Long Beach Municipal Code Ch. 16.44 Airport

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions set forth in this Section govern the construction of this Chapter:

A. "Aircraft" means any contrivance now known or hereafter invented, used or designed for navigation of or flight in the air.

B. "Air carrier" means any individual, partnership, corporation or association undertaking, directly or indirectly, to engage in the carriage in air commerce of goods or passengers for compensation or hire, or in the operation of aircraft in the conduct or furtherance of a business wherein the principal purpose of the aircraft operation is the air transportation of passengers or property.

C. "Airport" means the property described in Section 16.44.020 as set aside for Airport purposes, as the same may from time to time be altered or changed, which property shall be called the Long Beach Airport (Daugherty Field), and wherever in this Code the words "Airport," "field," "Long Beach Municipal Airport," "Municipal Airport," or "Daugherty Field" appear they mean the Long Beach Airport (Daugherty Field).

D. "Director" means the Director of Aeronautics, Airport Manager.

E. "Itinerant aircraft" means any aircraft not permanently based at the Airport.

F. "Landing" means the arrival of aircraft at the Airport for the purpose of loading or discharging passengers, goods or property.

G. "Standard gross weight" means the weight specified for a particular aircraft in the license therefor granted by the Federal Aviation Agency, or such other governmental authority having jurisdiction in the premises.

(Prior code § 7420)

The Airport shall be located upon certain property and in the City of Long Beach, County of Los Angeles, State of California, bounded and described as follows:

Beginning at the northwest corner of Lot 48, Tract No. 8084 as per map recorded in Book 171 page 29 of maps, records of the county; thence easterly 6,467.72 feet along the north lines of Lots 48, 49, and 51, said Tract No. 8084, to the west line of Lakewood Boulevard, 100 feet wide; thence southerly 5,251.60 feet along said west line of Lakewood Boulevard to the south line of Lot 67, said Tract No. 8084; thence westerly 1,270.32 feet along said south line of Lots 67 and 66 of said Tract No. 8084 to the southwest corner of said Lot 66; thence northerly 10 feet along the west line of said Lot 66 to a line 40 feet northerly of and parallel to centerline of Spring Street, being the north line of Spring Street, 80 feet wide, as established August 30, 1940, by Ordinance No. C-1832 of City of Long Beach; thence westerly 4978.95 feet, more or less, along said north line of Spring Street, 80 feet wide, to the east line of Vine Avenue as shown on map of American Colony Tract recorded in Book 19, pages 89 and 90, of miscellaneous records in the office of the County Recorder, said Vine Avenue having been vacated June 12, 1928, by Resolution No. C-3464 of City of Long Beach; thence southerly 10 feet along said east line of Vine Avenue to an angle in City boundary at north line of Spring Street, 60 feet wide; thence westerly 930 feet along said north line of Spring Street, 60 feet wide, to a line 420 feet easterly of and parallel to the centerline of Cherry Avenue; thence northerly 1,230.28 feet along said line 420 feet east of the centerline of Cherry Avenue; thence easterly 460 feet to a line 880 feet easterly of and parallel to the centerline of Cherry Avenue; thence northerly 1,340.25 feet along said line 880 feet easterly of the centerline of Cherry Avenue to the south line of Wardlow Road, 80 feet wide; thence easterly 2,061.20 feet along said south line of Wardlow Road to the southerly prolongation of the westerly line of Lot 50, said Tract No. 8084, thence northerly along said southerly prolongation, said westerly line of Lot 50 and the northerly prolongation thereof, a distance of 759.86 feet to the south of Lot 49, said Tract No. 8084; thence westerly and southwesterly 2074.62 feet along said south line of Lot 49 and southerly line of the aforementioned Lot 48 to the south west corner of said Lot 48; and thence northerly 1,763.56 feet along the westerly line of said Lot 48 to the northwest corner thereof, to the point of beginning. Together with such other lands as may hereafter be set aside for airport purposes, is set aside as an airport.

(Prior code § 7420.1)

It shall be the duty of the Director to enforce the provisions of this Chapter, and for the purpose of securing enforcement thereof, the Director and his duly authorized representatives shall have the right and are empowered to enter and inspect all hangars, buildings and equipment maintained at or operated from the Airport. Upon such inspection, if the Director or his representatives finds any such hangar or other building or equipment is in an unsafe condition, it shall be his duty to notify the owner or lessee thereof, in writing, of the unsafe condition, setting forth the condition, and it shall thereafter be that no person, whether as principal, agent, servant, employee or otherwise, shall operate or use any such hangar building or equipment until the condition thereof has been remedied so that the same will be safe and has received the approval of the Director.

(Prior code § 7420.2)

No person shall use the Airport for the carrying on or conduction of commercial aviation or the carrying of passengers, freight, express or mail, or for student flying, communications or any other commercial purpose without first securing a written permit from the Director; provided, however, that this shall not apply to fixed base operators located on the Airport who hold valid lease agreements with the City for such purposes.

(Prior Code § 7420.3)

A. All van, limousine, bus and other ground transportation services for hire shall comply with the requirements of Section 16.44.040 and all applicable sections of Chapter 5.66 of this Code in obtaining the permits or licenses specified by the Airport Manager. Only those ground transportation services described in this Section having obtained the required permits are authorized to conduct business at the Airport unless exempted by Subsections A, C, D, E or F of Section 5.66.020 of this Code.

B. Ground transportation services authorized to conduct business at the Airport shall park in the location or locations designated by the Airport Manager for parking of such vehicles. Only ground transportation services authorized to conduct business at the Airport may park in such location.

C. No person or entity providing ground transportation services shall park vehicles in any location other than the locations designated by the Airport Manager for parking of such vehicles.

(Ord. C-6079 § 1, 1984)

A. Vehicles shall not be driven upon any portion of the Airport other than driveways and parking places specifically laid out for the use of the vehicles; provided, however, that this shall not apply to vehicles used for emergency or service work upon the Airport where the drivers of the vehicles have obtained permission from the Director for their operation.

B. Private automobiles or trucks shall not be serviced from the gasoline pits provided on the Airport field for the use of aircraft.

C. Rubbish or trash shall not be thrown or allowed to be scattered upon the Airport.

D. Aircraft shall not be taxied at a speed exceeding fifteen (15) miles per hour.

E. Aircraft shall not be supplied with fuel while located in any hangar or other enclosed place or while the motor of the aircraft is running.

F. No pilot other than a commercial pilot with instructor's rating shall, for hire or reward or gratuitously, teach the art of flying on the Airport and none other than a commercial pilot with instructor's rating shall check out students.

G. All unhoused aircraft must be parked in the space allotted therefor and shall be secured firmly to the ground by ropes and stakes or otherwise when left unattended at night or during weather conditions which indicate the necessity for it. Any aircraft left unattended shall be left entirely at the risk of the owner or operator thereof.

H. The aircraft owner, his pilot or agent shall be responsible for the prompt removal or disposal of wrecked aircraft and the parts thereof to avoid interference with field operations, unless directed to delay such action pending the investigation of the accident.

I. Aviation gasoline, lubricating oil or grease shall not be sold to pilots of itinerant aircraft or aircraft based on this field except by the company or companies holding valid lease agreements with the City for such purposes.

J. No privately owned vehicles of any type shall be permitted on the landing area except by permission from the Director.

K. No person shall smoke, strike a match or produce any flame within fifty feet (50') of any containers of gasoline or other combustible liquid or within any City-owned hangars or repair shops located on or within the confines of the Airport.

L. No person shall engage in the sale of refreshments or any other commodity or service within the confines of the Airport without previously having secured a permit from the Council. No application shall be considered by the Council, however, unless first approved by the Director.

(Prior code § 7420.4)

No person operating or in charge of any aircraft shall at any time stop, park or let stand and leave unattended any aircraft in or on any area of the Long Beach Airport which is outside the marked boundaries of any leasehold premises situated at the Long Beach Airport, or outside those areas designated for the parking of aircraft by the Director of Aeronautics, except with prior written authorization of the Director of Aeronautics. The registered owner of any aircraft stopped, parked, or left standing in any area in violation of this Section shall be deemed prima facie responsible for the violation, and subject to the penalty therefor.

(Ord. C-5285 § 1, 1977: prior code § 7420.85)

The Airport is a controlled Airport by authority of the Federal Aviation Agency. All aircraft entering in or emanating from this controlled zone will be governed by regulations of the Federal Aviation Agency and the following rules. No person operating or in charge or any aircraft shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with the following flying rules of the Airport:

A. When the wind is from the east or south, no aircraft shall traverse any course other than a counterclockwise course.

When the wind is from the west or the north or the northwest, no aircraft shall traverse any course other than a clockwise course.

A flashing amber light located on the roof of the traffic-control tower shall mean that clock wise (to the right) flow of traffic around the Airport is required.

B. All aircraft in approaching the Airport shall fall in the line of traffic until a point has been reached where a landing can be made directly into the wind, and, if practicable, with a straight glide beginning at a minimum of one thousand feet (1,000') from the outer boundary of the Airport.

C. Aircraft approaching for a landing shall circle the airport at a minimum altitude of one thousand five hundred feet (1,500') to observe other traffic unless the pilot receives other instructions from the airport traffic-control operator.

D. Landing aircraft shall have the right-of-way.

E. Aircraft, when taking off from the Airport, shall not make any turn before reaching an altitude of five hundred feet (500').

F. Aircraft shall not take off over hangars, buildings or other obstacles or over groups of spectators unless unavoidable.

G. All aircraft operating on or from the Airport shall have the following minimum equipment: wheel brakes, tail or nose wheel and one-way radio receiver.

H. Aircraft, when carrying United States mail or operating on regular scheduled stops, shall be given the right-of-way when landing and taking off. This rule shall not apply to aircraft in distress.

I. Pilots or personnel in charge of aircraft, in taxiing to and from the runways, shall use the taxiways provided for this purpose.

J. All traffic on the Airport shall be controlled by radio and in emergencies by visual light signals.

K. Takeoffs and landings shall be made into the wind and in the direction indicated by the controlled tetrahedron located west of the administration building unless otherwise directed by the traffic-control operators.

L. Pilots on the ground shall acknowledge light signals from the control tower by working the ailerons or by moving the rudder.

M. Pilots in flight shall acknowledge receiving signals from the control tower by rocking the wings.

N. All aircraft not equipped with radio shall, upon approaching the field, maintain a constant watch on the traffic-control tower located on the roof of the administrative building.

O. No parking on any runway shall be permitted. Aircraft shall not be taxied on to runways without first having received clearance to take off either by radio or visual light signal from the traffic-control tower.

P. The surfaced runways shall be used for all takeoffs and landings, except that they may be made from the turfed areas with permission from the Director or chief air traffic control operator.

Q. During the hours of darkness, suspension of contact flight rules will be indicated by the flashing lights outlining the traffic direction indicator (tetrahedron).

R. During the hours of daylight, suspension of contact flight rules will be indicated by the lighting and operation of the rotation beacon and the flashing lights outlining the traffic direction indicator (tetrahedron).

(Prior code § 7420.5)

The following signals for the control and regulation of aircraft shall be established, and every person operating aircraft at this Airport shall obey such signals:

A. When a pilot is taxiing:

1. A red light from a directed traffic-control light means "Stop".

2. A series of red flashes from a directed traffic-control light means that the pilot is to taxi back to the hangar line.

3. A series of green flashes from a directed traffic-control light means "Cleared to continue taxiing".

B. When a pilot is in position to take off:

1. A red light from a directed traffic-control light means "Clear the runway immediately and wait".

2. A green light from a directed traffic-control light means "Cleared for takeoff".

C. When an aircraft is in flight:

1. A green light from a directed traffic-control light means "Cleared to land".

2. A red light from a directed traffic-control light means "Give way to other aircraft and continue circling".

3. During the hours of darkness, a pilot wishing to land shall turn on his landing light when he approaches the Airport unless he has already been given a green light.

4. Pilots shall acknowledge light signals by rocking their wings during the hours of daylight, or blinking their landing lights during the hours of darkness.

D. General warning signal:

1. A series of alternating red and green flashes from a directed traffic-control light shall be used as a general warning signal to advise a pilot to be on the alert for hazardous or unusual conditions.

(Prior code § 7420.6)

The rates and fees for the uses of or services rendered at the Long Beach Airport shall be established by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. C-5407 § 1, 1978: prior code § 7420.7)

The permit required by Section 16.44.040 shall be in written form subscribed by the Director and by the permittee and shall provide:

A. A statement of the use to be made by the permittee and the portion of the Airport to be used;

B. The dates and approximate duration of such use;

C. The fees to be charged for such use;

D. An acknowledgement that the permittee will pay each daily fee in advance, that the permittee will abide by field rules of the City, by its ordinances, by all regulations of the Federal Aviation Agency and by all laws and regulations of any government or governmental agency having authority over or at the Airport; and

E. Any other matters which the City Manager deems appropriate.

(Prior code § 7420.10)

Except as provided in this Chapter, no person shall deliver aviation fuel or lubricants to, or dispense such aviation fuel or lubricants from, at or upon the Airport without first securing a written permit authorized by the City Council and having paid a fee as determined by the City Council by resolution. This Section shall not be applicable to the delivery or dispensing of aviation fuel or lubricants on property leased to any person by the City if the lease authorizes the lessee to deliver or dispense aviation fuel or lubricants on the leased premises.

(ORD-10-0014, § 24, 2010; Prior code § 7420.11)

The permit required by Section 16.44.110 shall be in written form and shall provide:

A. A statement of the use to be made by the permittee and the portions of the Airport to be used;

B. The term of the permit;

C. The fees to be charged for such use and the manner of payment of such fees;

D. Acknowledgement that permittee shall indemnify and save harmless the City from and against any claims, actions or liability of any kind, connected with the use of the Airport by permittee; and

E. Any other matters which the City Manager may deem appropriate.

(Prior code § 7420.12)

The Director shall establish reasonable regulations relating to all activities upon the airport. Such regulations shall be subject to the prior approval of the City Council and shall be premised upon the maintenance upon the Airport of sanitary and sightly conditions, orderliness, and the preservation of public health, safety, peace, welfare, and convenience in the use of the Airport for the purpose for which it was established. One (1) copy of the regulations, as approved by the City Council, shall be filed in the office of the City Clerk. Another copy shall be kept posted conspicuously within the administration building. Violation of any such regulation shall be cause for revocation of any permit or license or shall be a breach of any contract relating to the use of the Airport or any of its facilities or property or shall be cause for refusal to permit a continued use of the Airport, its facilities and property until compliance with the regulation is affected.

(Prior code § 7420.13)

In compliance with the provisions of Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Public Utilities Code, there is created and established a special fund to be known as special aviation fund. All money received by the City from the State under the provisions of Public Utilities Code for Airport and aviation purposes shall be deposited into the fund created and established by this Section. The City shall also deposit into the fund from its general fund amounts of money at least equal to the amounts of money to be received from the State and to be deposited into the fund. All moneys in the fund shall be expended exclusively for Airport and aviation purposes and shall be subject to the provision of Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Part 1 of Division 9 of the Public Utilities Code.

(Prior code § 7420.14)

Helicopters are authorized to land and takeoff only from the designated operational areas of the Long Beach Municipal Airport and from such helicopter landing facilities, sometimes referred to as heliports, which may be officially designated by the City. It is unlawful to takeoff or land any aircraft at any location in the City other than those specified in this Section except in an emergency where the aircraft cannot safely continue to the nearest authorized landing area.

(Ord. C-6037 § 1 (part), 1984)

A. General helicopter landing facilities are those approved by the City and all other relevant government agencies for uses of the type and nature specified in the permit.

B. Emergency helicopter landing facilities are those established by the City or other governmental entity for police and fire emergency use only.

(Ord. C-6037 § 1 (part), 1984)

A. Any person or entity wishing to establish a general helicopter landing facility within the City shall first obtain a helicopter facility permit. Applications for such permits may be obtained from and shall be submitted to the Long Beach Fire Department.

B. No permit shall be issued for any general helicopter landing facility which does not evidence approval and compliance with the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration and the California Department of Transportation.

(Ord. C-6037 § 1 (part), 1984)

A. The following minimum requirements shall apply to all general helicopter landing facilities:

1. In every case, application for a permit shall be made to the Fire Department. Any permit granted under the above provisions shall be the number of landings and takeoffs authorized within any twenty-four (24) hour period. This permit does not constitute permission for the applicant to conduct passenger flights for passengers other than the specific person or persons for whom the flight is chartered.

2. The landing area shall have two (2) lines of approach or takeoff and these shall be removed from each other by at least a ninety degree (90°) angle. This approach and takeoff area shall be clear of any obstructions within a glide or takeoff path computed on the ratio of eight (8) horizontal to one (1) vertical.

3. An area of approximately seventy-five (75) by seventy-five feet (75') shall be required. This area shall be clearly defined by means of a substantial barrier or other method providing physical restraint to prohibit the entrance of unauthorized persons into the landing area. Additional area may be required depending on the area and any additional hazards.

4. Adequate personnel shall be provided to police the landing area to assist in restraining unauthorized persons from entering the landing area.

5. A minimum of two (2) 24OBC type dry powder extinguishers shall be provided on the ground adjacent to the landing area. Personnel trained in the use of such extinguishers shall be in attendance.

6. Some type of indicator shall be provided to show wind direction.

7. Insurance as prescribed in regulations issued by the City Manager pursuant to Section 2.84.040.

8. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) shall be advised concerning each landing, and compliance with air traffic control directions is required.

B. In addition to the above, all requirements of Article 24 of the Uniform Fire Code and Chapter 2.1 of Title 21 of the California Administrative Code shall be compiled with.

(Ord. C-7934 § 23, 2004; Ord. C-6037 § 1 (part), 1984)