California city pushes to rebuild ‘dangerous’ radio tower
By AOPA ePublishing staff
The city of La Mirada, Calif., is moving one step closer to rebuilding a potentially dangerous radio tower near Fullerton Municipal Airport, despite objections from AOPA and the local pilot community.
On the city council’s Jan. 8 hearing agenda is a development agreement with Capstar Radio Operating Company (also known as KFI and Clear Channel) for the 684-foot tower. The previous tower stood at 760 feet and had caused multiple aircraft accidents and fatalities over the years.
“It’s incredibly important for our members to attend this meeting to voice their concerns about the reconstruction,” said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. “City officials need to hear about the dangers from a pilot's perspective.”
Because the tower is to be rebuilt on the same site and at a lower height, the FAA determined that reconstruction of the tower would not be a hazard to air navigation. However, since the tower sits within La Mirada city limits (less than a mile from the airport), Capstar still needs approval from the city to rebuild the radio tower.
If the tower is rebuilt, it must be painted orange and white and have a dual obstruction lighting system that will flash high-intensity white lights during the day and red at night. AOPA insisted on the dual lighting system after the FAA repeatedly rebuffed the association’s efforts to keep the radio tower from being rebuilt.
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in city hall council chambers, 13700 La Mirada Blvd.
January 4, 2008
AOPA ePublishing staff
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