Santa Monica Airport, the shape of things to come
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Joined: Aug 2013
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From: PA
Santa Monica Airport, the shape of things to come
Check out this fight to close an airport...
A federal judge threw out Santa Monica's lawsuit to wrest control of its airport from the U.S. government this week, but community activists vowed on Friday to keep fighting to shut down the historic facility.
"This case is far from over," said Martin Rubin, director of Concerned Citizens Against Airport Pollution. "If the city of Santa Monica wants to close the airport and use it in a fashion that would be more beneficial economically and environmentally, then the Federal Aviation Administration should allow them to do just that."
Others said they would propose a "starvation strategy" to the City Council designed to reduce flights, aircraft services, aviation-related businesses and possibly remove a large section of runway.
Jonathan Stein, an attorney and airport opponent, said many activists favor strangling the airport to steadily reduce noise and air pollution in surrounding neighborhoods. He added that details of the strategy could be ready for circulation in the community next week.
Judge tosses Santa Monica's airport lawsuit - latimes.com
A federal judge threw out Santa Monica's lawsuit to wrest control of its airport from the U.S. government this week, but community activists vowed on Friday to keep fighting to shut down the historic facility.
"This case is far from over," said Martin Rubin, director of Concerned Citizens Against Airport Pollution. "If the city of Santa Monica wants to close the airport and use it in a fashion that would be more beneficial economically and environmentally, then the Federal Aviation Administration should allow them to do just that."
Others said they would propose a "starvation strategy" to the City Council designed to reduce flights, aircraft services, aviation-related businesses and possibly remove a large section of runway.
Jonathan Stein, an attorney and airport opponent, said many activists favor strangling the airport to steadily reduce noise and air pollution in surrounding neighborhoods. He added that details of the strategy could be ready for circulation in the community next week.
Judge tosses Santa Monica's airport lawsuit - latimes.com
Joined: May 2011
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From: BOQ
I grew up just across the street from the SM airport and learned to fly there (thanks USAF $$) at the Claire Walters (RIP) school. As a young kid, I'd get home from school and go to the Pier Street alley, lean against the chain link fence and watch the parade of aircraft. ("Yes ma'am the dog ate my homework")
Cessna, Beech, Piper and the occasional AD Skyraider or T-33 and my favorite, the old C-124s with the distinctive loud squeal from the brakes and the guy sitting in the opening on top to clear the taxi route.
This battle has been raging since the 60's, and ironically our next door neighbor (RIP), an ex-Douglas Aircraft employee was the original leader of the anti-noise, 'close the airport' faction and attended every city council discussion and eventually got the initial concessions on the operating hours for biz-jets.
Los Angeles area has far more pressing problems than the SM Airport.
Cessna, Beech, Piper and the occasional AD Skyraider or T-33 and my favorite, the old C-124s with the distinctive loud squeal from the brakes and the guy sitting in the opening on top to clear the taxi route.
This battle has been raging since the 60's, and ironically our next door neighbor (RIP), an ex-Douglas Aircraft employee was the original leader of the anti-noise, 'close the airport' faction and attended every city council discussion and eventually got the initial concessions on the operating hours for biz-jets.
Los Angeles area has far more pressing problems than the SM Airport.
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From: On the Beach
ok465:
Objectively, no doubt you are right.
But, in the world of the movers and shakers who use KSMO, the continued existence of the airport is a hot button issue.
Los Angeles area has far more pressing problems than the SM Airport.
But, in the world of the movers and shakers who use KSMO, the continued existence of the airport is a hot button issue.
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 546
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From: BOQ
Very true.
From my steadily deteriorating memory, I seem to recall that the first civil jet to operate into there was a Moraine-Saulnier owned by "Old Blue Eyes"....who had quite a number of influential 'friends'.
For a long while Douglas Aircraft was the entire Santa Monica economy and folks enthusiastically supported the airport. When the Douglas plant was shutdown, more people began to switch sides on the airport issue.
From my steadily deteriorating memory, I seem to recall that the first civil jet to operate into there was a Moraine-Saulnier owned by "Old Blue Eyes"....who had quite a number of influential 'friends'.
For a long while Douglas Aircraft was the entire Santa Monica economy and folks enthusiastically supported the airport. When the Douglas plant was shutdown, more people began to switch sides on the airport issue.
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: The Smaller Antipode
I visit Santa Monica annually as a result of family connections, and always make a point of walking over to the airport. The Spitfire Grill, the Douglas Museum, sometimes just chew the fat with the flying school staff, even paid for an hour in a LSA last year, ( what was the Piper Sport) just to experience a "glass cockpit", and last year a restoration group were working on an early Sabre fighter - always something of interest for a 'Hangar Bum'.
I realise that there is no justification to keep an airport open just to amuse occasional visitors, but I find this battle to close it down very sad, the usual
NIMBY's who almost all moved to the airport area because it suited them for one reason or another and now want it closed down.
The S.M. Council want the money of course, to develop the place for more urban sprawl / High Rise etc. - and more property taxes and levies from the developers - they talk of a wide open "green" space for recreational pursuits - Yeah! Right!
No none wants to see anybody killed, but the fears of a crash just off the airport is no more of a threat than at any other city airport anywhere in the world, what makes the citizens of Santa Monica so precious ?
The Museum has produced a bumper sticker - "I LOVE airplane noise", I didn't dare stick one on my car in Santa Monica, no time to get my windscreen replaced if I got a brick through it (!) but I bought half a dozen which are now proudly displayed on vehicles around my bit of New Zealand.
All very sad, and unnecessary.
I was delighted to read the latest legal decision, but is it enough ?
LONG LIVE SANTA MONICA AIRPORT - join the fight !
I recall reading of a similar fight in the UK, a supporter of the airport group called a public meeting, and showed a 1940's aerial photograph of the airport when it had been built as a bomber base during WW.II, just a runway in the middle of rolling acres of green fields. The speaker asked members of the protesting audience to come forward and point out their house ! The Douglas museum has many such photographs of KSMO from a similar era, with similar vistas - maybe the S.M. protesters would like to show us their houses on those photographs ?
I realise that there is no justification to keep an airport open just to amuse occasional visitors, but I find this battle to close it down very sad, the usual
NIMBY's who almost all moved to the airport area because it suited them for one reason or another and now want it closed down.
The S.M. Council want the money of course, to develop the place for more urban sprawl / High Rise etc. - and more property taxes and levies from the developers - they talk of a wide open "green" space for recreational pursuits - Yeah! Right!
No none wants to see anybody killed, but the fears of a crash just off the airport is no more of a threat than at any other city airport anywhere in the world, what makes the citizens of Santa Monica so precious ?
The Museum has produced a bumper sticker - "I LOVE airplane noise", I didn't dare stick one on my car in Santa Monica, no time to get my windscreen replaced if I got a brick through it (!) but I bought half a dozen which are now proudly displayed on vehicles around my bit of New Zealand.
All very sad, and unnecessary.
I was delighted to read the latest legal decision, but is it enough ?
LONG LIVE SANTA MONICA AIRPORT - join the fight !
I recall reading of a similar fight in the UK, a supporter of the airport group called a public meeting, and showed a 1940's aerial photograph of the airport when it had been built as a bomber base during WW.II, just a runway in the middle of rolling acres of green fields. The speaker asked members of the protesting audience to come forward and point out their house ! The Douglas museum has many such photographs of KSMO from a similar era, with similar vistas - maybe the S.M. protesters would like to show us their houses on those photographs ?
Last edited by ExSp33db1rd; 23rd February 2014 at 00:15. Reason: Spelling
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From: London, New York, Paris, Moscow.
Douglas Aircraft was the entire Santa Monica economy
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From: GLASGOW
The excellent video, 16 Right, an overview of Van Nuys, a nostalgic look at Van Nuys, actually, comes up with some incredible facts and figures regarding airfield closures throughout the US. As stated in the documentary, once an airfield closes, it will never reopen.
GA is, or was, at the heart of the American economy. With a continual closure of airfields, comes the continual run down of this economic stimulas.
Without the little aeroplanes, how can we get to the big aeroplanes, no one has thought this out yet.
This spat is sad. The Concerned Citizens against Airport Pollution. What bollox, in Los Angeles????
They all forget that they want Southwest to be even cheaper, Ryanair in the UK, but do not want the 'noise', 'pollution', hastle of living near an airport. Guess what guys, sell the house, and move elsewhere. I am told Los Angeles real estate is at an all time high since 2006. Should be a sellers market.
I am glad that a judge saw some sense in this nonsense, and hopefully the airfield will live on and prosper.
Remember Meigs.....
GA is, or was, at the heart of the American economy. With a continual closure of airfields, comes the continual run down of this economic stimulas.
Without the little aeroplanes, how can we get to the big aeroplanes, no one has thought this out yet.
This spat is sad. The Concerned Citizens against Airport Pollution. What bollox, in Los Angeles????
They all forget that they want Southwest to be even cheaper, Ryanair in the UK, but do not want the 'noise', 'pollution', hastle of living near an airport. Guess what guys, sell the house, and move elsewhere. I am told Los Angeles real estate is at an all time high since 2006. Should be a sellers market.
I am glad that a judge saw some sense in this nonsense, and hopefully the airfield will live on and prosper.
Remember Meigs.....
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Western USA
I moved out of my home state of KA in '92. Other than the onerous taxes I paid, they don't miss me and I don't miss their increasing tendency to defecate in their own mess kit. Social justice has it's repercussions...the ironic, negative impact of social justice experienced today by once great nations and cultures. 
sad state of affairs.
sad state of affairs.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 223
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From: Los Angeles
I learned to fly at this airport back in the 80's and 90's and later became a flight instructor there when I decided to make Aviation my career. It has always bothered me how the local media portrays the airport as a place where the wealthy land their noisy, polluting private jets, disrupting the lives of the virtuous citizens of the "People's Republic of Santa Monica". The reality being that 80 to 90 percent of the traffic there is single engine pistons mostly being used for flight instruction and most of those students are scraping together every penny they can to pay for said instruction, while the flight school owners are hardly getting rich off their business.
The local media also omit mentioning that the airport is used as a medevac base for nearby hospitals. I frequently flew life saving transplant organs in and out of there in some of those "noisy jets".
More recently the city instituted a landing fee on every aircraft taking off and landing in an attempt to further strangle operations there.
I have no sympathy what so ever for the rich assholes (Property values in Santa Monica are now equal to or greater than nearby Beverly Hills) that live around the airport, they knew damn well when they brought their properties that they moving in next to a 24 hour a day operating airport, and if they were really honest they would concede that they experience far more noise from local street traffic than from the airport.
I would love to find a way to put every one of these NIMBY airport whiners on the TSA "No fly" list.
The local media also omit mentioning that the airport is used as a medevac base for nearby hospitals. I frequently flew life saving transplant organs in and out of there in some of those "noisy jets".
More recently the city instituted a landing fee on every aircraft taking off and landing in an attempt to further strangle operations there.
I have no sympathy what so ever for the rich assholes (Property values in Santa Monica are now equal to or greater than nearby Beverly Hills) that live around the airport, they knew damn well when they brought their properties that they moving in next to a 24 hour a day operating airport, and if they were really honest they would concede that they experience far more noise from local street traffic than from the airport.
I would love to find a way to put every one of these NIMBY airport whiners on the TSA "No fly" list.
Joined: May 2011
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From: BOQ
I have no sympathy what so ever for the rich assholes (Property values in Santa Monica are now equal to or greater than nearby Beverly Hills) that live around the airport...
I would not characterize the people that live in that area as 'rich'. This is definitely not 90210.
The airport area of SM, though not South Central, is actually the 'wrong side of the tracks' in SM and has been since I lived there. 'Rich' is up north on San Vincente. (Probably where the helicopters are then headed with the organ transplants)
In any case, before the jets there was no problem. The traffic patterns were on the southeast side and that area at the time was all open fields while on the northwest side where the homes were was a 'no-fly' area. Things started getting controversial when an AD Skyraider crashed into homes off the end of RWY 21, killing some people, and then a USAF Thunderbirds support T-33 went off the end of 21, slid down the hill and ended up against the chain link. A little further and it would have taken out homes across 23rd street. Then the civvy P-51s started showing up.
(I loved watchin' 'em.)Even after the jets started operating there, the only complaints were, not unreasonably, about the night ops. The airport is excellent for piston engine training and even the original 'anti-noise' folks didn't have a problem with that. Those homes were there for a long time before the jets.
So while a criticism of the city itself may be warranted, I'm not sure you're criticizing the correct group of rich 'a$$holes'.
(BTW I know Claire Walters sounds like a beauty parlor, but she was a notable Powder Puff Derby competitor, was she still around when you trained there?)
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 954
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From: USA
I instructed and flew charter out of SMO too. I used to sit in the pilots lounge and listen to Claire Walters giving her check ride orals back in the '90s! (How many pounds of rocks can we load on the airplane and bring back from Kxxx?) She gave me some good advice about instructing too.
I flew a couple of "organ flights" out of SMO in the "noisy jets" too, one of them after the "no takeoffs allowed" hours too. (THAT was a pleasure.) Almost all of the pilots at our little bottom feeder charter company did pretty well at keeping the noise down to below the 95.0 SENEL limit. Yet still they bitched...
Most of the houses surrounding SMO have been among the higher market value per square foot in the immediate area for the last 15 - 20 years. The City council and their paid minions have been trying to turn the airport into a real estate project development for at least the last 30+ years. They've tried every legal avenue they can think of and even lined up developers to fund the effort. So far they've been thwarted each time, but they'll eventually win unless each of their new plans are exposed and vigorously opposed in every instance.
They've harassed and harangued the airport users and businesses every chance they've gotten and lost several court cases in the process, wasting untold sums of city taxpayer money. They've taken away airport use land and replaced it with a soccer field, dog pooper park and on the cheap artsy-fartsy studio rentals where aircraft parking and hangars used to be. It's really nothing more than a piecemeal land grab and the airport complainers are just puppets of the profit minded developers and their paid minions in the city council. Hey there's no shortage of crackpot activists in the "people's republic" available to tilt at windmills and cause trouble at the behest of the council. And yes it's true that pilots and others with an aviation interest at the airport may not serve on the so-called "airport commission". Anti-airport types only in that august body of buffoons! Yet even with the deck seemingly stacked in their favor, these jerks have met with only limited success in their quest to date. I wonder how long that can continue? In a war of attrition, the diminishing force usually loses the most. As general aviation shrinks, the various levels of government and their masters only grow more powerful...
Anyway, that's just my observations. I get the idea that very few "original, pre-jet" homeowners are left these days, and those that are don't seem much interested in being very active in the anti-airport nonsense. This group is made up primarily of crackpot activists with some personal need to somehow feel important. It's probably less than 50 individuals, with only about 3 or 4 doing most of the talking. The city pretends to act in "the people's" interest, but it really is just a sham. It's about the land and who gets to profit from it. Watch that plan for a "park" morph into condos and retail stores once the deal is done! I used to read the airport commission and city council meeting minutes every month for years, but gave it up recently. Too many lies!
If I were president I'd be very tempted to deploy a Marine CH-53 unit to SMO until the residents learned to love bizjets. And it's correct that most people in the neighborhoods around the airport don't even notice the "little planes". I've talked to quite a few people visiting the airport for the first time who lived close by for years but never even knew there was an airport there. Lots of memories there for me and I'll be sad when it goes...
I flew a couple of "organ flights" out of SMO in the "noisy jets" too, one of them after the "no takeoffs allowed" hours too. (THAT was a pleasure.) Almost all of the pilots at our little bottom feeder charter company did pretty well at keeping the noise down to below the 95.0 SENEL limit. Yet still they bitched...
Most of the houses surrounding SMO have been among the higher market value per square foot in the immediate area for the last 15 - 20 years. The City council and their paid minions have been trying to turn the airport into a real estate project development for at least the last 30+ years. They've tried every legal avenue they can think of and even lined up developers to fund the effort. So far they've been thwarted each time, but they'll eventually win unless each of their new plans are exposed and vigorously opposed in every instance.
They've harassed and harangued the airport users and businesses every chance they've gotten and lost several court cases in the process, wasting untold sums of city taxpayer money. They've taken away airport use land and replaced it with a soccer field, dog pooper park and on the cheap artsy-fartsy studio rentals where aircraft parking and hangars used to be. It's really nothing more than a piecemeal land grab and the airport complainers are just puppets of the profit minded developers and their paid minions in the city council. Hey there's no shortage of crackpot activists in the "people's republic" available to tilt at windmills and cause trouble at the behest of the council. And yes it's true that pilots and others with an aviation interest at the airport may not serve on the so-called "airport commission". Anti-airport types only in that august body of buffoons! Yet even with the deck seemingly stacked in their favor, these jerks have met with only limited success in their quest to date. I wonder how long that can continue? In a war of attrition, the diminishing force usually loses the most. As general aviation shrinks, the various levels of government and their masters only grow more powerful...
Anyway, that's just my observations. I get the idea that very few "original, pre-jet" homeowners are left these days, and those that are don't seem much interested in being very active in the anti-airport nonsense. This group is made up primarily of crackpot activists with some personal need to somehow feel important. It's probably less than 50 individuals, with only about 3 or 4 doing most of the talking. The city pretends to act in "the people's" interest, but it really is just a sham. It's about the land and who gets to profit from it. Watch that plan for a "park" morph into condos and retail stores once the deal is done! I used to read the airport commission and city council meeting minutes every month for years, but gave it up recently. Too many lies!
If I were president I'd be very tempted to deploy a Marine CH-53 unit to SMO until the residents learned to love bizjets. And it's correct that most people in the neighborhoods around the airport don't even notice the "little planes". I've talked to quite a few people visiting the airport for the first time who lived close by for years but never even knew there was an airport there. Lots of memories there for me and I'll be sad when it goes...
