SR-6-C (114)
t&M :If Q,78 CoC
JAN 1 2 1999
JPM ROT nh
Council Meeting January 12, 1999 Santa MOnica, California
To Mayor and City Council
From CIty Staff
Subject Recommendation to adopt a City Council Resolution requesting that the
Federal AViation Administration extend the Air Traffic Control Tower hours
at the Santa MOnica Airport
Introduction
This staff report transmIts the Airport CommIssion's recommendation that the City Council
adopt the attached resolution requesting that the Federal AViation Administration (FAA)
extend the Air Traffic Control Tower hours at the Santa MOnica Airport
Background
The Santa Monica Airport Working Group (AWG) recommended to the Airport CommIssion
that the City should petitIon the FAA to extend the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT)
operating hours In an effort to Improve safety and to potentially reduce the nOIse Impact
of aircraft operations on the surrounding neighborhoods The Airport Commission
considered thiS recommendation dunng their regular meeting on September28, 1998. The
Airport Commission approved the recommendation and directed staff to forward the
recommendation to the CIty Council for concurrence The Airport CommiSSion further
recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution requesting the FAA extend the
operating hours of the A TCT to cOincide with the Airport's aircraft departure curfew
Discussion
At the present tIme the ATCI IS staffed by FAA AIr TraffIc Controllers and operates
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between the hours of 7 00 A M and gOO PM local time. This creates a two hour gap
between the time the A TCT closes and the aircraft departure curfew of 11 00 P M
Recognizing that aircraft operations occur after the Control Tower closes at 9 00 P.M , the
AWG recommended to the Airport Commission that a written request be sent to the FAA
requestmg that the ATCT remain fully operational until the Airport's departure curfew hour
of 11 00 P M
DUring normal operating hours, the FAA Air Traffic Controller's provIde numerous services
to aircraft operators that Improve and enhance the overall safe operation of the airspace
near and around Airport These services Include
. AdVISing aircraft operators of nOIse abatement flight tracks
. Controlhng aircraft arrivals and departures
. Issuing air traffic adVISOries
. Controlhng aIrcraft on the ground
. Reportmg on weather conditions
Currently, dunng the hours the ATCT IS closed, pilots self operate on a see and be-seen
basIs and announce on the radiO frequency their position and mtentlons to other pilots that
may be operating In the VICinity of the Airport ThiS procedure of self-announcing the
alrcraffs pOSItion and mtended fl1ght or ground activity has proven to be an adequate
method of operations and IS used extensively natlOn-wlde at airports without control towers
(or those with control towers operated on a part-time basIs) However, the airspace
surroundmg the Santa MOnica Airport IS one of the most complex In all ofthe United States
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and there IS no substitution forthe enhanced safety-of-flight that can be derived from a fully
operational FAA A TCT Additionally, the Air Traffic Controllers will provide pilots gUidance
and direction regerdlng the Alrporfs nOIse abatement arnval and departure procedures
thereby further reducing the nOise Impact of aircraft operations Extending the Control
Tower Hours to COinCide with the Airport's normal operating hours will Improve the overall
safe operation of the Airport and reduce the nOise Impact from aircraft operations on the
surrounding community
Budgetary/Fi nanciallmpact
The Air Traffic Control Tower IS operated by the Federal AViation AdminIstration and
staffed by Federal government employees The operational expenses associated with the
extension of the A TCT hours IS a personnel and resource allocation expense of the
Federal government and therefore has no budgetarylfinanclallmpact on the City'S Airport
Fund
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City CounCil adopt the attached resolution requestmg the FAA
to extend the A TCT hours an additional two hours to match the AIrport's normal operating
hours and to authOrize the Mayor to transmit the resolution to the FAA on behalf of the
City
Prepared by Robert D Tnmborn, Airport Manager
Jeffrey P Mathieu, Director, Resource Management
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Attachment FAA Resolution
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f \atty\muni\laws\mjm\ctower.res
City Council Meeting 1-12-99 Santa Monica, CaliforOla
RESOLUTION NUMBER 9358
(City Council Senes)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA MONICA REQUESTING THAT
THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION EXTEND THE
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER HOURS
AT THE SANTA MONICA AIRPORT
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WHEREAS, the Federal AViation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Control Tower
(Control Tower) at the Santa MOnica Airport IS currently staffed and operational dally
between the hours of 7 00 A M and 9 00 P M local time creating a two hour gap between
the time the Control Tower closes and the time the aircraft departure curfew of 11 00 P.M
beginS, and -
WHEREAS, there are numerous aircraft operations that occur after the Control
Tower closes at 9 00 P M 1 and
WHEREAS, dunng normal operating hours, FAA Air Traffic Controllers provide
numerous services to aircraft operators that Improve and enhance the overall safe
operation of the Airport including
. Controlling Aircraft Arrivals and Departures
. Providing Air traffic Advlsones to Aircraft In the VICInity of the Airport
. Controlling the Ground Movement of Aircraft
. Reporting Accurate Weather Conditions to Aircraft Operators
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. AdvIsing Aircraft Operators of NOise Abatement Flight Tracks, and
WHEREAS, extending the Control Tower Hours to coincide with the Airport's normal
operating hours would improve the overall safe operation of the Airport and reduce the
nOise impact from aircraft operations on the surrounding community, and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa MOnica deSires to operate the Santa MOnica AIrport
In the safest manner possible and to further reduce these nOise impacts from aircraft
operations that occur at night, and -
WHEREAS, extending the Control Tower operations an additional two hours to
11 00 P M seven days per week would be benefiCIal to the flYing public and the neighbors
surroundIng the Airport,
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOllOWS
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SECTION 1 That the City of Santa Monica petitIon the FAA to extend the
operational hours of the Santa MOnica Air TraffIC Control Tower so that It IS open and
operational until 11 00 P M local time seven days per week
SECTION 2 That the City of Santa Monica petition the FAA to take the appropriate
action necessary to Implement this request at the earlIest pOSSible date
SECTION 3 That the FAA and City staff work together to Implement this request
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SECTION 4 The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be In full force and effect
APPROVED AS TO FORM
tnaA-~~-
MARSHA JO~ MOUTRIE
City Attorney -
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Adopted and approved thls12th of January, 1999
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Pfm O'Connor, Mayor
I, Mana M Stewart, City Clerk of the CIty of Santa Momca, do hereby certIfy that
the foregoing Resolution 9358 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of the Santa
MOnica CIty CounCil held on the 12th of January, 1999 by the following vote -
Ayes Councllmembers Feinstein, Genser, Holbrook, McKeown, O'Connor
Noes Councllmembers None
Abstain Councllmembers None
Absent Councllmembers RosensteIn
ATTEST
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Mana M Stewart, City Clerk