FAA Will Probably Fight Ruling

Despite threats from the FAA, the city council in Santa Monica, CA approved an ordinance this week to ban Category C and D aircraft from Santa Monica Airport (SMO.)

In a unanimous 7-0 vote, the council ruled Tuesday to restrict planes with approach speeds greater than 121 knots. That vote comes after five years if negotiations with the FAA, which opposes the measure, reports The Santa Monica Lookout.

Lawmakers also derided an FAA plan to buy homes around the airport, to make room for a proposed runway extension to support the larger planes.

"I think we went above and beyond the call of duty trying to get somewhere with the FAA, but it is just not happening when we get a letter that suggests we seriously consider buying up homes," said Mayor Richard Bloom.

"The FAA is clearly not paying attention to the beliefs and norms in Santa Monica," Bloom added. "We support letting people keep their homes and taking away housing when there is another reasonable alternative is offensive and absurd."

Ahead of the vote, FAA officials said they'd fight Santa Monica's council.

"What you are considering by this proposed ordinance is flatly illegal as drafted," wrote Kirk Shaffer, FAA associate administrator for airports, in a letter to city officials. "The City should expect the agency to expeditiously use its authority and all available means, if the ordinance is adopted as proposed, to ensure that all federal rights, investments and obligations are protected and that no aircraft is denied access to SMO."

If the FAA sues Santa Monica, which appears likely, the new law will be tied up in the courts for some time.

The FAA states a 1984 settlement with the city -- which settled a 1979 attempt by Santa Monica to restrict jet access -- gives the agency control of SMO through 2015... and also allows Category C and D planes to operate there, despite its official B-II classification.

City officials reply runway length should keep larger, faster planes from using the airport; in fact, they say the airport doesn't meet the FAA's own standards for a B-II airport.

The council's ruling had the support of SMO airport director Robert Trimborn... who feels the FAA is trying to do too much, with too little airport.

"The ordinance is necessary because the airport has unique circumstances -- homes are just across the street from the runway ends and within 300 feet of the runway ends," said Trimborn. "Dangers resulting from homes being in close proximity to the runway and topography (the airport sits on a plateau) are worsened by the change in the fleet.

The number of faster aircraft has increased dramatically in recent years, faster aircraft that could travel further into residential neighborhoods in the event of an overrun," Trimborn said. "Any minimal inconvenience to those traveling by private jet aircraft and any minor impact on commerce will be greatly outweighed by the benefit of protecting the safety of airport neighborhood and the flying public."

That view conflicts with some airport operators, afraid a ban on larger planes will hurt their businesses.

"The 1984 settlement agreement was material inducement to the development of our parcel," said Jay Becker, a representative for an airport leaseholder. "We spent millions of dollars relying upon the fact that access to aircraft that could become our customers would be guaranteed.

"If you eliminate the top portion of our clientele, how do you expect to compensate us?" Becker asked Council members. "Would you write us a big check?"

FMI: http://santa-monica.org/airport/