The Long Beach City Council unanimously directed its City Manager to work with the Long Beach Airport to develop a comprehensive report on general aviation at the airport.
This decision stems from consistent complaints from residents about the lead pollution and noise created by small planes.
District 5 Councilmember Megan Kerr told the council that her office has received hundreds of complaints about aviation in the area, particularly training activities conducted by flight schools working out of the Long Beach Airport.
“We’ve heard from families with young children, professionals working from home, retired residents who spend their time at home, echoing these same questions,” Kerr said. “The constant general aviation operations have become a stressful disruption to daily lives, both inside and outside the home.”
Kerr’s office has compiled a list of questions submitted by residents, and the city manager and airport now have to provide answers within the next 45 days.
“What we’re being subjected to all day long is an egregious barrage minute after minute of what sounds like lawn mowers flying low and loud over our homes, because it’s being allowed all day long,” Cal Heights resident Trina Galletta-Rufo said to the council. “We can no longer sit in our yards. We have to pause telephone calls, close our windows and doors. We have to pause Zoom meetings with clients because we’re waiting for the planes to fly over all day long.”
Besides noise complaints, residents have also expressed concerns about lead pollution in the air, since small airplanes are not required to use unleaded fuel.
Gasoline used in cars once contained lead, until legislation banned leaded gasoline once it became apparent that it caused health problems such as heart disease, stroke and cancer, as well as stunting the mental development of children.
A 2021 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found evidence that from the 1950s to the 1980s, over half the U.S. population was exposed to significant levels of lead during childhood, which lowered the average IQ level by 2.6 points.
“What we’re being subjected to all day long is an egregious barrage minute after minute of what sounds like lawn mowers flying low and loud over our homes, because it’s being allowed all day long.”
Cal Heights resident Trina Galletta-Rufo
A 2011 study published by the National Environmental Health Association estimated that leaded gasoline was responsible for 1.2 million premature deaths a year.
“Noisy, polluting banner planes fly over Second Street, Ocean Boulevard and our beachfront regularly in spring, summer, fall and any weekend they can get attention,” said Belmont Shore resident Melinda Cotton in an email. “These small banner planes fly at the lowest possible legal height over our homes and businesses, they have old, noisy, gas engines spewing pollution down on those below.”
Some of the questions the city manager and airport will have to answer include the following:
- What is Long Beach doing to incentivize general aviation operators to use the unleaded fuel that is now available at LGB?
- What ability does the city have to adjust noise abatement regulations?
In what ways are Airport staff working with the general aviation businesses around the current noise abatement regulations? - What is the decision-making process for General Aviation flight patterns, best practices, and altitude?
- How have other airports addressed these types of concerns, and what ability does Long Beach have to take similar actions?
To see the full list of questions, visit the City’s online Legistar portal.
Let’s see. You buy a home next to an airport and are then shocked that airplanes takeoff and land there.