Ven-Mar Neighborhood Association

Santa Monica Airport - December 2003 News Bulletin

by Friends of Sunset Park , 12/24/2003

PROGRESS ON AIRCRAFT EMISSIONS

SM City Staffer Rod Merl has been invited by the Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to make a presentation on Aircraft Emissions at General Aviation Airports (e.g. Santa Monica) to their technical advisory committee. This committee will determine the scope of AQMD's upcoming study of the Southern California Basin. These studies are done every three years to determine sources of air pollutants and their impact. The committee then creates proposals for actions to remedy or mitigate these impacts. Mr. Merl has done extensive research for the City of Santa Monica on Aircraft Emissions of General Aviation Aircraft. Many General Aviation Airports in Southern California, including Santa Monica, are in close proximity to residential areas and have a direct environmental impact on their neighbors. In recent years, the change of fleet mix at many of these airports has seen a rise in jet traffic that has accelerated these environmental impacts. The City is looking for the support of the AQMD to take a more active role of addressing the these issues locally and more importantly with the Federal Government that regulates Aircraft Emissions.

WEIGHT BASED LANDING FEES CHALLENGED

SM City Attorney, Marty Tachiki, has informed us that National Aviation Business Association (NBAA) has challenged the City of Santa Monica's recently imposed Weight Based Landing Fees. An official complaint was filed with the FAA by the NBAA representing 11 unnamed users of the Santa Monica Airport. In Aug. 2003, the City established a Weight Based Landing Fees correlated to the wear and tear on the Airport Runway. Basically the heavier aircraft pay more and the lightest (less than 10,000lbs) pay nothing. Up until this time, the City has not collected landing fees. The City has presented the logical argument that the aircraft that cause the most wear and tear on the runway should be responsible for its upkeep. Stay tuned...

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Next Airport Commission Meeting Mon. Jan 26, 2004 7:30pm Santa Monica City Hall. Agenda Posted the Thursday Prior on the Airport web site http://santamonicaairport.org

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