> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Financial cost of losing jets uncertain - URL: https://www.smdp.com/financial-cost-of-losing-jets-uncertain/ - Published: 2008-04-15T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T23:53:44.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Government & Politics, Sunset Park, #archive-import *Fiscal impact of jet ban not a concern* While the recently adopted ban on the fastest and largest jets is sure to have some financial impact on both municipal revenue streams and aviation-affiliated businesses if it survives legal challenges by the FAA, the degree of that effect remains to be quantified, according to city officials. Whatever the number, the loss of revenue doesn’t appear to be a concerning issue for City Hall, which maintains that a dollar figure can’t be attached to the safety of residents in the Sunset Park neighborhood, who for years have complained about the possibility of a jet aircraft overshooting the runway and landing on their homes. The City Council last month adopted an ordinance banning category C and D jets, which is aircraft that approach the runway at 121-140 knots and 141-165 knots, respectively. The FAA, which was believed to challenge the legality of the ban, submitted an order to show cause shortly after the ordinance was passed on March 25\. City Hall filed its response last week defending the ban, pointing to the increases in flights and lack of runway safety measures. Airport Manager Bob Trimborn said it would be hard to quantify at this point what the fiscal impacts would be, and stressed that it would be minimal, considering that passengers that normally rely on the larger aircraft would find another means to fly into Santa Monica Airport. It’s not about how they fly into SMO, the only thing that matters is that they do. 38B,“The aircraft type will change,” Trimborn said. “People fly to the airport for a reason... and they will find another way to get there.” The airport is estimated to bring in roughly $4.5 million this year and expend more than $3 million for administrative personnel and maintenance services. The largest revenue stream for the airport is in the land leases and hangar rentals, which are estimated to plenish the airport fund with about $2.5 million in the 2007-08 fiscal year. The bulk of the financial impact to the city’s revenue stream would fall on the loss in landing fees applied to categories C and D jets that are not based at Santa Monica Airport but do fly onto the runway. The landing fees, which were enacted by the council in 2005 to maximize safety and efficiency at the airport by financing capital projects, is projected to bring in roughly $532,000 in the current fiscal year’s budget. Some of the category C and D jets include the Gulfstream IV — which is charged a landing fee of $122\. The fees are based on $2.07 per 1,000 pounds of maximum certificated gross landing weight. Trimborn added that there are only about 12 or 13 category C and D landings a day on average. “There might be a slight decrease in revenues,” Trimborn said. “We have to explore what the impact on the budget would be, but it’s still too early in the game to quantify what that impact would be.” The ban could affect the so-called transient mechanics, which travel from airport to airport to maintain aircraft and are not stationed at SMO like the fixed-base operators, Trimborn said. City Hall does not receive any revenue from the transient mechanics. Trimborn said that the demand for the transient mechanic services would still be needed at another airport anyway. 758,“If the airplane lands at Van Nuys or LAX, a mechanic would need to (head there) to fix it anyway,” he said. One of the fixed-base operators — which perform services such as fueling and washing aircraft — that could see some impact is Atlantic Aviation, which is generally used by jet aircraft. The company is stationed on the north side of the airport. A representative for Atlantic Aviation declined to comment and referred all questions to the Santa Monica Airport administration. Barry Schiff, the chairman of the Santa Monica Airport Association, said that Atlantic Aviation is the largest operator at the airport, catering to and serving the larger aircraft as well as some of the smaller planes. “They particularly make their greatest profit off the larger jets,” Schiff said. The SMAA is an organization of pilots and airport operators dedicated to preserving the use of the airport. Though the organization has yet to take an official position on the jet aircraft ban, Schiff said it would be opposed. “What it would do is restrict operation and wind up with an airport that is not as effective as it should be,” Schiff said. Schiff said he doesn’t expect any great financial impact on the pilots of the jet aircraft, but believes the life expectancy of the airport will be reduced as a result of the ban. He added that while it’s difficult to measure the impact on commerce coming to the city through the category C and D planes, the ban could have effects further into the future. “It’s bound to have some long-term effect on the overall economy of the area,” he said. “It’s like saying trucks can’t come into the city.” Jump hedline: Fiscal impacts of jets ban not a concern Suggested pullquote: “Whatever the financial impact is has not been a consideration at all. Kate Vernez ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/041508-01_01.jpg) BIRD’S EYE VIEW: The Santa Monica Airport is estimated to bring in roughly $4.5 million this year and expend more than $3 million for administrative personnel and maintenance. (Photo: Photo courtesy) *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 15, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/041508.pdf?ref=smdp.com)