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Santa Monica Airport has a rich history, but look at it now — an aircraft carrier afloat in a sea of homes.  We know it is time for safety changes, but all airborne operations are controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration.

In 1984, to get desperately needed noise relief, Santa Monica agreed to operate the airport until 2015.  After that, a complete rethinking of the airport’s role may be possible.  Meanwhile, I’m working for you on three major safety issues.

First, there is no buffer zone for safety at either end of the runway.  The FAA’s own rules require these for new airports.  The FAA refuses to shorten the runway, claiming that would reduce aircraft payloads and inconvenience pilots and travelers.  Watch the fun when I ask the FAA Airports Administrator which of the two is more important to the FAA, safety or convenience!

C’mon, FAA, what about safety?

Second, given the insufficient runway length and the proximity of homes, it’s clear that the faster classes of jet aircraft shouldn’t be allowed to land here.  In November 2007 I made the motion for an ordinance banning class C & D jet aircraft from our airport, which was passed unanimously by our City Council.  The FAA enjoined us from implementing this safety measure, and the City of Santa Monica went to federal court in Washington, D.C., fighting to protect airport neighbors.  We lost.

Third, last year the FAA made things even worse by diverting some of the propeller-driven aircraft onto a new takeoff heading that goes over the Sunset Park plateau and the hills of Ocean Park.  Residents now have planes closer overhead than ever before, and we are fighting for a full environmental report to stop the madness and force the FAA to acknowledge the airport’s impacts.

I continue to work with neighborhood groups, our city staff, regional legislators, and our Congressman Henry Waxman to get the federal help we need.  It may be called “Santa Monica Airport,” but planes and flight paths are solely under the jurisdiction of the FAA. 

UPDATES:  On my blog

I’ve been re-elected, again, as top vote-getter -- T H A N K   Y O U ! ! !

The details of our complicated, contentious legal relationship with the FAA are essential to understanding our options for the future of the airport and our strategies for how we might get there.  City Attorney Marsha Moutrie gives an excellent summary in this video.