The executive directors and CEOs of California’s 30 commercial airports, including many that cater to GA, have formed a statewide airport consortium, the California Airports Council (CAC).
“Airports play a critical role in the fabric of the state’s economy, providing billions in revenue and tens of thousands of jobs statewide,” said John Martin, executive director of San Francisco International Airport and president of the organization, which hopes to serve as a resource for federal, state and local policymakers.
Among the high-priority issues for the new organization is passage of the pending FAA Reauthorization Bill, organizers said.
Airports participating in the CAC are:
- Arcata/Eureka Airport (AVC)
- Burbank – Bob Hope Airport (BUR)
- Carlsbad/McLellan/Palomar Airport (CRQ)
- Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport (STS)
- Chico Municipal Airport (CIC)
- Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
- Imperial County Airport (IPL)
- Inyokern County Airport (IYK)
- John Wayne Airport – Orange County (SNA)
- Kern County Department of Airports (BFL)
- Long Beach Airport (LGB)
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
- Merced Regional Airport (MCE)
- Modesto City-County Airport (MOD)
- Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY)
- Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Airport
- Oakland International Airport (OAK)
- Ontario International Airport (ONT)
- Palm Springs International Airport (PSP)
- Redding Municipal Airport (RDD)
- Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
- San Diego County Regional Airport (SAN)
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP)
- Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA)
- Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX)
- Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK)
- Ventura County Department of Airports (OXR)
- Visalia Municipal Airport (VIS)
I would be very interested in understanding what the cost to join this council is to each airport, and where the money came from. My concern is that the cost is significant, and that that money is taken from the already under budgeted smaller airports where GA pilots, and aviation businesses, face increasing costs in the form of tie down, hangar rent and building rental. Clearly, since these are commercial airports, this council is focused on the airlines, and not GA. Therefore, any cost for this membership should not be a burden to GA pilots.
Ed Rosiak
President – California Pilots Association