Posts Tagged ‘Santa Monica Airport’
Residents seek control of Santa Monica's future
A group of Santa Monica residents has taken the first step toward launching a ballot initiative that would give city residents a say in the future use of Santa Monica Municipal Airport property, and AOPA has pledged to support the effort.
On March 27, the group filed paperwork needed to begin the initiative process. The group is proposing an amendment to the city charter that would require voter approval before the city can redevelop airport land. Surveys have consistently shown that the majority of Santa Monica residents want to keep the airport open.
Read MoreSanta Monica City Council Meeting (Airport Agenda) Update
Santa Monica City Council Approves Plan To Take Over Portion Of Airport « CBS Los Angeles
Meeting Update Tuesday March 25, 2014 – Despite the headline, I believe the actual motion was “to study” a variety of these possible approaches.
The City Counsel, Marsha Moutrie, cautioned the maker of the motion, Kevin McKeown, to adjust the motion in this regard. (We can only surmise that were it not so adjusted, it might lead to a Part 16 action based on a “decision” by the City Council.)
There were 101 registered speakers of which, by the time the evening wore on, there was fall off with perhaps 80-85 actually speaking at two minutes apiece.
Read MoreTime to Rally Around Santa Monica Airport!
While none of this is new, their efforts have been vastly accelerated over the last few months as they look toward the expiration of the 1984 Settlement Agreement between the city and the FAA as their best opportunity to force this issue. Some think that when this agreement expires, the city can close the airport. That’s been a subject of recent litigation between the city and the FAA. So far, the city lost every court case, but they haven’t lost the war. Now the City is focused on a “starvation” strategy – strangle the airport to the point that it can no longer function as an airport.
Read MoreAirport Sponsors are Supposed to Nurture their Airports
Apparently, Santa Monica never received the memo – The attached letter from NBAA to the Santa Monica City Council should be read just for the valuable information. It takes the city council to task on several issues including that “as early as 1981 the City was indeed aware that the FAA took the position that “if the city ever in perpetuity ever tries to convert any of this property to any other use, then the federal government gets it back, or can operate to get it back at that time.”
There is more too, as non-aeronautical tenants must pay fair market rent – as well as inconsistent with the report’s overall recommendation that KSMO revenues be maintained.
Read MoreThe time is now ~ at Santa Monica Airport!
We need to change that. SMO is a frequent stop for many of you. It is a vital part of our National Airspace System. If SMO goes, so will other airports ~ SMO is not a single airport; it is, effectively, a signal airport.
Read MoreAOPA, NBAA file friend of the court brief in Santa Monica suit
Federal government seeks to dismiss Santa Monica Airport lawsuit
Santa Monica officials sued in October, challenging the constitutionality of a 1948 agreement that transferred ownership of the property and its 5,000-foot runway from the federal government back to the city after World War II on the condition it remain an airport.
Read MoreFAA Disagrees with Santa Monica on Airport
FAA Tells Santa Monica It Must Operate Airport Through At Least 2023 – City Had Hoped To Repurpose 227 Acres Of Airport Property To Other Uses
The city of Santa Monica, CA has been told in no uncertain terms by the FAA that they cannot close the airport and open up its 227 acres for redevelopment until at least 2023, and likely not ever, according to a communication sent by the agency to city government.
Read MoreSanta Monica – A battle GA must win
The latest threat is a lawsuit filed Oct. 31 by the city of Santa Monica, Calif., in an effort to take full control of theairport’s fate and release the city from its obligation to operate an airport on the 227 acres in question. A ruling on the lawsuit that will initially be made by a U.S. District Court judge could have implications for the long-term survival of hundreds of other airports across the country.
Read More(Santa Monica) Airport poses no significant threat
Editor: It’s high time to clear the air with regard to the so-called “Santa Monica-connected” aviation accidents people have been bandying about recently (“The saga of Santa Monica Airport,” Our Town, Nov. 12). These are a compendium of accidents and incidents occurring between 1982 and 2011, a period of 29 years, which are alleged to demonstrate that Santa Monica Airport is unsafe. Indeed, they show just the opposite.
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