News Archive

AOPA asks county to reconsider decision to close California airport

AOPA has asked the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to reconsider its longstanding plan to discontinue the conditional-use permit for the privately owned Elk Grove Airport (Sunset Skyranch). This decision would force the closure of the public-use airport and would displace more than 60 aircraft.

"Sunset Skyranch is a vital component of the local, state, and National Airspace System," wrote Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president of airports, in a letter to county officials. "The airport has a long history of serving the Elk Grove area as an on-ramp to the NAS."

AOPA also recommended that the board examine possible compatible land-use solutions to protect Sunset Skyranch and other public-use airports.

If the board does not reconsider its decision, AOPA requested that the county work with Sunset Skyranch tenants as they face a difficult transition to another airport.

Because the airport is privately owned, it does not have the same kind of grant assurances that help protect airports receiving federal funds. See "Saving privately owned airports."

February 9, 2006