California Airports

Airline industry’s focus on major routes challenges SLO airport’s growth plan– Faced with loss of some air service in recent years, an airline industry in flux and about 60 percent of travelers flying out of Los Angeles or the Bay Area, attracting new airlines and adding routes to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport is an ongoing challenge with no easy fix.

“There’s no one factor,” said Kevin Bumen, general manager of the airport. “And this isn’t something that’s unique to San Luis Obispo.”

Comedian Bob Hope might not find humor in a promotional campaign proposed for the regional airport named after him.

Nationwide demand for air travel has been on the rise, but you wouldn’t know it by visiting Bob Hope Airport. Passenger traffic was flat for the first ten months of 2014, after two years of declining numbers, according to airport statistics.

One possible reason for the lackluster flier traffic, according to airport officials, is that many out-of-town travelers don’t know that Bob Hope Airport is located in Burbank, less than 15 miles from downtown Los Angeles.

Visalia Municipal Airport is getting a new airline to replace the current carrier.

SeaPort Airlines, based in Portland, Oregon, has been awarded the Essential Air Service contract for Visalia by the Department of Transportation.

The airline will likely start flights in February, said Visalia airport manager Mario Cifuentez.

(When is a supposed “environmental group” really just a front for a profit center business model? You decide, but consider why they decided to “settle” for $550, 000. The lesson here, be careful which environmental groups you support……. CalPilots’ Editor)…….

California Avgas Lawsuit Settled – The Center for Environmental Health, which filed a lawsuit in 2011seeking to prohibit the sale of leaded gasoline in California, has reached a settlement, NATA said on Tuesday. Under the agreement signed last week, FBOs at 23 airports will provide warnings of lead exposure to individuals residing within one kilometer of the airport, will post warning signs at the airports, and will pay about $550,000 in penalties and legal costs. The fuel distributors also agreed to offer for sale the lowest-lead fuel that is commercially available, and to make mogas available to FBOs that request it.

Siskiyou County’s airports have struggled in recent years, but the potential loss of the Happy Camp airport has some residents concerned that their essential emergency services will take a devastating hit as well.

The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors spent its previous two meetings discussing the state of the county’s five airports, including expenditures and revenue, federal and state grant obligations, county resources weighed against unmet needs and how the county will move forward in airport management.

New SLO Councilman Dan Rivoire casts swing vote in crucial airport vote – Council overrules commission to allow for development near the airport The San Luis Obispo City Council voted 4-1 on Tuesday to override a ruling by the Airport Land Use Commission, which allows the city to move forward with long-range plans for large residential developments at the city’s southern edge.

New Councilman Dan Rivoire, who was sworn in Dec. 1, decided the city’s path forward by providing the swing vote needed to pass the override.

Chico – The city will be moving forward in its quest to find management for the Chico Municipal Airport.

Last week, City Manager Mark Orme said the city will be putting out a request for proposals later this month.

Join us for our annual Toys for Tots event in cooperation with the US Marine Corps. Bring a new, unwrapped toy and enjoy the fun.
Saturday, December 6th, 2014
10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
10:00 Arrivals and holiday beverages
11:00 Live holiday music: Arroyo Grande High School Band
12:00 Central Coast Smokers BBQ $15 includes all the fixings
1:00 Reindeer Games

Monterey Airport runway project unearths Native American remains and artifacts. – A massive earth-colored, terraced wall is rising along the edge of Monterey Peninsula Airport. Looming over Highway 68 south of Del Rey Oaks, the retaining wall is part of a $52 million runway safety upgrade, now in the thick of construction.

SLO Council delays vote on airport override; Rivoire asks for more time

The San Luis Obispo City Council delayed making a decision Tuesday on aproposed override of an Airport Land Use Commission ruling that would limit much of the city’s planned growth at the southern end of the city.