Jet Departed From The Airport At 0455 Local Time July 4, Waking The Neighbors

This may be the ultimate in NIMBY. Some residents of Santa Monica living near KSMO complained after a jet on a medical emergency mission departed from the airport just before 5 a.m. on July 4th.

The Santa Monica Observer reports that a chain email went out to residents as well as members of the city council. One wrote "Do these folks ... event think of neighborhood day off to enjoy Independence Day ... so Rude!!"

While there is a 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew on takeoffs and landings at KSMO, exceptions can be made for emergency medical flights. Airport director Stelios Makrides told the website "We received a number of complaints associated with yesterday's 4:55 a.m. departure. This operation was associated with an emergency aircraft flight for medical purposes. California PUC §21662.4 exempts emergency medical flights from local ordinances as long as the operator provides specific information regarding their departure. The PUC permits the operator to submit the required information regarding their medical emergency within 72 hours of their departure."

But that didn't satisfy some residents. One suggested that a "disinterested third party" should provide documentation about what constitutes a medical emergency.

So apparently, some residents of Santa Monica ... who live near an airport that was likely there when the majority of them bought their homes ... think that potentially saving a person's life is not worth disturbing their sleep for a few minutes early in the morning on a holiday. At the very least, some seem to want solid proof that the flight really constituted an emergency.

They might feel differently if they, or a member of their family, were the ones in the back of the airplane, even on the 4th of July.

(Image from file. Not medical airplane associated with the July 4 takeoff)

FMI: Original Report