Archive for December 2004

Thursday, December 16, 2004 Will Douglas stop airport expansion?
Two say their votes for development help stunt hub’s growth.
By Jason Gewirtz
The Long Beach (CA) Press-Telegram

LONG BEACH – Swept into office on anti-airport expansion platforms, the City Council’s two newest members say their votes this week for a massive development north of Long Beach Airport didn’t stray from that mission.

“This message is my personal opinion regarding the future of C. P. A.
As an organized aviation oriented pilot association, what does the C.P.A. have to offer Communities in the form of a public service program which would earn community support and attention? C.P.A would benefit greatly if the organization was recognized as a community service organization. Many pilots are in business within every airport community. How many of these pilots are members of the CPA? How many pilots in business speak out in support of their local airport?

Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Backers of Orange County, Calif.-area airport proposal refuse to be grounded
The Orange County (CA) Register

In talking about his accomplishments on the Irvine City Council, Chris Mears quickly mentions helping to “drive the nail in the El Toro airport coffin.”

Thursday, December 16, 2004
Commentary
Mix of homes and runways
Douglas Park Approval Means Airport Concerns Will be More Complex.
The Long Beach (CA) Press-Telegram

The Boeing Co. Douglas Park project, which could nestle as many as 11,000 jobs and 4,000 residents alongside the nation’s fifth busiest airport, has won city approval after two years of controversy. Most city officials are pleased; many neighbors are not.

FAA Okays Residential Development Near Long Beach Airport
But Officials Still Have Reservations

A controversial housing project that would put up to 1,400 single family homes and apartments close to California’s Long Beach Airport has won FAA approval — with reservations.

Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Officials want to speed up San Diego airport improvements
The Escondido (CA) North County Times

SAN DIEGO — Airport authority board members urged their staff Monday to speed up a series of planning options to expand and improve Lindbergh Field, saying delays could lead to voter confusion in 2006.

Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Burbank, Calif., officials plan more meetings on airport terminal expansion
The Los Angeles (CA) Daily News

BURBANK, Calif. — City officials hope to sit down with residents to discuss a controversial proposal that would allow Bob Hope Airport to retain land that could be used for a new terminal.

Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Tax hike on stored planes rejected
INLAND: San Bernardino International Airport can proceed with an aircraft storage contract.
By PHIL PITCHFORD
The Riverside (CA) Press-Enterprise

Operators of the San Bernardino International Airport and other former military bases in the state dodged an expensive tax charge that would have killed a source of income for the airports.

Many of us who try to work within the ATC system are often frustrated by the inability to get a ‘discrete’ transponder code before takeoff. This is because of 1) controller workload, 2) short taxi times, and 3) lack of equipment in the tower to electronically assign a code (called FDEP or the Flight Data Entry Position, a computer terminal attached to the TRACON computer).

Friday, December 10, 2004
Airport’s security reviewed after second odd incident
By Janene Scully The Santa Maria (CA) Times

Even before a second bizarre incident within three years put the spotlight on the Santa Maria Public Airport’s security, federal officials had their eyes on other shortcomings.