Industry Stunned By Abrupt Change Of Direction By The FAA
As you know by now, on Saturday, the Federal Aviation Administration and City of Santa Monica, California reached a long-term agreement concerning the future operation of Santa Monica Airport (KSMO). Under the agreement, the airport will continue to operate through 2028, the runway length will be reduced from approximately 5,000’ to 3,500’ and the city’s right to operate a proprietary aeronautical service business was reiterated.
The reaction by the aviation community stunned by what appears to be a 180 degree turn by the agency.
“We were surprised at the announcement of the settlement between the FAA and the city of Santa Monica regarding its airport. It is certainly a disappointing development, first concerning the immediate ability to shorten the runway, and the ultimate ability to close the airport in 2028," said EAA chairman Jack Pelton. "While we can only guess at the inside discussions to reach this settlement as to our knowledge, the airport’s stakeholders were not a part of it, the founding principles of FAA grant assurances are to maintain stability for an airport and its users as part of the national airspace system, above local political maneuvering.”
“The devil is in the details,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. “We are working to learn more about the fine points of the settlement, but our main goal—to keep this airport permanently open and available to all general aviation users—remains unchanged. We are not done fighting for Santa Monica”
“NBAA is still investigating the precise terms of this agreement, and we will continue to fight for unfettered access to Santa Monica Airport,” said NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen. “We are dismayed that consideration would be given to this kind of arrangement, in the process discriminating against the local entrepreneurs and businesses that rely on the airfield.
“We are disappointed that the government decided to settle this case, especially given that NBAA has long been committed to aggressively supporting business aviation access to SMO, through every legislative and legal channel available. If there are further avenues available to us, we intend to explore them.”
The reported settlement aims to resolve decades of legal disputes over the unique situation facing SMO, which is part of a national, aviation-transportation network. This includes numerous, ongoing attempts by city officials to curtail access by aviation users and other stakeholders to the airport, in defiance of established historical precedents dating back to the original 1948 instrument of transfer agreement, which returned control of the historic airfield back to the city, as well as the city’s federal grant obligations.
Based on NBAA’s initial review of the settlement, the agreement does not appear to resolve ongoing administrative complaints by NBAA and others over the city's federally mandated obligations, including allegations by NBAA and other airport proponents that the city has mishandled airport finances, as well as landing fees and other terms, in part through continued failure to offer leases to longstanding aviation-related businesses on the field.
In September 2016, NATA filed in support of member company Atlantic Aviation’s right to continue to operate at KSMO following an attempt by the city to evict it and another provider without adequate plans for the continuing provision of aeronautical services.
“The agreement announced over the weekend is clearly a compromise that will have to be studied closely to fully understand its implications to both KSMO and the entire national airport system," said NATA President Martin H. Hiller.
"Certainly, it does not change the necessity of airports like KSMO to the LA region. Ultimately, the City of Santa Monica is simply diverting a segment of its traffic to neighboring airports. It is disappointing that businesses both on and off the field that depend on KSMO were not part of the negotiations. We are pleased the FAA has stated the city is obligated to extend leases to current aeronautical service providers until such time as the city is ready to operate a proper aeronautical service operation with the same commitment to safety and service as demonstrated by NATA members like Atlantic Aviation.
"NATA has never disputed the city’s right to operate a proprietary exclusive business at the field. However, such an operation must be a legitimate one, providing services consistent with industry standards and expectations and selling the kinds of fuel widely used in the industry and support use of the field – a point we note is covered in the weekend agreement.
"The reduction in runway length is a game-changer, the changing mix of traffic in and out of KSMO now necessitates a review by the city, other regional communities and private investors as to the appropriate type of aeronautical service businesses to operate at the field.”
(Source: News releases. Images from file)
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