Page 40 - April 2017 Twin & Turbine

38 • TWIN & TURBINE April 2017
NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION • focus
NBAA Continuing Fight to Preserve SMO Following Unprecedented Settlement Agreement
Like many throughout the general aviation (GA) community, NBAA was surprised by a recent, unprecedented settlement agreement between
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the City of Santa Monica, CA, concerning the future of Santa Monica Municipal Airport, in which the agency seemingly acquiesced to a vocal minority of airport opponents.
The settlement, announced Jan. 28, provides continued access for GA users of the airport, including business aviation, until Dec. 31, 2028. It also requires that the city comply with its federal obligations, including the provision of long-term leases to operators and tenants.
That said, the agreement also allows the city to begin the process of reducing the length of the airport's sole runway from 4,973 feet to 3,500 feet, limiting the airport's suitability for turbine aircraft operations.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen termed the settlement agreement "a one-of-a-kind development" that would severely restrict aviation access throughout Southern California and across the U.S.
"Santa Monica's airport is a vital asset to our aviation system, both locally as well as nationally, and serves as a critical transportation lifeline for the entire Los Angeles basin," Bolen added. "NBAA remains committed to aggressively supporting unrestricted business aviation access to SMO, through this petition and other available channels."
City officials have repeatedly attempted to curtail access by aviation users and other stakeholders to
SMO, in defiance of established historical precedents dating back to the original 1948 instrument of transfer agreement that returned control of the former military airfield back to the city, as well as the city's federal grant obligations.
Following a detailed review of the settlement agreement, in February, NBAA joined with five other aviation stakeholders at SMO to petition the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit to review the terms of the agreement between the FAA and the city.
NBAA and other stakeholders are also continuing to review all additional options, including pursuit of several ongoing administrative complaints – not covered under the settlement – by NBAA and others over the city's federally mandated obligations. This includes a Part 16 complaint, filed by NBAA and other airport proponents, alleging that the city has mishandled airport finances, landing fees and other terms, in part through continued failure to offer leases to longstanding aviation-related businesses on the field.
“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,” Bolen concluded. “If there are further avenues available
to us, we intend to explore them. T&T •