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# FAA puts City Hall on standby
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/faa-puts-city-hall-on-standby/
- Published: 2007-03-29T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:19:11.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica Airport, #archive-import

SM AIRPORT Residents looking to increase safety and reduce the number of jets flying in and out of the Santa Monica Airport received some bad news this week with federal aviation officials surprisingly dismissing safety enhancements vetted by city staff in protracted negotiations with the FAA.

During a meeting of the Airport Commission, a representative with the Federal Aviation Administration said city staff’s recommendations — including installing a 600-foot runway safety area and collapsible concrete to stop aircraft from overrunning the landing strip — go too far and would prohibit jets from using the airport in the same manner they do now.

The demand was unexpected and seemed to signal further delays in implementing safety enhancements that city staff feels are necessary given the increase in the number of faster, jet aircraft using the airport, as well as the close proximity of homes near the runways.

“What troubles me is the FAA has now restricted even more than we anticipated,” City Manager Lamont Ewell said. “It just took me by complete surprise. I’m really dumb-founded by the fact that the FAA themselves stressed the need for safety and the city of Santa Monica has really been wanting to provide safety elements at the airport.

“Now we have the FAA saying something I believe is contrary to their own principals.”

Officials with the FAA believe the airport is as safe as it can be without further limiting the types of aircraft that can use it. Pilots and other operators gave their input on city staff’s recommendations and they said it would inconvenience them greatly, forcing them to refuel more frequently and carry less passengers and baggage.

Under the FAA’s proposal, the collapsible concrete at the western runway, also known as EMAS (Engineered Materials Arresting System), would be 165 feet instead of 300 feet, and a 600-foot runway safety area would be scrapped and

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 29, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/032907.pdf?ref=smdp.com)