replaced with another alternative yet to be determined.
The less runway available for landing, the harder it is for larger aircraft to access the airport.
“The FAA basically announced that (city staff’s proposal) was not acceptable to them,” said Mark Young, chair of the commission. “Airport staff has been working hard on this for five years now, trying through a series of compromises to create a situation that makes it a safer airport, and to have the FAA come back at the last minute and say they are changing their minds again, that is very frustrating.”
Several residents have expressed their concern about the increased jet traffic at the airport and the potential for a deadly accident to occur given the close proximity of homes to the ends of the airport’s runways. They claim the FAA is putting profit ahead of public safety.
“It appears, their decision was based completely on the aviation community’s commentary,” said Cathy Larson of Friends of Sunset Park Airport Committee. “I think the city entered into negotiations in good faith … It’s very disappointing that FAA is putting the convenience of a few users over they safety of a neighborhood and its residents.”
Homeowners have gone before the council demanding jets be restricted, but under a 1984 agreement with the FAA, City Hall has been unable to regulate which planes can access the airport.
Commissioners held off on making a recommendation to Ewell on the FAA’s latest counter offer, waiting until next month’s meeting to give members a chance to digest it.
Commissioners did, however, vote in favor of Ewell granting a commercial operations permit to Atlantic Aviation FBO, Inc., to take over Supermarine, one of three “fixed base operators” at the airport who service jets and other aircraft.
The owners of Supermarine are seeking to sell.
Fixed Based Operators provide pilots, passengers and crew with valuable products and services essential to flight. Commonly called “FBOs,” these companies are often responsible for the fueling of aircraft, delivery of oil, oxygen, catering, ground transportation, aircraft washing/detailing, aircraft maintenance, flight training, pilot supplies and more. FBOs often help make arrangements for overnight stays, transportation to and from local businesses and generally provide 24-hour service.
Residents have expressed concern about Aviation taking over operations given the size of the company, fearing executives will try to attract more jets to Santa Monica for service. Aviation is one of the largest airport service businesses in the U.S., operating FBOs at 41 airports and one heliport. Aviation also operates six regional and general aviation airports under management contracts.
“Our concern is that they will promote their business even further and, of course, that will impact our neighborhood,” Larson said. “It appears we have no recourse except to say we encourage them to be more compatible with the neighborhood than Supermarine has been …”
Representatives with Supermarine could not be reached for comment.
Sue Sommers, a spokesperson for Atlantic, declined a request for an interview, however, the company’s president told residents and members of the Airport Commission that the company was interested in operating in a manner consistent with the terms of the existing lease agreement.
The lease agreement defines certain permitted aviation uses, but does not place limitations on activity levels associated with those uses.
While Ewell has the final say on whether to grant the permit to Aviation, the city manager said he will bring the matter before the City Council so that it can be debated in public.
“When I first got here, I made a commitment to that community (Sunset Park) that we would not do things where it was felt we were doing them behind closed doors, that we would be transparent, and that we clearly wanted to protect the integrity and safety of the neighborhood,” Ewell said. “It may be a protracted process (going before the council), but I will not retreat from that commitment.”
Ewell said he is researching Aviation’s references and said he has heard good things about the company and its relationships with communities surrounding their operations.
“We are committed to finding the right balance between protecting neighborhoods,” Ewell said, “and respecting the fact that the FAA currently has authority over the aviation network. We’ve got to find the right balance.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 29, 2007. Read the original PDF.