The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) have jointly filed a motion to intervene in a case before the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit regarding the continuing operation of Santa Monica Municipal Airport in Southern California. The motion filed Sept. 26, 2016, would allow the associations […]
Santa Monica Airport
FBO files complaint against SMO
The latest salvo in the continuing battle by the city of Santa Monica to close the Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) was fired by Atlantic Aviation, which owns the sole full-service FBO at the Southern California airport. According to Matt Thurber of Aviation International News, the FBO has filed a Part 16 complaint with the FAA in response to a resolution by the Santa […]
FAA tells Santa Monica it is required to continue operating airport
Aviation International News is reporting that the FAA has reacted to the city of Santa Monica’s plan to close Santa Monica Airport (SMO) in 2018. In a letter sent to mayor Tony Vazquez, FAA director of airport compliance and management analysis Kevin Willis reminded the mayor that under a recent Part 16 decision, “the city is […]
FAA rules SMO must stay open
Aviation International News is reporting that the FAA associate administrator for airports has affirmed an earlier director’s determination that requires the city of Santa Monica, Calif., to keep its airport (SMO) open until 2023. In a final decision and order, the associate administrator responded to the city’s appeal of the Dec. 4, 2015, director’s determination, which […]
Santa Monica Airport case sent back to district court
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has determined that a district court prematurely dismissed a lawsuit that was brought by the City of Santa Monica to determine whether the city is obligated to continue operating Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) in Southern California. The May 16 decision sends the case back to the federal district […]
GA advocates question leasing changes at SMO
GA advocates, including officials with the National Business Aviation Association, have responded to a “motion to dismiss” filed by Santa Monica city officials against a portion of a complaint filed with the FAA by Santa Monica Airport supporters, alleging numerous violations of the city’s federal obligations at the historic airfield. In the April 11 filing, Santa […]
GA advocates file more complaints against Santa Monica
The City of Santa Monica has diverted airport funds, charged excessive and unreasonable landing fees, and denied leases on airport property, according to a new Part 16 complaint filed by a group that includes the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and airport businesses and tenants. “With this filing we […]
Call to pilots to block latest threat to SMO
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has asked its members in Southern California to contact U.S. Representatives Karen Bass (D-Calif.) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), in an effort to stave off the latest attempt to close Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO). Both members of Congress have endorsed a seven-point plan by local airport opponents to […]
Santa Monica takes first steps towards closing airport
The Santa Monica City Council has shortened ground leases for tenants at Santa Monica Municipal Airport (KSMO), limiting most businesses to month-to-month leases. Exceptions were FBO Atlantic Aviation, Adelman, a law firm, and the Museum of Flying, which received three-year leases to June 30, 2018, with the option of one-year extensions at the discretion of the city. The […]