Watsonville effort to aid housing development not flying
The decision a year ago by the City Council to designate Runway 8/26 low use at Watsonville Municipal Airport nearby has come under fire by the state aeronautics division. With the designation, more than 2,000 new homes can be built. Without it, the number would be cut in half. AOPA objected a year ago to the effort to reclassify that crosswind runway. In a letter to the city, Division of Aeronautics Acting Chief Mary Frederick questioned how the city could designate the runway low use but then call for construction of blast pads normally associated with a heavily used runway. More important, the city modified the California Airport Land Use Planning Handbook to eliminate provisions that prohibited the redesignation. Frederick pointed out that the city can't alter the state-written and state-approved handbook. Finally, although the state specifically did not do so in the past, Frederick called for the establishment of an airport land use commission.
Catalina runway closed for repairs
As 2005 drew to a close the runway at Santa Catalina Island, California, was listed by the state inspectors as "poor," but four months later it had gotten worse, and the runway was closed after it was visited by state and FAA inspectors. An official at the Catalina Airport said it was due for routine maintenance, but it came "a little sooner than expected."
Aircraft based at the airport and the Douglas DC-3 supply aircraft that bring food, mail, and bottled water to the island now land on a gravel area to one side, but it is not available to the public. The airport official said arrangements with contractors to repair the isolated airport "...hadn't fallen into place" and that had caused delays in getting the work done. AOPA is monitoring the situation.
American Airports hit by class-action suit
Preparation is in progress for a class-action lawsuit against American Airports Corp. (AAC), manager of five Los Angeles-area airports under contract with Los Angeles County. The lawsuit concerns granting exclusive fuel sales, held by the county, to AAC. The airports managed by AAC are: Brackett Field, Whiteman, El Monte, General William J. Fox Airfield, and Compton/Woodley.
Previously a letter was sent by attorney Tulane Peterson on behalf of 50 pilots, which resulted in a request from the FAA for information. AOPA helped with the preparation of Peterson's informal complaint to the FAA about the situation and has, at the request of American Airports, met with the company's top official. The company said it was meeting with tenants at the airports to resolve their issues.
Redlands home development pondered
Consultants Coffman and Associates discussed housing development near Redlands Municipal Airport at an April meeting attended by 30 people. At issue is an 81-home development on 32 acres near the airport planned by Walton Development. An official of that firm said that it plans an in-depth investigation of the issue. The concern is that once new homeowners take residence near the airport, noise complaints could result in lawsuits or pressure to close the airport. The airport is surrounded by cleared areas.
Airport Advisory Board member and AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Bob Pearce said it has cost San Francisco $800,000 to handle airport noise complaints. "I don't want the city of Redlands to go through the same process," Pearce said.
AOPA honors former California aviation chief
AOPA honored Austin Wiswell, recently retired chief of the California Department of Transportation's Division of Aeronautics, with the Joseph P. Crotti Award for his tireless efforts to promote GA in California. The presentation came during a Pilot Town Meeting hosted by AOPA President Phil Boyer in Concord.
"California has compatible land use guidelines to protect both airports and the communities around them that are becoming the model for the rest of the country," said Boyer. "And he [Wiswell] has worked constantly to help civic leaders understand the many benefits of general aviation."
Wiswell has worked closely with AOPA to preserve airports in California. He was instrumental in the 2002 overhaul of the California Airport Land Use Handbook, which outlines how land around airports should be zoned and used. The handbook is so thorough that many other states are using it as a guideline for developing their own land use plans.
The former chief also was instrumental in procuring funding for and development of the well-received State of California/University of California course titled "Bringing Your General Aviation Airport Into the Twenty-First Century." It was designed for the management level above the airport manager and for elected officials.
Related Articles
