Heads-Up: Homeland Security Dept. To Conduct Survey Flights @ LB Airport

Utilizing a MD 10 aircraft, on loan from Fed Ex, the Department of Homeland Security will conduct three test flight instrument approaches at approximately noon. The one-day test is tentatively scheduled for Friday, August 4, 2006, however, this date is subject to change. The Airport will be apprised of the exact date no later than Thursday, August 3. An earlier test flight was conducted on May 24, 2006.

According to Richard Stevens, of the Department of Homeland Security, the Long Beach Airport's "community environment, with its heavy industrial component, is very unique and provides the optimum conditions needed for this survey."

The airport environment survey will consist of three normal aircraft approaches on Runway 30. The aircraft will make a normal approach into the Airport from the southwest, pass over the airfield and then circle around for the next approach. The aircraft will not land at Long Beach Airport.

Once again, the Long Beach Airport and the Department of Homeland Security are working together to minimize the noise impact of the operations to the surrounding community. The aircraft will operate on its lowest power settings and the testing will occur during midday, when local commercial traffic is at its lowest.