President's Position: Next steps in the fight for Santa Monica

But Santa Monica’s elected officials have waged a war on the airport, trying to close it or make it harder to use. After years of legal filings and battles fought in public, the aviation community was surprised to learn in January that the FAA and the city of Santa Monica entered into an agreement to shorten the runway and keep the airport operational for the next 12 years, after which the city will have the option to close it—something the current government has indicated it will do (see “FAA, Santa Monica Reach Deal,” page 31).

If you fly out of Santa Monica, a 12-year reprieve is better than waking up one day to discover X’s gouged in the runway. But for those who benefit directly and indirectly from the airport, the possibility of closing Santa Monica is still something worth fighting.

AOPA’s mission to keep SMO open remains unchanged, and we are already expanding our efforts. We will ensure the city lives up to its obligations under the agreement. We will continue to educate the community about the airport’s value. And we will work with city officials who will be elected in the future—those who believe in a future for the airport. AOPA will do everything possible to keep the airport open.

To guarantee the city honors the agreement, AOPA is starting a new legal effort. Essentially, we are going to court to preserve our ability to go to court—on behalf of pilots, airport businesses, and others who use SMO.

In the past, the city has tried to strangle airport businesses and frustrate aviators. Even since the deal was inked, the mayor said he was looking into exploiting every loophole to limit the airport’s operations and users.

As FAA Administrator Michael Huerta recently told AOPA Live, under the agreement the city must abide by “reasonable and customary business practices” at the airport, and we will be there to ensure they do.

To keep SMO open beyond 12 years, we’ll have to effectively tell the story of the airport and convince some residents and elected officials of its value.

Santa Monica Municipal Airport is an economic engine for the city and contributes 1,500 jobs and $250 million to the local economy. But the airport also affects the community in ways many may not realize. The stories of organ donations facilitated, emergency preparedness, and dogs that have found new homes through programs such as Pilots N Paws paint a picture of an enormous asset that not only creates jobs but also inspires and improves lives.

Time and time again we hear stories like those of Eagle’s Nest Airport in New Jersey, which became one of the only ways to deliver supplies in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. And with a 60-percent probability of a 6.7-magnitude earthquake in the Los Angeles area in the next 30 years, Santa Monica Municipal Airport, as well as local volunteer pilots such as the Disaster Airlift Response Teams who have already trained for such an event, would play a crucial role in any recovery efforts.

We will work to tell those stories to the community and especially their elected officials. While the city council has been hostile to the airport, that doesn’t mean the level of hostility will remain. By educating current and future council members as well as supporting candidates who understand the value of the airport, we can set the stage to keep SMO open beyond 2028.

Naturally, Santa Monica is not the only airport that has our attention. When AOPA members express concerns, we take them seriously. After receiving complaints from members, AOPA is looking into allegations of high pricing at some fixed-base operators. While the overwhelming majority of the industry is doing a great job, our research shows a handful of FBOs, especially those that have recently experienced consolidation at their airport, are imposing excessive prices on things such as landing fees, ramp fees, and fuel. AOPA is engaging with the FAA and the FBO industry to address the complaints and ensure general aviation pilots have unfettered access to airports.

Every day, AOPA is standing with pilots and businesses to protect the freedom to fly and preserve the benefits that come with having flourishing local airports.AOPA

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