Southern California airports

[kiwithrottlejockey]

This is a fascinating collection of photographs archived on the Los Angeles Times website. Of particular interest is the intensive housing development shown surrounding many airports, including in the historic photographs of Santa Monica Airport (Clover Field, where Douglas Commerical piston-engined airliners were made) and at Long Beach Airport (where Douglas Commercial jetliners and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military transports were produced).


from the Los Angeles Times....

Here’s a collection of aerial images of former and current Los Angeles-area airports:

• PHOTOGRAPH GALLERY: Aerial views of local airports

[kiwithrottlejockey]

I see the locals are still trying to shut-down Santa Monica Airport in Los Angeles with the help of the local council.

This has been ongoing for more than three years.



from the Los Angeles Times....

FAA orders a halt to evictions of aviation companies
at embattled Santa Monica airport

By DAN WEIKEL | 4:50PM PST - Tuesday, December 13, 2016


Activists rally outside Santa Monica City Hall last year to protest extending leases for aviation tenants at the city's municipal airport.
The City Council has vowed to close the controversial facility in 2018. — Photograph: Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times.

THE Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday ordered Santa Monica to halt the evictions of two aviation companies at its municipal airport until the agency can finish an investigation into the city's effort to shut down the facility.

FAA officials issued an interim cease-and-desist order to stop the ouster of Atlantic Aviation and American Flyers, two major providers of aircraft services, including fuel, flight instruction, hangars and amenities for charter operators.

The move to evict the companies is part of the city's strategy to force out aviation tenants, reduce aircraft flights and shut down the oldest operating airport in Los Angeles County by July 2018.

If the evictions go forward, the city plans to replace Atlantic and American Flyers with its own municipal aviation company and sell bio-fuel for jets and unleaded gas for propeller planes to reduce aircraft emissions. Federal law allows governments that operate airports to provide services themselves instead of relying on private companies.

The city sent the first notices to evict in mid-September and filed lawsuits against both tenants in November to regain possession of the property.

“While we are disappointed but not surprised that the FAA has decided to issue this interim order on the pending evictions of Atlantic and American Flyer, we remain committed to replacing private fixed-based operations with public services,” Mayor Tony Vasquez said.

The cease-and-desist order states that Santa Monica’s “unremitting effort” to remove critical aeronautical services and its “hostility” to the sale of leaded fuel still needed by many aircraft is “a clear contravention of law.”

The order notes that general aviation aircraft, business jets and turboprop aircraft cannot operate using the fuels approved by the City Council. It further states that the city has no desire to provide all the services offered by the companies, such as flight training.

Under agreements with the federal government, the city must make the airport available for public use and benefit. It cannot discriminate against aircraft types or uses and must make space available for aviation tenants on reasonable terms based on good faith negotiations.

“The city has failed to grant any aeronautical leases since 2015 and is alleged to have negotiated in bad faith while seeking onerous and unreasonable terms,” according to the cease-and-desist order, which later states that the leasing policy for the airport fails to include aviation.

“We are pleased that the FAA has recognized our client's federally protected right to be at the airport,” said R. Christopher Harshman, an attorney for American Flyers.

In a separate action, Atlantic Aviation and American Flyers have asked a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge to halt the evictions. A hearing is set for January 3rd.

Santa Monica officials say they are working in “good faith” to provide the services and fuel required by federal regulations. They have 30 days to respond to the FAA's cease-and-desist order.

In late September, the FAA opened a wide-ranging investigation to determine whether the city's so-called starvation strategy for the airport violates its federal obligations that date back to the late 1940s.

The 227-acre airport has about 270 aircraft and averages 452 takeoffs and landings per day. Supporters say it is an economic benefit for the region, provides a base of operations for major emergencies and helps relieve crowded airspace at Los Angeles International Airport.

Opponents contend the airport should be closed because of noise pollution, potentially harmful emissions from aircraft engines and the risk of a serious crash in surrounding neighborhoods.

• SANTA MONICA AIRPORT

__________________________________________________________________________

Read more on this topic:

• Santa Monica temporarily stops airport evictions amid federal investigation (October 18, 2016)

• LETTERS TO THE EDITOR… Santa Monica airport: stay or go? (September 29, 2016)

• FAA will investigate Santa Monica's ‘starvation strategy’ to shut down its municipal airport (September 27, 2016)

• EDITORIAL: Santa Monica should stop trying to run its airport into the ground (September 23, 2016)

• Aviation companies seek to halt their evictions from Santa Monica Municipal Airport (September 21, 2016)

• Legal battle widens over the future of Santa Monica Municipal Airport (September 14, 2016)

• LETTERS TO THE EDITOR… More turbulence over Santa Monica airport closure vote (August 30, 2016)

• FAA threatens to take legal action against Santa Monica for its effort to shut down the city airport in 2018 (August 30, 2016)

• Santa Monica council votes to close the city's airport by July 2018 (August 24, 2014)

• Santa Monica loses another round in effort to close its airport (August 15, 2016)

• Aviation groups accuse city of making it difficult to operate at Santa Monica Airport (February 08, 2016)

• FAA says Santa Monica Airport must stay open until 2023 (December 04, 2015)

• Santa Monica cultural groups feel squeeze from airport rent hikes (July 07 2015)

• Santa Monica City Council revises lease terms for airport tenants (March 25, 2015)

• LETTERS TO THE EDITOR… Santa Monica Airport's spotless record on ground fatalities (March 08, 2015)

• Harrison Ford's plane crash could spur efforts to close Santa Monica Airport (March 05, 2015)

• EDITORIAL: Santa Monica versus the FAA over airport (November 09, 2014)

• Aviation groups give more than $500,000 to save Santa Monica airport (October 29, 2014)

• Opponents of Santa Monica Airport suffer another court defeat (August 22, 2016)

• Supporters of closing Santa Monica Airport lose round in court (August 20, 2014)

• Santa Monica Airport closure in 2015 challenged by tenants (July 02, 2014)

• Foes of closing Santa Monica Airport accuse city officials of conflict (June 28, 2014)

• Santa Monica Airport advocates claim two commissioners have conflicts (June 25, 2014)

• Proposed ballot measure to protect Santa Monica Airport challenged (May 09, 2014)

• Santa Monica launches effort to shut down all or part of city airport (March 26, 2014)

• Santa Monica to consider aggressive plan to shrink airport operations (March 25, 2014)

• Federal government seeks to dismiss Santa Monica Airport lawsuit (Jaunary 01, 2014)

• Family of Santa Monica Airport crash victim sues pilot's estate (November 06, 2013)

• Santa Monica sues FAA to gain control of embattled city airport (October 31, 2013)

• Waxman calls for wider safety investigation of Santa Monica Airport (October 02, 2013)

• Santa Monica Airport remains closed as crash probe continues (October 01, 2013)

• Santa Monica Airport jet crash: 4 people, 2 cats, 1 dog killed (October 01, 2013)

• Jet in Santa Monica Airport crash nearly hit homes, official says (September 30, 2013)

• Santa Monica Airport crash: Number of victims not yet known (September 30, 2013)

• Investigators to probe jet crash at Santa Monica Airport (September 30, 2013)

www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-airport-evictions-20161213-story.html

[kiwithrottlejockey]

February 1967: Santa Monica Airport looking west toward the Pacific Ocean. The Douglas Aircraft plant is on the right.
This photograph was published in the March 3rd, 1967 edition of the Los Angeles Times.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Those folks living in the vicinity are lucky that DC-6 and DC-7 airliners are no longer being manufactured there.

They'd really have something to whinge about if they still had quadrophonic R-2800 Double Wasps and R-3350 Turbo Compounds blasting them at regular intervals.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

from the Los Angeles Times....

Santa Monica Airport will close in 2028
and be replaced by a park, officials say

By DAN WEIKEL and DAKOTA SMITH | 5:40PM PST - Saturday, January 28, 2017


Santa Monica Airport will close in 2028, officials announced. — Photograph: Al Seib/Los Angeles Times.

CAPPING decades of legal battles and protests, federal and local officials announced a settlement on Saturday to close Santa Monica Airport in 2028 and immediately shorten the runway to limit jet flights.

The city of Santa Monica has been fighting to shut down the general aviation airport — long a favorite of celebrities and business leaders — contending it is unsafe, noisy and pollutes nearby neighborhoods with potentially harmful aircraft exhaust.

Aviation interests and the Federal Aviation Administration have opposed the city, stating the airport must stay open at least until 2023, if not in perpetuity, under federal agreements dating to the end of World War II, when the facility was used by the military.

The agreement between the FAA and Santa Monica ends years of litigation and ensures that control of the 227-acre airport will be returned to the city and its residents.

“This a historic day for Santa Monica,” Mayor Ted Winterer said. “The FAA has finally and categorically said that we can do whatever we want with our land at the end of 2028. This is a windfall for the residents” of the city.

The closure will leave the Los Angeles area with one less general aviation airport, but it will allow Santa Monica to replace the complex with a proposed park, recreational facilities and other non-aviation uses.

“This is a good deal, but it is not ideal in all regards because it will keep the airport open longer than desired,” said John Fairweather of the groups Community Against Santa Monica Airport Traffic and Airport2Park. “But we will regain the western parcel of the airport immediately, and the agreement gives us absolute certainty.”

Under the agreement, Santa Monica must maintain stable and continuous operations at the airport until it is closed on December 31st, 2028.

The terms allow the city to immediately reduce the length of the 4,973-foot runway to 3,500 feet, a move that would substantially reduce jet traffic and charter operations.

The FAA also acknowledged that the city has the right to establish its own company at the airport to provide aviation services, such as fuel, hangars and tie-down space for aircraft.

The city has been trying to evict two so-called fixed base operators — Atlantic Aviation and American Flyers — and replace them with its own operation run by municipal employees. Both companies have sued to halt their removals.

FAA officials say, however, that the city remains obligated to enter into leases with private aviation companies to ensure the continuity of services until the runway is shortened and it decides to provide such services on its own.

The City Council voted 4 to 3 to approve the settlement, which was worked out during two weeks of negotiations with the FAA and U.S. Department of Justice.

“This is a fair resolution for all concerned because it strikes an appropriate balance between the public's interest in making local decisions about land use practices and its interests in safe and efficient aviation services,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.

City Councilman Kevin McKeown voted against the settlement, saying he wanted the airport closed sooner and that the city would have eventually prevailed in court.

“That's 12 more years of planes, including some jets,” McKeown said. “That's 12 years before we can replace the airport with parks and play fields.”

Supporters of the airport were stunned by the agreement and the closed-door nature of the discussions — a view shared by some anti-airport activists.

“I'm just shocked that a backroom decision was made without any public discussion” said Mark Smith, a pilot, aircraft owner and member of the Santa Monica Airport Association board. “The fact remains that this is a national asset and a critical part of the national airspace system.”

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Associationn as well as the National Business Aviation Association vowed on Saturday to continue their efforts to keep the county's oldest operating airport open.

Santa Monica was once home to Douglas Aircraft Company, which produced the famous DC-3 and military aircraft at the airport before it moved to Long Beach.

Today, the facility has about 270 aircraft and averages roughly 250 takeoffs and landings per day. Its tenants have included celebrities such as Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise.

Supporters say Santa Monica is a reliever airport for Los Angeles International Airport and provides substantial economic benefits to the region as well as a base of operations for major emergencies and medical flights.

"I'm extremely disappointed in the FAA action to forgo further legal action” said Christian Fry, president of the Santa Monica Airport Association. “The people who lose here are the people of West L.A. who will see major development.”

Fry said that closing the airport will eliminate height restrictions for new buildings constructed near the airport or on land that was below its flight paths.

“Get ready for the high-rise wall,” Fry added. “It won't all be a park.”

Airport opponents contend the airport should be closed because of noise, the risk of a serious crash in one of the surrounding neighborhoods, and aircraft emissions, particularly lead and fine bits of carbon.

Santa Monica officials have been trying to close the airport since the early 1980s, but they have not been able prevail in legal challenges to federal agreements requiring the airport to stay open.

In January 2011, a federal appeals court rejected the city's longstanding effort to ban certain high-performance jets from using the airport.

Last year, the City Council adopted a so-called starvation strategy that aimed to close the airport by July 2018. The plan included shortening the runway, reducing aviation services and evicting aviation tenants.

More recently, the FAA ruled that the city must keep the airport open at least until 2023 under the terms of a federal grant the city received to improve the airport. Santa Monica appealed the decision in federal court.

In a separate action, the city has been pursuing a federal lawsuit to gain clear title to the airport and nullify its federal obligations to keep the airport open. The agreement announced on Saturday ends the litigation.

The controversy over the airport intensified in 2015 when Ford, flying a restored World War II-era trainer, crashed on Penmar Golf Course because of engine trouble shortly after takeoff.

National Transportation Safety Board records and news reports show that since 1982, there have been at least 42 crashes within five miles of the airport.

In 11 of the crashes, the planes came down in Santa Monica and West Los Angeles neighborhoods, but no one on the ground was killed or seriously injured.

One plane came down in a Venice intersection, and two, including Ford's, crashed on Penmar. A decade earlier, a plane from the airport slammed into an apartment building in the Fairfax district more than five miles from the runway. Five people were killed.

Based on the number of accidents per 100,000 takeoffs and landings, Santa Monica ranks in the middle of the 11 busiest general aviation airports with control towers in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties.

It is unclear how the agreement will affect several pending complaints that private aviation interests have filed with the FAA in an attempt to keep the airport open.

They allege that the city has violated its federal agreements and regulations to prevent unjust discrimination against aviation uses and the diversion of airport revenue to pay for other city activities.

“This is a big question,” Fry said. “Does this agreement sweep these complaints under the carpet? We would like to see them run their course.”

• Dan Weikel covers local aviation, the California high-speed rail project, Metrolink, the MTA and regional transportation issues. Since joining the Los Angeles Times in 1989, he has covered courts and transportation in Orange County, the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as well as substance abuse, environmental issues and law enforcement as a member of a project team. A native of San Diego, Weikel is a graduate of the UC Santa Barbara and the master's program at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

• Dakota Smith covers Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and City Hall for the city-county bureau. She joined the Los Angeles Times in 2016 and previously covered City Hall for the Los Angeles Daily News. She is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College and lives in Los Angeles.

www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-santa-monica-airport-20170128-story.html

[Mustang51]

Have a look at Van Nuys if they think that's a problem