AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - February 2019 - 13

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Santa Monica battle continues
City intends to use airport revenue to destroy pavement
The Santa Monica city council has decided to move forward seeking bids
to remove pavement at each end of the runway safety area of Santa Monica
Municipal Airport's already shortened runway, funded entirely by airport revenue. But the city's decision to dip into airport funds for a project that serves zero
aeronautical purpose has led aviation groups to fight back once again.
In a November 2018 letter, AOPA, the National Business Aviation
Association, and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association requested
that the FAA look into significant concerns regarding the use of airport revenue to fund the runway shortening from 5,000 to 3,500 feet and the destruction
of pavement in the runway safety area zones at the Santa Monica airport. The
letter called out the FAA's questionable advice given to the city, stating, "Absent
a legitimate aeronautical purpose, beneficial to the tenants and users of
SMO, the FAA should have concluded, and should now confirm, that costs of
runway restructuring are entirely ineligible for funding with airport revenue.
If the city is to proceed with this project, it must do so in sole reliance on taxpayer funds."

Mar. 4-7 * Atlanta
Georgia World
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Exhibits Open
Mar. 5-7

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of the airpark for more than 50 years. AOPA member Robert Ziegler has initiated an effort to bring together a group of pilots to purchase the airport from
the Weiser family or encourage that it be continued as part of the aviation
infrastructure, said Tom Chandler, AOPA Central Southwest regional manager.
www.aopa.org/pilot/texas

VIRGINIA AIRPORT TENANTS PRESS FOR CHANGES
A substantial number of respondents to an AOPA survey conducted in November
believe policy making at Virginia Tech/Montgomery Executive Airport in
Blacksburg, Virginia, needs an overhaul that stresses open government. AOPA
first became aware in 2017 that users of the Virginia Tech/Montgomery Executive
Airport faced obstacles they described as impractical rules, arbitrary barriers
to new hangar development, an unwelcoming service atmosphere, and a policymaking process that didn't invite input from tenants, said Adam Williams,
AOPA manager of airport policy. AOPA is working with the tenants to air their
complaints with the airport authority's managing board, which at first did not
acknowledge the conflict but has recently shown more willingness to address
the issues, Williams said.
www.aopa.org/pilot/virginia

www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 13

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AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - February 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - February 2019