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Weeks Before A LB Airport "Feasibility Study" On Possible Fed'l Customs Facility (Int'l Operations), LB City Mgm't Hires New Airport Dir. Who Put One at Van Nuys Airport


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(July 29, 2016, 5:30 p.m.) -- Just weeks before a LB Airport/City management-hired aviation industry consulting firm is scheduled to complete a "feasibility study" on pros/cons of allowing a federal customs facility at LB Airport, LB City Manager Pat West has hired a new LB Airport Director who -- unmentioned in the City of LB's release -- was Manager of Van Nuys Airport when it opened a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Customs facility in 2015.

A number of LB residents, including former LB's Airport Advisory Commissioner/now City Prosecutor Doug Haubert, have warned that enabling international operations (cargo and/or passenger) could create new risk exposure for LB's Airport ordinance, which currently protects the City from unlimited flights with no noise limits at all hours on all runways,

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The July 29, 2016 City of Long Beach release describes Jesus "Jess" L. Romo, A.A.E., as "an airport executive with 19 years of experience in aviation" who will "provide strong leadership and strategic planning for Long Beach Airport [and] will work collaboratively with all stakeholders, including the community, tenants and our commercial and general aviation partners." It notes that Mr. Romo served as "Interim Deputy Executive Director for Los Angeles World Airports, overseeing Operations and Emergency Management at Los Angeles International Airport since July 2016. Previously, he was Director of Airports, Operations, overseeing Ontario International and Van Nuys Airports; Airport Manager; and Director of Airport Real Estate."

A Van Nuys Airport press release dated May 29, 2015 quotes Mr. Romo as saying: "Having U.S. Customs and Border Protection services at Van Nuys Airport is a great example of how local support can produce improved services at airports across the country." He said the services for arriving international flights would benefit "business travelers, fuel the local economy and reduce airspace congestion in the Southern California region."

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LBREPORT.com has also learned that project manager for the Van Nuys Airport customs facility was Long Beach-based Aeroplex/Aerolease Group, which in a May 2015 company release boasted of having successfully managed establishment of the facility on behalf of Signature Flight Support. "As project manager, Aeroplex/Aerolease Group effectively handled all inter-organizational agreements and coordination; contractor bid, contract award and work activities; and overall construction planning, scheduling and execution. Aeroplex/Aerolease Group worked in partnership with Signature Flight Support, LAWA and CBP to fast-track construction, approval, completion, testing and staffing of the new Federal Inspections Services facility according to standard," said Aeroplex/Aerolease Group President and CEO Curt Castagna in a May 2015 release by his firm. "This is a perfect example of how industry and government can work together to implement services that will benefit users of business aviation and fuel the local economy."

Aeroplex describes itself on its website as having "diverse hangar facilities [that] are perfect for owners of corporate and private aircraft, ranging from single-engine planes to executive jets."

Internal Airport documents, obtained by LBREPORT.com in 2014 under the CA Public Records Act, show that during much of 2013, previous-LB Airport management worked quietly with JetBlue -- without public disclosure or voted Council approval -- to pursue the possibility of a federal customs facility. (Airport management informed the Council by two summary memos (August and November 2013) of its activities but no Councilmember(s) disclosed them publicly 0entering the 2014 election cycle.) In Feb. 2015, JetBlue formally asked the City to seek a federal customs facility and in July 2015, the City Council voted 6-3 (Austin, Uranga, Supernaw dissenting) to conduct a "feasibility study" on the matter (LBREPORT.com coverage here.)

Although JetBlue has repeatedly said it plans to operate within the terms of LB's Airport ordinance, a customs facility couldn't legally be limited to any one carrier, arguably inviting a scenario in which some international operator(s) might attempt to strike down LB's Airport ordinance which currently protects the City of Long Beach from unlimited numbers of flights at all hours on all runways with no noise limits.

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The City of LB release says Mr. Romo's responsibilities "will include oversight of Long Beach Airport, including operations, finances and leases, the Airport Noise Ordinance, community outreach, environmental matters, capital improvements, tenant relationships, security, air service and public affairs." The release says Mr. Romo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine and Master of Arts degree in Industrial Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles. He is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). He is a recipient of the 2015 Award for Airport Executive Partnership from the National Air Transportation Association." He'll start work at LB Airport on September 6.

A LB Airport spokesperson has told LBREPORT.com that staff currently anticipates the "feasibility study" to be completed by late August/early September and it will then be scheduled for presentation to the Council at some point thereafter. It's currently unclear how much time city management and/or the Mayor will allow the public to have to review the "feasibility report" (which a paid consulting firm had over a year to prepare) before the Council takes voted action on the matter. [Draft Environmental Impact Reports allow the public a minimum of 45 days for review and comment before taking voted action.]

Van Nuys and Burbank Airports had an on-demand customs official available until August 2006 when the federal agency chose to assign their agents elsewhere.

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