AOPA opposes aircraft emissions study proposal

The taxi and idle time of every single aircraft operating at Santa Monica Municipal would have to be monitored and recorded for an entire year if a bill in the California legislature passes. That's because the legislators want to measure the emissions of aircraft.

AOPA is worried that such a measure would set a bad precedent, paving the way for these studies to be forced on other GA airports.

"The small, piston-engine aircraft many of our members fly produce very little emissions," said Owen Sweeney, AOPA manager of state and local government affairs. "And the community airports at which our members are based should not be faced with the excessive monitoring burden that would be imposed by AB 2501."

AOPA is opposing the bill because it would unfairly burden the airport, waste already strained local government resources, and ultimately pass the cost on to our members. The association is also concerned the airport operator might close the airport during the night rather than provide staff to monitor operations.

April 20, 2006