California Airports

Greater government oversight. Rising expenses. Rents below market value.A combination of those factors, according to Sutter County officials and supervisors, is what took the county’s airport off a “fiscal cliff” of its own in recent years, and a situation those same officials said they hope it’s emerging from now.

To Supervisor Stan Cleveland, two developments emerged about a decade ago that put the airport’s finances on shaky ground. The first was the post-Sept. 11, 2001, environment in which the federal government’s push for homeland security led to greater oversight of general aviation airports like Sutter County’s.

LAX runway separation plan advances, over groups’ objections – Some neighbors and Ontario airport supporters oppose a plan touted as improving safety and the handling of the largest new aircraft at Los Angeles International.

A controversial plan to separate the two northern runways at Los Angeles International Airport by 260 feet advanced last week when airport staff recommended the proposal for further environmental review over other runway options.

Notice Number: NOTC4478
ALERT BULLETIN: SUBJECT: RWY 31L – Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) Activation

FACILITY: Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)

TRIGGERING EVENT: Replacement of VASI Navigational Aid (NAVAID) equipment on left to PAPI on right.

NARRATIVE:

On December 15, 2012 the Palm Springs International Airport, Air Traffic Control (ATC) will activate the newly installed RWY 31L Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) system. This equipment replaces the Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) system for RWY 31L, previously on “left” side of runway.

The Federal Aviation Administration will take back $2.1 million in stimulus funds that it gave to San Francisco International Airport because the money was used improperly, according to the Department of Transportation’s inspector general.

The airport received $14.5 million in stimulus funds to improve runways and taxiways, which was completed in 2010. But the inspector general said in a report earlier this month that $2.1 million was used for unauthorized construction. It is unclear what specifically the money was spent on.

California’s Long Beach Airport LGB plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 5 to unveil the results of its $140 million renovation. Established in 1923 as the first municipal airport in Southern California, the airport (known also as Daugherty Field) has five runways ranging in length from approximately 4,000 feet to 10,000 feet, and sees some 300,000 operations a year. While it hosts its own commercial traffic and serves as an alternative to Los Angeles International, 20 miles to the northwest, LGB also ranks as one of the world’s busiest general aviation airports.

The clock is ticking for residents living around Bob Hope Airport to tap a federally funded program to soundproof their houses before a shrinking noise-impact zone renders them ineligible, officials warned last week. 

With fewer flights coming in and out of the airfield, and quieter aircraft taking to the skies, the noise-impact zone is expected to shrink significantly at the north and south ends of the runway, meaning homeowners who currently qualify for grant-funded soundproofing may soon find themselves outside the boundaries for the program.Dan Feger, the airport’s executive director, said homeowners who qualify should act quickly.

VICTORVILLE – The Southern California Logistics Airport Authority announced Thursday that it plans on issuing a notice to its bondholders informing them the authority expects to be $2.9 million shy of its debt obligation come Dec. 1.

“The default has been anticipated by SCLAA largely due to legislative maneuvers by the state of California to shift redevelopment funds and eliminate redevelopment agencies to satisfy the state’s budgetary shortfalls,” said Victorville Mayor Ryan McEachron, who is SCLAA chairman, in a statement Thursday.

Fight Continues Over Airport Visioning Process – Goal of study’s Phase 3—transparency and trust—remains elusive as clock moves toward 2015.

Nearly seven months into the third phase of Santa Monica Airport’s “visioning process,” the struggle continues between the Airport Commission and city staffers over how comprehensive the process should be.

Specifically, the commission wants staff to be more assertive in studying scenarios for closing the airport in mid-2015, upon the expiration of the city’s operating agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration, or mitigating its negative impacts even sooner. (The FAA insists the 1984 agreement is binding until 2023).

TRUCKEE, Calif. – The Truckee Tahoe Airport District is accepting land leasing proposals for both public and private development, following an inquiry by one of the area’s largest employers.

Truckee-based Clear Capital, a national provider of real estate analytics and valuations, has approached the airport district with the idea of leasing property since it is looking for a long-term facility, preferably in Truckee, to house its headquarters, said Kevin Marshall, co-founder and president of the company.

Birds Beware: San Jose Airport to Consider Bringing in Crews to Clear Airspace – Fear of birds flying into engines and causing potentially fatal plane crashes has prompted one California airport to consider bringing in crews to shoot at the flocks.