Regional Affairs

Threat to Santa Monica progesses through legislature

Assembly Bill 700, which would require the California Air Resources Board to study air pollution at Santa Monica Municipal Airport by collecting taxi and idle times of jets and turboprops for one year, is moving through the California Assembly. Despite strong opposition from pilots, the bill has passed the Assembly Transportation Committee and is now with the Appropriations Committee. AOPA may soon ask California members to call their legislators and tell them to oppose the bill. AOPA fears the environmental study could be used to restrict operations at the airport — and could spread to airports throughout California. "This is an important issue that members need to act on," said Greg Pecoraro, AOPA vice president of regional affairs. "More airports are at stake than just Santa Monica."

April 27, 2007