A city sponsored ballot initiative — Measure LC — has passed in Santa Monica, Calif., leaving the future of Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) in the hands of the City Council. The measure passed with 59% of voters saying “yes” with 90% of precincts reporting Tuesday. At the same time, voters rejected a separate measure — […]
Santa Monica Airport
Advocacy groups donate to save SMO
Two of GA’s top advocacy groups, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) have contributed more than $540,000 to support a ballot measure in Santa Monica, Calif.,, that would halt efforts to shut down the city’s airport (SMO). According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, the campaign measure […]
Future of Santa Monica Airport on the November ballot
Two opposing measures to decide the future of Santa Monica Airport (SMO) in southern California will appear on the city ballot in November. The ballot is the latest weapon in what has become a contentious battle over the future of the airport. Measure D stipulates that voter approval will be required before the airport can be […]
Complaint filed to keep Santa Monica Airport open
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has joined with aviation businesses, other GA organizations and individuals in a complaint filed with the FAA July 2 to ensure that Santa Monica Airport (SMO) remains open after 2015. In a “Part 16” filing with the FAA, AOPA and nine other parties, including Actor Harrison Ford – […]
Signatures submitted for Santa Monica ballot measure
More than 15,500 signatures were filed with the Santa Monica City Clerk on June 10 in support of a charter amendment that would let voters decide the future of Santa Monica Municipal Airport. According to a report at AOPA.org, the “Santa Monica Voters Decide Initiative” collected approximately 6,000 more signatures than needed to win a […]
Alphabet groups support SMO
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) jointly filed an amicus, or friend of the court, brief in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles in support of an FAA motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit over the future of Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) in California. In the […]
A battle GA must win
An in-depth story on AOPA.org about the embattled Santa Monica Airport in Southern California notes that its fate could have implications for airports across the country. The subject of a lawsuit by the city to close the airport, SMO “should be the cause célèbre of aviation interests to draw the proverbial line in the sand,” Richard Asper, […]
AOPA calls lawsuit to close Santa Monica Airport meritless
Officials at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) say a federal lawsuit filed Oct. 31 by the City of Santa Monica against the FAA lacks “any merit in law.” In its lawsuit, the Santa Monica City Council asks the court to give the city clear title to the site of the Santa Monica Municipal […]