PHPA calls on LA area industry to support Santa Monica Airport tonight

PHPA calls on LA area industry to support Santa Monica Airport tonight

25-Mar-2014 Source: PHPA

Dear PHPA Members:

The time is now ~ at Santa Monica Airport!

As you know, SMO is under siege by a very small segment of the local population that has succeeded, over time, in getting sway over the City Council.

We need to change that. SMO is a frequent stop for many helicopters: private, commercial and public service / public safety. It is a vital part of our NAS. If SMO goes, so will others  ~ SMO is not a single airport; it is, effectively, a signal airport.

Please see the attached letter prepared by the Santa Monica Airport Association. We hope you will turn out to the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, March 25th. We expect a large crowd of “the anti’s”, so arrive early to get a seat (see attachment). We hope some of you will decide to speak publicly on behalf of preserving the airport and all the aircraft and airport services there. You’ll have only two (2) minutes to say your piece, so please prepare your remarks carefully and deliver them politely and sincerely.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to drop me a line at ed.story@phpa.org.

Look forward to seeing you Tuesday evening ~

Edward Story

Member, Board of Directors, PHPA


Dear Friend and Supporter of Santa Monica Airport:

There comes a time when we must pay the price of our citizenship and do our civic duty. That time, indeed, has come to us now at Santa Monica CityHall this Tuesday night.

At this City Council meeting a city staff report will be accepted by the City Council calling for immediate preparations to close our municipal airport assoon as possible. The city learned the hard way in 1981 that they cannot just send eviction notices to all the tenants and throw everyone out in thirtydays. This time the attack is more sophisticated. Having, at great expense, failed to legally rid themselves of their obligations to the Government of theUnited States to operate the airport, they are proposing a war of attrition to bring about the death of the airport by a thousand cuts.

Included in the staff report are provisions to get rid of aviation based business at the field by denying leases and permits and raising fees, so that therewill be no flight schools, no mechanics, no fuel, and very few transient aircraft. They will attempt to remove 40% of the runway to restrict commercialaviation. If this is allowed to happen, it will destroy one of the finest airports in America, and one of vital importance to the people of greater LosAngeles.

The Santa Monica Airport Association is asking for your help! Here is what you can do:

Show up at the council chambers Tuesday night. If you are able, be prepared to speak for two minutes about why the city of Santa Monicashould cease trying to close the Santa Monica Municipal Airport, historic Clover Field, and instead begin to operate it safely in a fiscally responsiblemanner to develop its full potential. The vocal minority, who wish to see the airport gone, have complained ad nauseam about the alleged triple-threat ofnoise, safety and pollution. The facts do not support their case:

•     Noise was very successfully mitigated under the terms of the, soon to expire, landmark 1984 airport agreement between the FAA and the Cityof Santa Monica. Added to the fact that modern aircraft are becoming quieter every year, noise is not a major factor compared to other localsources such as traffic and construction.

•     Exactly one person on the ground, has died in 95 years of airport operations—and no one in Santa Monica. That is a safety record anyonecan be proud of. Hundreds have died in domestic traffic accidents in that same interval.

•     There is no credible evidence of serious pollution being caused by operations at the airport. The 2010 EPA lead study showed absolutely nocause for concern about leaded aviation fuel, although there are indications that it will soon be possible have suitable lead-free fuel. If thepeople espousing these fears truly believed in what they are saying why haven’t they vouched-safe their health by moving out of danger instead ofremaining voluntarily in what they describe as a perilous situation?

•     There are no reliable statistics that show any health or safety issues related to the airport. Acre for acre, Santa Monica Airport is safer,cleaner, more productive, and quieter than most other parts of the city by almost any measure you would care to take.

•     As local citizens, and Americans, we have a responsibility to look at the big picture, too. This airport is a vital part of the nation’s air commerceand transportation infrastructure.

•     Aircraft come from the far corners of the globe every day to Santa Monica and Southern California, and the business they bring is anestimated $300 million+ dollars a year.

•      Did you know that, if Santa Monica, as a vital reliever for LAX were to close, your airline ticket would cost more?

That your flights would be delayed significantly?

•      More than 800 Angel Flight volunteer medical transports happen right here every year.

•      Time-critical donor organs arrive here by jet aircraft to save scores of lives each year.

•     The airport is your lifeline and mine in times of disaster because we live in a metropolis that is almost totally dependent upon its roadsand would be vulnerable to great hardship and tragedy if there were no airport here.

 

This Airport cannot be put back if the City discovers later that it has made a mistake. Once this land is commercially developed, which it most certainlywill be if the airport closes, we will be forever stuck with the congestion and pollution of a new “Century City West”. It is time to bring the CityCouncil to its senses!

Let your voice be one of the wake-up calls heard on Tuesday night March 25t@ 6:30PM.

(Suggest arrival at 5:30 or 5:45 to get a seat. Meeting will be well attended by anti-airport factions.) 

http://www.smgov.net/departments/Council/agendas/2014/20140325/s2014032508-A.htm 

http://smdp.com/city-hall-full-santa-monica-airport-closure-could-take-time/133194

http://www.santamonicaairport.info

 

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