Residents vote to save Hawthorne; ASN volunteer elected to city council
More than 70 percent of voters opted to save Jack Northrop Field/Hawthorne Municipal Airport in November elections, despite a well-funded campaign by developers aimed at closing the 53-year-old field.
Voters resoundingly rejected a ballot initiative known as Measure A, which would have closed the airport and replaced it with a retail and hotel development. Although the vote is nonbinding, several city council members have stated that they will abide by voters' wishes and keep the airport operating.
"This is advocacy at its best," said Bill Dunn, AOPA's vice president of regional affairs. "This victory shows what can happen when you get engaged and stay engaged with your local airport." AOPA worked with AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Gary Parsons and other airport supporters to oppose development plans that would close the airport.
Paladin Developers devoted approximately $250,000 to its campaign in support of Measure A, sending a dozen mailings to Hawthorne residents. Airport supporters, in contrast, spent less than $20,000, sending four small mailings to a select group of carefully targeted residents. Paladin blamed its failure on low voter turnout — less than 20 percent of the city's nearly 31,000 registered voters turned out — and lack of support from city leaders. Paladin claimed that the development project would bring jobs and $4 million in revenue to the city each year. Airport supporters rejected that claim, adding that the airport itself could produce even more value for the city, including protecting it from overflight by large jets en route to and from Los Angeles International Airport.
In other good news for aviation enthusiasts, Parsons was elected to the Hawthorne City Council along with Pablo Catano, who also has expressed support for the airport. At the same time, the election ousted longtime councilman Steve Andersen, who vehemently opposed keeping the airport open. The addition of Parsons and Catano creates a pro-airport voting block on the council. The two were scheduled to be sworn in and begin their duties on November 26.
Among the first orders of business, Parsons and Catano have proposed applying for new federal Airport Improvement Program grants — something the city hasn't done since 1991. In addition, they are considering new aviation-related development at the airport and bringing a second restaurant to the field.
Ultralights could join mix at Santa Clara
Ultralight pilots have asked to have access to South County Airport of Santa Clara — a suggestion being considered by the county. The South County Pilots Association and Airport Support Network volunteer Donald Murphy are working with County Director of Aviation Jerry Bennett to develop operating procedures and equipment requirements for ultralights using the field. Murphy and others favor initiating a trial period of six to 12 months to determine whether ultralights and other aircraft can coexist safely at the airport.
On another front, Murphy and Bennett have worked together to distribute copies of a noise-abatement information sheet to pilots at all county airports in an effort to reduce noise complaints and educate transient pilots.
Santa Ynez volunteer works with residents to resolve noise issues
Airport Support Network volunteer James Kunkle is working to educate residents in the vicinity of Santa Ynez Airport after a series of noise complaints. Kunkle planned to schedule meetings with homeowner groups to discuss FAA regulations regarding when, where, and at what altitudes aircraft may fly.
Recently Kunkle worked with the FAA, Caltrans Aeronautics, and the Santa Ynez City Council to resolve a dispute with a local Native American tribe. Attorneys for the tribe had claimed that pilots were violating tribal airspace when overflying the reservation. The misunderstanding was resolved once tribe members were educated about regulations governing overflights.
Paso Robles confronts encroachment
AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Martin Caskey is seeking a formal review of a proposed residential, horse farm, and wine-tasting development less than 4,000 feet from the end of Runway 31/13 at Paso Robles Municipal Airport. Caskey is encouraging the Paso Robles City Council to pressure the County of San Luis Obispo to conduct a formal airport land use commission (ALUC) review of the proposed development. An initial informal review led the ALUC to approve the development, but the airport advisory committee has expressed concern about the proximity of the development to the end of the runway.
Torrance considers airport security measures
Plans to enhance security at Torrance Municipal Airport are under discussion. Airport Support Network volunteer Jim Gates says the majority of proposed measures would increase security without limiting operations at the field, and he is working with airport officials to ensure that FBOs and airport users have a role in planning.
Among the proposals under consideration are welding shut a number of unused pedestrian and vehicle access gates, repairing and replacing airport perimeter fencing, installing exterior lighting on T-hangars, installing signs encouraging people to report suspicious activity at the airport, and using periodic police patrols to secure the airport at night. In addition, FBOs are being encouraged to work together to enhance their own security measures.
Property to be set aside for piston aircraft at Van Nuys
More than 100 members of the Van Nuys Propeller Aircraft Association attended a recent meeting of the Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) held to consider setting aside as much as 100 acres of property for the use of piston aircraft at Van Nuys Airport. Airport Support Network volunteer Elliot Sanders reports that the meeting resulted in a small victory when the panel agreed to recommend that the land be dedicated to piston use. That recommendation will now go before the Board of Airport Commissioners for consideration.
Also on the agenda for the CAC were executive directives affecting future leaseholders at the airport. Sanders, who has argued that the proposed lease terms discriminate against piston aircraft, reports that the CAC agreed to reconsider the directives to provide more equitable treatment for piston operations.
Auburn seeks airport manager
Recruiting for an Auburn Municipal Airport manager has been extended after an initial round of advertising produced only four applicants, including current manager Jerry Martin. The search for an airport manager began after a decision to make the position a city employee instead of a contractor as in the past. Martin, who has managed the airport for nearly four years and has been credited with smoothing a long-running dispute between the city and members of the Auburn Aviation Association over airport management, now must compete with other applicants to retain his position.
The decision to extend the recruiting period for an additional 30 days raised questions about Martin's prospects of holding on to the job, but city officials say the extension is merely intended to ensure that the process is fair.
Metropolitan Oakland tackles security issues
Airport officials are working with the University of California Flying Club to investigate and resolve the issue of missing security badges allowing access to Metropolitan Oakland International Airport. Over the past two years, a number of badges issued to flying-club members were not returned. The extent of the problem came to light after the terrorist attacks in September when badge holders were ordered to return their badges to the airport's security offices to receive a special sticker. Since that time, flying-club officials have made efforts to recover the missing badges and have worked out a plan with the airport to make a minimum payment of $100 per month until all of the badges are returned. At the heart of the issue is an FAA requirement allowing only a given percentage of issued badges to be unaccounted for before requiring the expensive and time-consuming process of issuing new badges to the entire airport.
Security, parking issues at Stockton
All vehicles entering Stockton Metropoli.an Airport are being in-spected by a security guard as a result of September's terrorist attacks. The extra security is costing the airport $8,000 per month. In addition, parking at the airport is under strict control, although the airport has received a waiver for a rule requiring a 300-foot setback between parking and the airport terminal because enforcing the rule would have eliminated all parking at the airport.
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