Planes soar higher over city

Jenny Marder

Planes are flying over Huntington Beach at almost double the

altitude, thanks to a plan proposed by Jet Blue Airways, Long Beach

Airport’s leading airline.

In an effort to ease resident complaints about noisy jets flying

overhead, Jet Blue Airways Pilot Chief Charlie Andrews proposed the

altered flight path to the Federal Aviation Administration.

“We understood that there were some noise issues with Huntington

Beach residents,” Andrews said. “I proposed to the FAA that if we

could stay up higher for the initial approach, it would alleviate the

noise.”

About 75% of Jet Blue planes are flying over Huntington Beach at

3,000 feet now, almost twice the 1,600-foot altitude they were flying

at before. Jet Blue occupies roughly half of all commercial flights.

“We can stay at 3,000 feet, and as we descend at the glide path,

we’ll be able to stay a little higher over the city,” Andrews said.

Surf City residents noticed a marked increase in planes after Jet

Blue arrived at Long Beach Airport. The airline grabbed all

additional slots at the airport and caused the number of commercial

flights to soar nearly 300%.

As activity grew, residents became increasingly irritated.

Now, 41 planes fly over Huntington daily en route to the Long

Beach Airport. Of these, three are cargo aircraft; two are UPS, two

FedEx and one Airborne Express. The rest are commercial flights.

Community activist Rex Ricks applauds the move, but said that he

still feels bad for those living in Long Beach, who will get little

benefit from the higher altitudes.

He also warns Huntington Beach residents to not get too

comfortable.

“It’s not quite as noisy as it used to be, I’ll say,” Ricks said.

“But I’m afraid people from Huntington Beach will have a false sense

of security, that they’ll hit the snooze button and let the Long

Beach residents fend for themselves.”

All flights are forced to comply with a strict ordinance that was

finalized in May 1995. The ordinance is based on a point system in

which varying noise levels are allowed at different hours. Less noise

is allowed at night, for example, than in the middle of the day.

Airport workers frequently check the 18 noise monitors positioned

around the perimeter of the airport to ensure that planes are

adhering to rules for allowable noise levels.

The airport exceeded its allowable noise cap for 2003, and

therefore, no new flights will be added this year.

Andrews vows to continue working to alleviate the noise.

“As far as the residents and the homeowners, they have my full

support,” Andrews said. “I’m very sympathetic to the homeowners.”