General aviation landing fees

A resident and board member of Sander updated the commission on landing fees adopted elsewhere — Falcon Field at $4.14 per 1,000 pounds and Austin's $50 fee with a surge charge — and offered to help the new committee research.

A 25-year Wrigley resident said GA consumes disproportionate tower and air traffic control energy and argued GA should pitch in on landing fees.

Questioned why the airport raises parking and airline fees but won't consider landing fees, citing a $2.2 million revenue decrease and Grant Assurance 22.

Argued no year-long study is needed — a weight-based fee using existing systems could be done in three months, citing the $27 million Taxiway F rebuild.

Called the Falcon Field comparison a red herring, citing LGB's $10.6 million operating loss and $101 million debt, and asked the commission to direct staff to bring a fair fee proposal.

Suggested lowering the fuel flowage fee as a concession to local pilots while adopting landing fees, noting LGB's $0.12/gallon is higher than nearby airports.

Laid out a weight-based fee model — about $15 per Cessna 172 landing, $112 for a Citation XLS — and cited Ontario International's unchallenged tiered fee structure.

Demanded the underlying math behind staff's 'revenue neutral' and 'headwinds rising' conclusions and asked the commission to direct a three-month GA fee revenue proposal.

Said the airport director is overstating the difficulty and that SENA's simple formula approach should be followed.

Focused on the money, not noise: questioned the lack of data and the 20-year use of the same consultant, suggesting creative alternatives.