Reducing Neighborhood Impacts from Santa Monica Airport
2004-2008: WHAT’S BEEN DONE
The City owns the Santa Monica Airport, but the Federal Aviation Administration controls it. Since 2002 Santa Monica Councilmembers, Airport Commissioners, City staff, and residents have been negotiating and pleading with the FAA to make the homes around the airport—some only 300 feet from the runway—safe from the danger that large jet planes might overrun the runway. In those six years, the number of very large C and D category aircraft has increased by 30%.
Last year the FAA came up with a “safety” solution that many experts said would actually increase the risk of a plane ending up inside someone’s house. In March 2008, Councilmembers decided the time was up. We passed an ordinance prohibiting C and D category aircraft from using Santa Monica Airport. One statement from the City’s press release at the time, “The City anticipates that litigation will follow,” was a bit of an understatement.
The battle is now in the courts, with no end in sight. All the arguments can be found here. Because the FAA won a court injunction, the C and D planes continue to use our airport for now.
2008-2012: TO DO
Keep fighting!
The City has the right and responsibility to protect its citizens (and our neighbors in Mar Vista!) from catastrophic accidents.
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