A recent determination by the FAA found that the city of Santa Monica is able to use airport revenue for projects associated with its runway shortening project.
The multi-million dollar project to shorten the runway is just one outcome of an agreement reached between the city and the FAA to close Santa Monica Airport by 2028.
In an Oct. 21 letter in response to an informal Part 13 complaint – initiated by the FAA as the result of an inquiry by the National Business Aviation Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association – the agency concluded that the city of Santa Monica is able to use airport revenue for projects associated with its runway shortening project, including pavement removal, pavement pulverization, soil stabilization and hydroseeding.
The project to demolish pavement that was removed from operation in 2017 started in June and is scheduled to conclude in November.
“We acknowledge the FAA reconsidering the original guidance provided to the city, but are disappointed with the agency’s decision,” said Alex Gertsen, NBAA director, airports and ground infrastructure. “This is not airport construction, but purely airport destruction. Taxpayer dollars were used to build this runway and the aeronautical users should not be paying for the demolition that has zero benefit to them.”
“The FAA’s decision allows Santa Monica to continue its avowed agenda to make SMO as inhospitable as possible to aviation operators,” he added.
Gertsen also noted that the FAA did put Santa Monica on notice that the city must reach an agreement with the FAA for the future collection and use of all airport revenue.
He added that “to ensure that future abuses are prevented, the FAA must hold the city to its obligation to use airport revenue only for purposes that benefit the airport and to foster transparency going forward on issues that directly impact the airport users.”
A study performed for SMO by an aviation safety expert emphasized that preserving the pavement beyond the runway ends provided the best type of surface to support aircraft in stopping safely in case of an overrun or an undershoot. A number of mishaps that utilized the runway safety areas since the runway was shortened concluded without damage to aircraft due to the additional pavement being present.
“The city did a poor job with directional signs, markings and closure barricades, creating confusion for pilots operating on the airport once the geometry was changed,” he said. “Less costly improvements to signage and markings would have addressed the concern for incursions rather than the multi-million dollar project to remove pavement. FAA also chose not to engage on the additional safety concern of more wildlife, primarily birds, being attracted to the airport as the result of hydroseeding.”
Gertsen added that NBAA is still awaiting the decision in the lawsuit filed last year in the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the overall legality of the 2017 settlement agreement.
“Should NBAA prevail, the city will need to restore the runway to its original length,” he said.
Its California, noiseless electric airplanes and incredible taxes if you want to fly. Just wait and see what the new city/county “access fees” are going to be just for the right to drive to your hangar in a secure (required) area.
It will be interesting to see how the residents deal with the added traffic, crime and increased infrastructure costs by adding more housing projects. Oh I know, we’ll just raise the taxes even more. That’s the Commiefornia way.
I have to say as a Pennsylvanian, my travel to California was highlighted with a visit to the SMO airport. To lose this gem in the near future would be a crime. I have to question the politics in the area. Housing and business development in the state has ruined so much of the state. This is worth a fight. Don’t let it disappear!
They should be put on the no fly list
California politics.
Even more sad that the money required to improve the airport would most certainly have been less than what it took to fill the pockets of the FAA executives who allowed the size reduction!
You think SMO will be the last airport CA will want closed? Don’t kid yourselves.
Even Banning Airport was voted 5-0 by the city council to close. Then they found that they owed 2 1/2 million in repayment obligations to the FAA so the developer immediately offered to pay this obligation
Land values being what they are, every airport is pressured.
It’s so sad to see the closure of KSMO by 12/31/28. It will be missed by thousands of local pilots.