Pilots Up In Arms At McClellan-Palomar

The problem at McClellan-Palomar Airport in San Diego County (CA) is pretty clear cut. The airport wants to evict a flying club, pilot supply house and a retired commercial pilot as part of a $30 million renovation. The evictees have filed a complaint with the FAA, saying their being illegally kicked out so the airport can make room for better-paying bizjet customers.

San Diego County officials and the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee say an FAA complaint like that is basically like a lawsuit. So, they've hired a lawyer.

The airport's lead tenant, Palomar Airport Center, will reportedly pay the first $50,000 in legal fees charged by the new lawyer. If costs rise above that, company President Richard Sax told the North County Times that he'll split the fees with the county.

"We may very well be looking at recouping the costs from some of the parties bringing that action," Sax told the San Diego County paper. He said the complaint is "frivolous."

But the pilots' attorney, Ronald Cozad, said his opponents' decision to hire a legal top gun shows just how seriously the county and its top tenant are taking the FAA complaint.

The FAA says it'll be months before the situation is decided. The county and the airport have until the end of next month to come up with a response.

In the meantime, one of the plaintiffs, the Pacific Coast Flyers Club, said it had reached an interim agreement with the airport. Its 14 planes will be allowed to stay on the airport for between six and nine months.

The next big step comes October 1st. That's when the county and the airport plan to start bulldozing the older buildings set to be torn down as part of the renovation. All eyes will be watching to see if the FAA steps in and orders that construction halted pending the outcome of its investigation into the complaints.

FMI: www.co.san-diego.ca.us/dpw/airports/mcpal.htm