Airport
SMO Visioning Process Begins
As the operating agreement between the FAA and the City of Santa Monica regarding the Santa Monica Airport approaches its expiration in 2015, the City has begun a process to determine the options available for the airport’s future. The airport consists of 227 acres located at the south east corner of the City’s borders. The 5000ft runway is imbedded in a residential area and the environmental and safety impacts have been a long time concern for airport neighbors. In addition to the runway itself, the airport property hosts aviation related businesses, non-aviation business, airport staff offices, aircraft tie-downs (parking spaces), aircraft hangers, restaurants, artist studios, sports playing fields, dog park , a theatre, and some SMC classrooms.
The City has engaged the services of three consultant firms to conduct an airport visioning process. The
Rand Corporation will produce a study of potential development concepts and applications for the aviation and non-aviation land. HR&A will analyze the airport’s economic impacts of the airport. Point C will formulate and manage an extensive community process regarding the range of possibilities for the Airport’s future. This public outreach process will include all stakeholders including residents, business owners, aviation and non-aviation interests.
Phase I of the process will involve information gathering. Phase II will consist of a comprehensive public input process. After a full range of options are identified with the associated costs and benefits, the City will then undertake Phase III, a deliberative planning process for the future of the Airport.
Phase I – February to September 2011 — HR&A will prepare a study of Airport’s economic impact. — RAND will prepare a report and analysis on general aviation airport best practices, potential alternative layouts, operational configurations and uses. — Point C’s will identify stakeholders, formulate a public process plan that will include all the stakeholders, design presentations and formats to disseminate the information collected and produced by HR & A and RAND.
Phase II– October 2011 to January 2012 — A program of public workshops would be conducted. These meetings will be designed to include a broad range of participants. — Meetings will be scheduled throughout this period to ensure all interested members of the public would have the opportunity to participate. — Recommendations will become part of the public dialogue report.
Phase III – February to June 2012— City Council would begin the deliberative phase with presentations from RAND and HR&A on their reports and a full review and discussion of the comments and recommendations from the Phase II public input process. — City Council will consider appropriate policies and actions. Friends of Sunset Park encourages all residents to participate in the public input process so their voices are heard in determining the Santa Monica Airport’s future.
New Airport Commission Appointment
Santa Monica City Council has appointed Sunset Park resident David Godard as the new Airport Commissioner to fill a vacancy left by Jean Gebman’s recent resignation. Welcome Commissioner Godard.
Web Traking Now Available for SMO
Santa Monica Airport’s WebTrak system is now up and running. The WebTrak allows the public to access the movement of aircraft over our neighborhood. It not only includes aircraft arriving and departing from SMO but any aircraft in our neighborhood space. Aircraft are color coded to determine type and origin. Information shown includes the aircraft’s type, altitude, origin/destination airports, and flight identification. Access to current air traffic is delayed approximately 20 minutes for security reasons and for system processing. Historical data can be viewed in the Replay Mode and is available up to 90 days in the past. The system also allows you to file a complaint about a particular aircraft.
For more info about the web tracking see the Airport web site page:
http://www.smgov.net/Departments/Airport/For_Our_Neighbors/WebTrak.aspx
To access the web track see:
http://webtrak.bksv.com/smo
LA City Council Votes to Support SMO Flight Path Alteration and Closing of Flight Schools
On April 20, 2011, the LA City Council passed a resolution that would support lobbying “for legislation or administrative action that would alter the departure path at the Santa Monica Airport (SMO) to enhance safety and reduce air pollution that results from jets idling on the runway, as well as closing flight schools at SMO.”
There are concerns in the Sunset Park and Ocean Park neighborhoods that the City of LA will lobby for the implementation of the FAA’s recently tested 250 degree heading that sent departure aircraft over residential areas instead over the Penmar golf course. During the test period hundreds of noise complaints were registered by residents to the airport staff.
Prior to the passage of this resolution, the City Manager responded to residents’ complaints regarding flight schools by denying operating permits to two new flight schools, but City Staff doubts there are legal grounds to rescind operating permits for existing flight schools
