Santa Monica Bans Jets From Airport, FAA Will Sue City

The Associated Press:

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Santa Monica to implement jet ban despite FAA legal move
Apr 24, 2008 10:28 AM (1 day ago) AP

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Map, News) - City officials said they planned to implement an ordinance that bans many fast jets from using Santa Monica airport despite a legal cease-and-desist order by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA served the city with the order Wednesday, a day before the ordinance was to go into effect. Implementing the ban could expose the city to a federal lawsuit, officials said.

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Residents have complained for years about the potential for a jet to overrun the runway and crash into nearby homes. The airport is unusual in its proximity to homes, the nearest of which are within 300 feet of the runway's end. [Full Article]

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Satellite photo showing how close the runway is to homes: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe= ... 1&t=h&z=19

There is going to be a lot of drama surrounding this. I live a mile from the airport and fly out of it 2-3 times a week. I'm probably the only area resident who doesn't want to see this happen.

Just curious...who was there first, the airport or the houses?

The Airport!

who was the idiot to build the house there?

>The Airport<

Why was I not surprised. Dont you love these people who buy houses by airports THEN COMPLAIN about the traffic?

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Originally Posted by Gerard

>The Airport<

Why was I not surprised. Dont you love these people who buy houses by airports THEN COMPLAIN about the traffic?

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they're annoying to say the least. of course not one of them would actually sell thier house to someone like me who actually LOVES airport noise...

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Originally Posted by Gerard

>The Airport<

Why was I not surprised. Dont you love these people who buy houses by airports THEN COMPLAIN about the traffic?

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It's easy to say the airport was there first, so residents don't have a right to complain, but it's not that simple. The issue here is the amount of jet traffic, and the safety of operating them with no overrun at either end of the runway.

I looked through the airport web site, and in a 2004 report (the latest one available) showed that jet traffic increased some 50%, to over 18K operations a year between 2000 to 2004. Twenty years ago there was almost no jet traffic (about 1,000 flights per year).

I can see why you might get upset if you move in near a small, GA airport and suddenly you are overwhelmed with biz jets every day. When I was flying out of FRG, 25 years ago, it could be busy at times (especially weekends) but biz jets were few and far between. Now you have a parade of biz jets in and out every day, not to mention the A319s, DC-9s and 727s we enthusiasts love seeing.

I've been to this airport a few times. Great Asian restaurant upstairs and awesome aviation theemed restaurant across the street.

From what I understand, a fair amount of celebs park there. Roseann Barr comes to mind ( I know I know, yeesh)

Looking at the map, I do have to agree with Moose to a degree. They arent complaining about the traffic but its increased size.

While the airport came first, if bigger jets jets and most notably, louder jets, are a problem, I can see resident's concerns.

(did I just say that?)

This might get good...Gov. Schwarzenegger uses Santa Monica to shuttle between his LA home and the state capital in Sacramento aboard his NetJets Gulfstream...and his brother-in-law Bobby Shriver is one of the Santa Monica city council members who voted unanimously to ban jets from the airport!

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... rZzzbIySgQ

Interesting. The article makes Bobby sounds like a bit of a prick at the end there.

Shriver and Schwarzneggar could be the next smackdown.

Until then, holidays at the Shriver compound just might not be the same
:roll:

Actually, Arnold flies Falcon 2000's in and out of SMO...and get this: he has a spare fly with him incase the one he's on breaks down! Gotta love that conservation!

While the jet traffic has gotten larger at SMO the overall noise has decreased as these a/c are much quieter than the Sabreliners, old Lears, and Jetstars that used to fly in there. I admit it is busier than it was 20 years ago but the majority of people living around there are younger professionals who weren't there in 1985. ( I know 'cause I'm one of them) :D

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Originally Posted by PizzaPolli

Actually, Arnold flies Falcon 2000's in and out of SMO...and get this: he has a spare fly with him incase the one he's on breaks down! Gotta love that conservation!

While the jet traffic has gotten larger at SMO the overall noise has decreased as these a/c are much quieter than the Sabreliners, old Lears, and Jetstars that used to fly in there. I admit it is busier than it was 20 years ago but the majority of people living around there are younger professionals who weren't there in 1985. ( I know 'cause I'm one of them) :D

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Oh, don't worry Arnold buys carbon credits :wink:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ing_md_clr.gif

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Originally Posted by moose135

I can see why you might get upset if you move in near a small, GA airport and suddenly you are overwhelmed with biz jets every day. When I was flying out of FRG, 25 years ago, it could be busy at times (especially weekends) but biz jets were few and far between. Now you have a parade of biz jets in and out every day, not to mention the A319s, DC-9s and 727s we enthusiasts love seeing.

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Moose, 25 years ago, wasn't Republic spitting out fighter's still? In the 70's there are documented pictures of some really loud puppies that lined the ramp there. (Note to self: I gotta find that website that has those photos). The bizjet of today is a lot quieter than those military jets that Republic Aircraft corporation used to produce. So for those residents that dont like it. I say sell, and go somewhere else...oh wait, you might need a JET to take you there. :)~

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Originally Posted by lijk604

Moose, 25 years ago, wasn't Republic spitting out fighter's still? In the 70's there are documented pictures of some really loud puppies that lined the ramp there.

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Not really...F-105 production ended in 1964, although I believe Republic did F-105G Wild Weasel conversions there for another two or three years. A-10 production didn't start until the early '70s (first flight in 1972), however most (all?) did not fly out of FRG. The fuselages & wings were built separately, then trucked down to Fairchild's plant in Maryland for final assembly (I remember seeing them going down the LIE). I'm sure there were visits by 105s in the 70s - they left active duty in 1980, and were retired by the ANG in 1984, but I suspect there weren't too many around at that time.

The FAA has won a temporary restraining order against the city of Santa Monica to prevent them from enforcing the ban.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/ ... a%20Monica

I read in an AOPA magazine that people refer to Santa Monica as the Peoples Republic of Santa Monica....that made me chuckle.

Seriously though this is the same thing that has been happening a lot lately. So many small airports are facing the chopping block. Its a complete circus. People want to close small airports and then they complain when the busy ones are packed with more and more traffic. People these days just want everything :evil:

SMO looks like an awesome airport that I would like to fly into one day or even just visit!