation Administration’s proposal to change the airspace surrounding Long Beach Airport (LGB) from its current Class D designation to a more restrictive Class C designation as proposed. If the airspace change occurs, residents living both on the Palos Verdes peninsula and in surrounding South Bay cities may experience more general aviation aircraft flyovers and significant environmental changes.

The City hired Williams Aviation Consultants (“ WAC ”) to investigate the impact this proposed change could have on Rancho Palos Verdes and its neighboring South Bay cities. WAC determined that this proposed change could have the following consequences for the City and its neighboring communities:

1) Increased safety risks resulting from a greater number of GA aircraft flights compressed in flight areas;

2) Increased aircraft noise and air pollution from piston-powered and turboprop aircraft;

3) Increased GA aircraft flights across the entire PV Peninsula, as well neighborhoods in Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Torrance and San Pedro; and

4) Increased workload of FAA traffic controllers, possibly impairing passenger flight safety.

City officials and staff and its aviation consultants believe that the FAA needs to conduct an environmental review and publish an official report about the necessity of this change before it moves forward. Officials and staff also believe that the FAA needs to consider alternative options for improving airspace traffic conditions around Long Beach Airport .

Posted on the City’s website is more detailed information and useful documents to help residents better understand this matter, including: 1) City staff reports about the impacts of this proposed change; 2) Williams Aviation Consultants Impact Statement; 3) a Question and Answer document that provides additional information about the proposed airspace change; 4) detailed maps; and, 5) the Mayor’s public comment letter to the FAA and a template letter residents can use to voice their concerns.

The FAA conducted meetings in June to gather facts and public comments, and, at the City’s request, has agreed to extend the public comment deadline to September 21, 2010 . The City encourages the public to let their city and the FAA know what they think about the proposed change on or before September 21, 2010.

Residents of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes may provide comments directly to the City (preferably to the attention of Dennis McLean, Director of Finance & Information Technology) by emailing faaairspace@rpv.com. City of Rancho Palos Verdes Staff will attach all written comments it receives to its public comment letter to the FAA. Residents of the other South Bay cities should contact their city directly with their comments.

Comments provided directly to the FAA should be in triplicate and mailed to:

Clark Desing, Operations support Group, AJV-W2 Western Service Area, Air traffic Organization Federal Aviation Administration 1601 Lind Avenue, SW Renton, WA 98057

Based upon the advice of the City’s aviation consultant, public comments should also be copied to:

William C. Withycombe Western-Pacific Region Regional Administrator Federal Aviation Administration P.O. Box 92007 Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007

City of Rancho Palos Verdes Staff expects to provide additional information about this important issue:

using its Aircraft Noise listserver group at:
http://www.rpvalert.com;

and its website at:
http://www.palosverdes.com/rpv/citymanager/content/20100818_Update_Website_FAA%20airspace.cfm

The public is encouraged to join the listserver group or check the City's website for the most current information regarding this issue.

Thank You

The Staff of Rancho Palos Verdes
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Thanks,
Douglas W. Stern
Rancho Palos Verdes City Councilman