Aviation Short Takes
Pertinent Comments about current events
Aviation Short Takes is designed as a comment area. The opinions about important aviation matters developing today can be read here.
The articles will find a home here temporarily; and depending upon the long-term relevance, the commentary may subsequently be republished on our INFO WAREHOUSE pages. Do you have relevant comments concerning Airspace Design and/or Aviation Safety that you feel others can benefit from? For instance, do you have a recommendation for us to link to? Please let me know! Use scauwg@earthlink.net and address your input to Ron Berinstein, webmaster. IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Opinions and views expressed in the following commentary are those of the authors &/or publishers alone; and may or may not reflect SCAUWG.ORG or SCAUWG.
This page was added on 11/09/2022. It is Page 2. To view prior commentary please see "Short Takes"
Let's Begin:
NAVIGATING IN FOG - "It was IMC one steamy August morning at my local airport. As I stared down the weather computer, willing the red and purple line to stop blocking my route, I overheard an increasingly worrying conversation. - The young charter pilot and I had chatted an hour earlier, comparing our planned trip to the northeast, similar routes, different altitudes but both facing major convection. His passengers, four rather vociferous, gaudily clad men, clearly headed on a golfing trip, were becoming ever more demanding, insisting that their captain “be a man” and take them where they got-to-get-to. As a doctor and aviator, I know the fatal disease that induces—just add..." Continue Here.
My Cousin Louie By Paul Bertorelli - "It was a creation of interservice rivalry. It was also an expensive, troubled program that Louie survived only by the random chance of a coin toss. The SeaMaster was born of what became known as the Revolt of the Admirals. During the precipitous defense draw down after World War II when the U.S.’s nuclear doctrine was anything but well formed, the nascent Air Force believed nuclear weapons had fundamentally changed warfare..." Anything from Bertorelli is a good read. Experience it Here.
Misheard Mistakes - "Beyond separating and sequencing aircraft, air traffic controllers are responsible for managing expectations. When I’m working traffic, I must ensure that what each pilot expects to be doing matches with what I expect him to be doing. Otherwise, it’s like trying to act out a play when all the actors are reading from different scripts. - That’s where the readback/hear back loop enters. By actively listening to pilot’s responses to clearances and catching incorrect readbacks, controllers prevent potential errors before they occur. One undetected bad readback is often the thing..." Continue Here.
The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) held what was billed as the final meeting Thursday 2/23/2023 via Zoom virtual conference. A vote was held to select the motion to be sent to the L A County Supervisors for use as an advisory document.
Per Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors motion on December 8, 2020, the County has formed a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) made up of leaders and stakeholders from the community and Airport to provide input throughout the process.
The CAC members will use their local insight and knowledge to understand community concerns and identify new opportunities, such as the creation of local jobs, community beneficial uses, and dedicated open space at the airport.
Two sections of the charge are as follows:
- Engage local stakeholders, including but not limited to, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez’s Office, community-based organizations such as Pacoima Beautiful, residents, businesses, and other government partners to undertake a community-driven master plan for Whiteman Airport that maintains the property’s primary function as an airport but provides for the creation of local jobs, community beneficial uses, and open space opportunities.
- Conduct appropriate environmental studies to assess the airport’s potential environmental and health risks.
The keywords that witnesses proclaim that were not acknowledged by all of the participants are “…maintains the property’s primary function as an airport…”
Several times throughout the evening, participants referred to panel members in attendance as belonging to one of two sides, those that want the airport to remain open, and those who want it closed. Over the last 18 months, there appears to be no evidence that there was sufficient guidance to assure that the goal as charged was adhered to, and several in attendance assessed that from the start those appointed to the committee were hand chosen because of pre-existing bias.
District Director for City Councilwoman Monic Rodriquez, Rocio Hernandez stated clearly on Thursday evening that “Whiteman Airport’s purpose is that of recreation and leisure. It is not one of necessity. So comparing it to vehicles & trains is really kinda uncalled for, um, when our families do rely on vehicles & trains out f necessity and not luxury.”
That opinion was directly opposed by LA County Firebase Chief Robert Gaylor, who later explained that with regard to emergency response that the airport is very important to the state, regional, and local governments, and provides an airbridge should surface infrastructure be challenged by any catastrophic event. Specifically, it is not important for just Pacoima, but also for the entire San Fernando Valley and beyond, protecting residents from fire and catastrophe.
CAC member Bobby Arias – Champions in Service, associated with the development of Pacoima Plaza, who credited the Chief with saving his home three times, asked the Fire chief if the larger acreage that the airport occupies was necessary for emergency services as his firebase size occupies just a small slice of the overall property. Mr. Arias implied that the planes flying in and out were not really needed and that the larger parcel could be home to development. The fire chief responded very clearly that the airport was important, as mentioned above, and in addition, should the air traffic control tower be closed, the airspace protection needed for his service would also vanish, and emergency departures would then be dependent upon Burbank ATC, which would be more cumbersome, and no doubt delayed by other competing area flight arrivals and departures.
It was thought the fire chief’s professional opinion was important as clearly expressed to the gentleman who represented himself as preferring an education center to be constructed on the airport land as opposed to its current use as an airport. Mr. Arias chose to ignore the comments of the fire chief and later voted to close the airport. He argued monies would be available and secured by politicians for development, others argued that there are plenty of adjacent spaces that are available, that are not part of an important infrastructure network, and don’t currently employ hundreds of people, collect millions in property taxes, provide other valuable community services, and spread economic benefit all around the Pacoima community.
The notion of keeping the airport open or closing the airport predominated the discussion.
Community residents were portrayed as victimized by the airport and serious grievances need to be addressed by LA County which was severely criticized by the CEO of Pacoima Beautiful. Airport non-profits and businesses were also severely criticized for allegedly not reaching out to the community and sharing resources. Examples of attempted community outreach were given by David Kolstad, Jeanne Fenimore, and Lisa Fusano, and when seeking assistance from Pacoima Beautiful they were denied that assistance. Even attendance at a promoted Pacoima Beautiful public event was denied to a polite and passive airport supporter who by report was turned away.
It was pointed out that every neighborhood council in CD7 has voted to support the airport. Petition signers have replied about 4 to 1 in favor of the airport, but in spite of these facts, Pacoima Beautiful would prefer to see the aviation commission include members with no aviation experience, and the airport closed. They favor L A County paying for a host of mitigating services without financial assistance from the FAA for a large list of city residents living in some cases, right up to the edge of the runway, judged safe by the city zoning regulation at the time of building construction, but now alleged by Pacoima Beautiful to be unsafe, and the cause of trauma for the residents that chose to live there. Their opinion is that the once remotely located airport should be held liable for alleged noise, lead pollution, and safety risk incurred by the now-present city residents and businesses.
Regarding noise, the study that was completed revealed that there were 335 noncompatible locations. Community input related that the loud semi-trucks that travel on San Fernando Road were not included in that study, nor were the Union Pacific freight train and Metro link train, both considerably louder than the planes from Whiteman Airport, but neither is being criticized by Pacoima Beautiful. See the Noise Study results Here.
Something that Fire Chief Robert Gaylor referred to, but maybe not realized by the nonflying community, is that should the airport close, the air traffic tower would also close and the currently protected airspace immediately above the ground up to about 3000 feet would also go away, and instead of regulated flight tracks and altitudes that aircraft must fly now, no such restrictions will be in place and that would allow for lower flying aircraft and possibly many diverse flight tracks.
Regarding Pollution, assertions were made that lead poisoning has affected residents and that studies need to be done as several in the community fault the airport for their asthma. There has been no proof of the assertion that 100LL avgas is responsible for lead poisoning regarding Pacoima residents, or even anybody nationwide. Community input substantiated that unleaded avgas distribution would be available soon, and Ms. Alderson from Vista Aviation revealed that she has already purchased the permits necessary (STCs) to use it in their aircraft. It was also pointed out that the aviation future will also include electric aircraft.
Pacoima Beautiful states that per a study in 2009, lead was found at Whiteman Airport. They don’t however tout that per the same EPA study, lead in greater quantities was found at a local freeway location.
Nor does Pacoima Beautiful request banning dairy products and certain meats as it is estimated that cattle are responsible for 220 trillion pounds of methane a year. They do via their motion suggest banning 100LL avgas, which would result in a tremendous safety risk, and a similar action is already credited as a contributing factor for a fatal accident.
Nor is there any criticism of the large volume of semi-trucks that travel on busy San Fernando Road just parallel to the Whiteman runway. On the scale of vehicle polluters semis rank very high. By contrast, although the perception might be that airplanes are large polluters, the opposite is true.
Regarding safety risk, the third pillar used to support airport closure, because the pilot of an accident airplane suffering from engine trouble, rather than making a safe preemptive landing as is instructed, the pilot tried to reach the runway, and was unsuccessful. Consequently, the airport is being blamed for what was a pilotage error, and the airport has become an innocent victim of less-than-accurate information. Blaming the airport is like blaming a gas station located down the block that the car with no gas is trying to coast to, but has an accident prior to getting to the station because of restricted steering and braking.
The fact is there have been no fatalities suffered on the ground from Whiteman Air traffic, and that vehicular traffic accidents and their associated deaths in number make flight accidents look like a pea-sized dot when compared to each other. Yet, no one is touting the idea of closing San Fernando Road, or any of the local freeways for safety study projects.
Attendees at this final meeting were presented by certain CAC members inaccurate information.
Rocio Hernandez, district director L A Council member Monica Rodriquez stated that: “Whiteman Airport operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with little regulation or oversight. There are other nearby airports like Van Nuys which was referenced today and Burbank airport which both have operational limitations. They do not operate 24 hours a day 7 days a week.”
It should be noted that all public airports operate with a tremendous number of regulatory requirements and oversight. A glance at Title 14 of the code of Federal Regulations will quickly confirm that, in addition to Title 14 CFR, there are state, county, local, and airport management regulations. Also, it should be noted that both Van Nuys Airport and Burbank operate 24/7.
Furthermore, during the meeting Chief Gaylor described the emergency services that are at the Whiteman firebase. In addition, the CAP during past meetings has been referred to, and they too provide emergency services.
Yet Ms. Hernandez stated, “that there has been no clear understanding of what, if any, emergency operations are taking place within the airport.” Visual evidence is easily seen from the main entrance parking lot of the clearly marked CAP building, and from the driveway of the sizeable Firebase.
Ms. Hernandez also “wanted to stress that the income is generated within the airport must stay within the airport boundaries, um, the airport cannot even repair a sidewalk adjacent to the property’s boundaries.” She did not mention that the airport belongs to L A County, and apparently, she feels L A County should shoulder L A City’s responsibilities.
Ms. Hernandez feels that “our families do rely on vehicles and trains out of necessity and not a luxury.”
The point that some make is that though the airport offers emergency services, community services, and College opportunities as well, plus other options, those parameters per Ms. Hernandez are luxuries.
Contradictions with some details arose during the CAC pursuit, but they didn’t influence the primary messaging. Veronica Padilla-Campos CEO of Pacoima Beautiful stated her position that federal money should not be accessed due to grant strings attached to pay for her very long laundry list of grievances needing mediation. Rather, LA County should pay for the city resident’s improvements. She stated, “I don’t trust the County.” Further, she reiterated that “there is no ulterior motion. There is no developer behind this motion. There is nothing like that.” In her motion, she advocates expanding the number of aviation commissioners. She advocates adding commissioners who have no aviation experience.
Yvonne E. Mariajimenez – Neighborhood Legal Services contributed that federal funds are available to address community grievances on noise and pollution. When the noise study results were released a few meetings ago she seemed disappointed that more noise was not present. She suggested the study be done again. She expressed that as Mr. Arias inferred, emergency services could exist without the airport, contradicting the message that Chief Gaylor delivered.
Ms. Penny Alderson presented some evidence that there might be a relationship between Pacoima Beautiful and developers via a connection wherein during a directed student study Pacoima Beautiful was referred to as the client. Ms. Padilla-Campos denied that, and LACDPW moderator Jessica Padilla-Bowen suggested that they move on. A community caller asserted that there was a connection between Pacoima Beautiful and Aquaria Funding Solutions. In prior meetings, Ms. Padilla-Campos referred to already drawn plans she wanted to introduce depicting the real estate development of Whiteman Airport, though Jessica Padilla-Bowen from LACDPW did not allow them into the discussion stating the charge was to keep the airport open.
Both Ms. Padilla-Campos and Ms. Mariajimenez voted for closure.
Ms. Heron Molina, Council District 7 (Monica Rodriquez) office – stated that “the airport has not done anything to engage the community.” There is overwhelming evidence that this has not been the case, and I personally can attest that the FAA Safety Team Free Pilot Safety seminars held for years at Whiteman Airport sometimes weekly, not only posted community notice online but notice of each event was emailed to over 4,500 area residents.
CAC member Mr. Charles Nelson voted both for a motion to close the airport and for a motion to keep it open.
Three motions were submitted. One by Chares Nelson, Pacoima Neighborhood Watch, One by Veronica Padilla-Campos, and One by Penny Alderson Vista Aviation/Vista Air.
Mr. Nelson’s motion was in favor of keeping the airport open and satisfying a short list of neighborhood grievances. There was not a second for his motion. See the motion here.
Ms. Veronica Padilla-Campos’ motion was to close the airport and included a very long list of items for City residents that the County should pay for, and then subsequently close the airport. Included in her list is a provision calling for the possible return of County land to the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians. This provision evokes troublesome thoughts, not because of the proposed action itself, but because the president of that group also sits on the CAC panel as a voting member, and should the Supervisors accept this motion in full, his band of Mission Indians would stand to financially benefit. See the motion here.
Ms. Penny Alderson’s motion was to continue to keep the airport open, continue to explore community airport relationships, and the mitigation of a long list of grievances that represent many of same issues that have been raised by those with concerns and have expressed an interest in closing the airport. See the motion here.
In summary, there was a year and a half of meetings inspired by one aircraft accident years ago that was not the fault of any Whiteman Airport operation that was used as the fuel for a community panel to be formed via a motion from Former L A County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, and the inspiration of City Councilwomen Monica Rodriquez whose background includes being an executive for the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) where she was responsible for the administration of a multi-million dollar workforce housing trust fund, and the inspiration of Pacoima Beautiful, whose former CEO recently disgraced Nury Martinez, then City Council President, endorsed Ms. Rodriquez for a council seat.
At the end of the 18-month voyage, there was no health study initiated or completed, there was a noise study that showed that out of the many thousands of homes, only 335 would possibly qualify for noise mitigation.
It should be recognized that community input alleged that the participants were hand-picked to predetermine the concluding results, and that some were placing politics over real community interest, not only by selecting those with a preferred bias, but also by selecting some that may not have the ability to properly commit to the CAC obligation over an extended period.
Supporting this notion is the fact that City Councilwoman Monica Rodriquez is represented directly via two members empaneled from her office. Pacoima Beautiful is represented, and two members were initially chosen from Supervisor Kuehl’s office (one remained to date, but abstained from voting - hence, lending more weight to those who did vote). One member from Neighborhood legal services of L A County, a private company, that seemingly marched in lockstep with Pacoima Beautiful was appointed, as were two members from the Pacoima Chamber of Commerce. Then there was the appointment of some that might not be in a sustainable position to commit to the CAC effort.
Regarding the circumstance created when a motion was moved forward that would potentially financially benefit Voting CAC member Rudy Ortega, SCAUWG.ORG notified LACDPW of the appearance of impropriety, and that Mr. Ortega should possibly be directed to recuse himself from voting. No mention of a possible conflict of interest was mentioned during the evening.
Of the CAC members who were qualified to vote four were not present. Mikayeel Khan, Pacoima Neighborhood Council, Jasmine Tuyet Le, student representative, Michelle Rogel, community volunteer, and Eduardo (Eddie) Gonzales, Pacoima Chamber of Commerce, were not present.
The vote went as follows:
Motion #3 Motion #4
Maria Chong-Castillo Abstained Abstained
Rocio Hernandez YES NO
John Hernandez YES NO
Bobby Arias YES NO
Veronica Padilla-Campos YES NO
Yvonne E. Masriajimenez YES NO
Rudy Ortega YES NO
Charles Nelson YES YES
Heron Molina Abstained NO
Jeanne Fenimore NO YES
Penny Alderson NO YES
Robert Gaylor NO YES
SCAUWG.ORG wants to compliment Fire Chief Robert Gaylor for his professionalism. He spoke with pertinent direction and addressed real Air Traffic Control issues, and he spoke with skillful diligence and expertise illustrating the needs of not only the Pacoima community but also his responsibility to serve an entire area with life-saving emergency service. He rose above any political challenge that some might have fallen prey to and spoke with collegian detail making the point that those who opposed the airport were not holding other Pacoima businesses to the same standards that the airport was being criticized for not meeting. Chief Robert Gaylor is a hero.
SCAUWG.ORG also wants to commend Penny Alderson. Ms. Alderson from Vista Aviation and Vista Air truly reached across the aisle and incorporated mature realistic ideas whilst recognizing the outstanding critical comments from those who were most vocal and critical not only of the airport but also of the LA County Dept. of Public Works and L A County who allowed this process to go forward at great expense and allowed the City Council to seemingly subjugate its interests. Ms. Alderson’s motion proves that community consciousness and community benefit was never the goal of those who came to the conference with development plans already loaded, and with their eyes focused elsewhere, as with genuine commitment, she demonstrated that there were unusually good actors sitting with patience at the table.
The L A County of Public Works spent untold hours of commitment and shouldered the extensive costs necessary to produce these in-person and online events. It seemed apparent that they reached for and maintained the highest level of complimentary community procedures. If there is a criticism of the process pursued, it would be that there was not enough attention given to maintaining the charge. It is possible that while trying to be polite these sessions were too often filled with “keep it open” or “close it” arguments. Additionally, CAC positions were not often challenged with opposing views or fact-checked for accuracy.
It certainly appeared that the LACDPW went the extra mile and allowed City Councilmember Monica Rodriquez to offer her anti-airport thesis and her claim of no immediate benefit from the airport for the community. Her appearance as a keynote speaker and not allowing for equal time for a pro-airport speaker at the top of last month’s meeting, which was intended to be the last meeting, was not an occurrence worthy of a salute.
With an understanding of the Brown Act, absent that critical analysis what sometimes appeared to be scripted language that may not have been truthful, or responsive to previous comments was allowed to prevail, instead of being scrutinized and creatively legally addressed.
A closing comment made by one community caller was that CAC panel bias should have been published. SCAUWG.ORG long ago called for those who might potentially benefit, and/or those who have related interests that would benefit from an airport closure to disclose that data much like lobbyists are required to do. I requested that the subject be put on the agenda. It wasn’t.
SCAUWG.ORG is not the only observer to notice that “issue cleansing” may not inspire some to award the blue ribbon that everyone who had hoped to applaud the LACDPW effort wanted to award.
It appears the real winners are those that can read between the lines and become enraged at the unfortunate weaknesses present in the world’s best democratic system. By staying alert perhaps our democracy will be better defended.
The real losers are the residents of the Pacoima community that believe that an important piece of infrastructure, an airport designated as a “reliever” airport necessary for the benefit of the National Airspace System (NAS), and one that serves the greater good for so many L A Basin residents were pitched the notion that only rich people benefit from an airport and that because it is located in neighborhood folks chose to reside in, that airport should benefit them alone. Instead of looking at the immediate benefits realistically, and those that will flourish in the future, those that are short-sighted and believe the interests that are most willing to disguise their efforts to work against the very people they claim to defend, will be faced with a sad and unhappy lesson.
The fact is, should the developers win, should the airport close, should the position that CAC member Rudy Ortega voiced at the meeting occur and “luxury” housing be brought to the land which was once the airport, the area will truly become as one caller referred to; the now present, overbuilt, traffic engulfed area, where once Hughes airport was.
And what will be the result of a similar gentrification movement coming to Pacoima? Every low-income resident that now rents will be forced to move from their homes due to landlords raising their rents, or even tearing down the older residences with possibly soundproofed windows, and erecting new taller buildings, now not subject to obstruction clearance limitations that the FAA instrument approach and departure routes once mandated.
Ron Berinstein CFII
Slowing and Stopping - "The typical personal airplane has busy brakes, which can make some landings more exciting than they need to be. It's best to slow down sooner rather than later. - That’s the last time I remember being even close to running out of runway on landing. I learned a few lessons that night, which have helped keep me out of the weeds since,..." "One of the things I learned is that planning to come to a stop after landing begins well before touching down." Webmaster: This is a nifty look at addressing runway safety in a nutshell, might well point you in the right direction toward a decision to focus more on this important safety topic. Read it Here.
ED BOLEN - PRESIDENT AND CEO BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE - THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - REGARDING FAA REAUTHORIZATION: ENHANCING AMERICA’S GOLD STANDARD IN AVIATION SAFETY - FEBRUARY 7, 2023 - "NBAA's members, many of which are small businesses, rely on general aviation aircraft to meet some portion of their transportation needs. These aircraft provide connectivity to communities in every state and nearly every congressional district, which is especially critical to communities with little or no airline service. Business - aviation is keeping small businesses globally competitive and bolstering our national economy with 1.2 million American jobs and $247 billion in economic output. The aviation industry overall, from commercial aviation to general aviation, manufacturing, Advanced Air Mobility and..." Read the address Here.
Flight-shaming: Challenging the Narrative - "The European business aviation industry has been caught in the crosshairs of a burgeoning, vocal, and increasingly influential environmental community that regards the use of private aircraft as a polluting luxury that the planet can ill afford to accommodate. Of course, business aviation is no stranger to such opprobrium having faced a barrage of bruising assaults over the years from activists... - ...the industry is on particularly high alert today and its detractors are as tenacious as ever. “There are a number of vocal environmentalists that have had business aircraft in their sights for some time and like to put our industry in the corner..." Continue Here.
Buttigieg’s remarks come weeks after the January 11 nationwide groundstop—the first since 9/11—that affected 11,000 flights across the country. Due to a mishap made by a contractor performing routine maintenance, the FAA’s notice to air missions (NOTAM) system crashed and became inoperative as crews could not access vital flight data such as runway use, airport closures, weather, or restricted airspace.
The incident prompted the U.S. House to pass legislation known as the NOTAM Improvement Act of 2023, which establishes a task force made up of pilots, airline executives, union officials, air traffic controllers, and other computer system experts to review and reform the current system. Speaking to Reuters, Buttigieg said, “We’re working to make sure we can accelerate the NOTAM modernization but..." Read the total article Here.
Two Proposed Letters to SMO Councilmembers re: KSMO status - these address the 1/24/2023 Council Hearing Agenda Item 7B r
1. Letter authored by Eve Lopez
Dear Airport Supporter,The Santa Monica City Council will address the process to determine the future of the Santa Monica Airport on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. The City's Staff Report and materials submitted by the City can be found Here. Like many at-risk airports, Santa Monica has been invaded by heavily pro-development groups who serve as a training ground for state legislators Ben Allen and Richard Bloom and also have significant influence with Ted Lieu at the Federal level. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITYWhile the residents of Santa Monica have been overly critical of pilots and the aviation community, development is an absolutely NO-GO topic with the residents. The promising strategy to prevent the closure of Santa Monica Airport ironically is to adopt a non-aviation-centric approach. Specifically, framing and communicating the limited choices residents have with land use legislation and the unique ultra-low-density land use an airport provides to highlight the irreplaceable benefits to residents' quality of life that can only be enjoyed if Santa Monica Airport remains operational.
HOW TO HELP
Attend: If able, please attend the City Council meeting on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 7 pm, Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main Street, Room 250, Santa Monica, CA 90401. The meeting is expected to last 4-7 hours. Those who are able to attend are permitted to address the City Council for 1-2 minutes or can donate their time to another speaker. We need our voices heard.
Watch: You can watch (but not participate) either Here or on the City's YouTube channel Here
Email: To support these efforts, please consider copying the below text and sending one email to all eight (8) of the noted email addresses by the City Council cutoff of noon on Tuesday, January 24, 2023.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Blue skies and tailwinds,Eve LopezPilot, SMO TenantSanta Monica Resident
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Council Member Email Addresses and Proposed Message::
councilmtgitems@santamonica.gov
christine.parra@santamonica.gov
oscar.delatorre@santamonica.gov
caroline.torosis@santamonica.gov
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Subject: Agenda Item 7B
Dear Councilmembers:
It is obvious keeping the Santa Monica Airport as an operating airport is what is best for Santa Monica and its residents.
Exercise of the Consent Decree is entirely at the discretion of the Council. The Consent Decree should not be exercised.
The Council should vote to keep the airport operating as it currently operates for no less than these six reasons:
1. Keeping the airport operating as currently constructed is the only ultra-low-density land use that benefits the residents.
2. An airport land use is the ONLY federally protected ultra-low density land use available to the city and its residents than cannot be abridged by any entity, public or private.
3. The city staff has admitted there isn’t enough money to develop and sustain a park, ensuring the development of the parcels is an inevitability.
4. The City staff has stated that it has no appetite (and likely no money) to defend against developer lawsuits to eliminate any park.
5. The State has taken over every other land use decision from the City. Maintaining Sana Monica airport is the ONLY land use protected from state laws. It is the ONLY ultra-low-density land use decision the state cannot challenge. All the protections against state land use legislation are lost if the airport closes.
6. This would be the third time this Council opened the door for overdevelopment. The prior two instances were the Gelson’s (Lincoln) project and the Builder Remedy projects.
Keep the airport open. It is the ONLY rational choice for the residents and the surrounding communities.
(Signed by)
2. Letter authored by Santa Monica Airport Association
The Santa Monica Airport's future is on the Agenda for tomorrow night's City Council Meeting. Santa Monica City Council Meeting Agenda
We have drafted talking points. PLEASE GRAB ANY FOUR PARAGRAPHS AND EMAIL TO CITY COUNCIL at councilmtgitems@santamonica.gov by tomorrow, January 24, 2022 at noon.
PLEASE feel free to personalize the email in any way you see fit. Every email counts and we need everyone to participate. Thank you!
If you can attend the meeting, please join us:
City CouncilRegular Meeting1/24/2023 5:30 PMCity Hall Council Chambers
The Santa Monica Municipal Airport has been an asset for over 100 years to our community. Rapid developments in aviation promise to make this irreplaceable infrastructure even more valuable and compatible with the people of Santa Monica. Any discussion, "to make the best use of this land for many generations to come,” must include existing and future aviation stakeholders. We need the experience and skills of current aviators to have a clear vision into the next 100 years. I call upon the Santa Monica City Council to ensure the needs and interests of all are represented in this process, not just a tiny minority who expect to personally benefit.
The Santa Monica Airport protects the entire Westside community from high-density & high-rise development due to the airport control zone that encompasses over 50 square miles. The Airport also protects our Santa Monica residents, from larger commercial jet traffic & noise flying into LAX. It’s no secret that developers want access to this land. Once we lose an Airport as an asset, it is not something we can get back. For the sake & benefit of all, we ask that you consider the option of keeping the Airport open as a viable resource beyond 2028 to be included in your current & future Santa Monica Planning decisions.
The Santa Monica Airport has provided safety, emergency and disaster service response to the Los Angeles community for 100+ years. Closure of the Airport would result in losing this essential asset, risking more loss of human life and more suffering during tragic events. The math is simple. There will be earthquakes, fires and other disaster events multiple times over the next one hundred years. Any city council that removes our Santa Monica Airport aviation land use as an emergency resource will have blood on their hands for a millennium.
During medical flights, I have witnessed people who have died waiting for medical evacuation. I have been in a helicopter as people died en route to a hospital and I have sat next to many people (in helicopters and airplanes) who are only alive today, because they were flown to emergency medical care or to safety.
Thinking back to 9-11, if LAX is compromised in any way, due to a dirty bomb or any unforeseen event. The Westside of Los Angeles is void of a port of any kind. No rail road, no sea port and no airport. The Santa Monica Airport is the emergency back up as a reliever airport to LAX.
Aviation is the safest form of transportation available at this time. It is statistically in fact more dangerous to ride a motorcycle, car, bike or to be a pedestrian in Santa Monica than to be a pilot or passenger on an airplane. Not one citizen of Santa Monica has been harmed by an aircraft accident.
The airport has been financially abused by City staff and the City Council. Millions of dollars have been illegally misappropriated out of the Airport fund and spent on frivolous law suits. Residents who chose to buy homes next to the airport are the most vocal in trying to profit from closing the airport. The airport is a valuable resource to Santa Monica, inexpensive to operate, an asset to our community and is profitable to all of Santa Monica, inviting people to enjoy the local area, shop, eat & use our hotels.
The airport finances itself, bringing jobs to our community and could be an incubator for innovation if given the opportunity. Historically, the many businesses at the Airport have offered career opportunities and livelihoods to the community. The Airport has provided quality STEM education for 100+ years, something to be embraced by all who wish to pursue a route that positively enhances one’s livelihood in a healthy and sustainable way. Our existing parks & recreation areas at SMO provide kids & adults with a safe & uncrowded place to play.
The technology to promote green aviation that protects residents from aircraft noise & pollution is now created & rapidly advancing. The future of aviation is certain to be cleaner and quieter for all of our benefit. The advantages of a general aviation airport serving the community for regional travel would consume less resources and bring more revenue to our local economy.
Many airports that have been closed still sit undeveloped, untransformed & underutilized as a profitable resource for decades. There is never enough money, planning or commitment to enable a transition for the public good. And in all cases, the city loses financial profit or gain since there is zero revenue coming in.
As the city council knows, there is not funding or public financial support to create a “great park”. It is a cheap political balloon to propagate the myth that a park will be created within one’s political career or even within the lifetime of most of the pro “great park” lobby effortists. Any Park, unlike the Santa Monica Airport, is not a self-sustaining resource. Parks must be financed by the City and ultimately by residents’ taxes to maintain which is no longer a financially viable option.
The future is in flux. The Santa Monica Municipal Airport is already significantly changed from what it was just a few years ago, and rapid developments in aviation promise to make this irreplaceable piece of community infrastructure even more valuable to, and compatible with, the people of Santa Monica. Any “approach that is informed by data, robust and transparent discussion, rigorous economic evaluation and a visionary, far-reaching outlook to make the best use of this land for many generations to come” must include existing and future aviation stakeholders, including current aviation users and the young urban cohort likely to use the airport in the future, as part of the LA DOT Urban Air Mobility initiatives and otherwise. I call upon the Santa Monica City Council to ensure the needs and interests of all are represented in this process, not just a tiny minority who expect to personally benefit.
Thank you for your time & consideration.
Santa Monica Airport Associationhttp://www.santamonicaairport.info/
Santa Monica Airport Association · 3021 Airport Ave, Suite 210, Santa Monica, CA 90405, United StatesYou can also keep up with Santa Monica Airport Association on Twitter or Facebook.
Going Home Nordo - "As I’m contemplating my navel and the regs and my route, the transponder folds. Next, my GPS warned of a power loss and politely asked if I wanted it to stay on. (Yes!) All the electrical equipment I had left was the panel clock, which died three hours later." Read Further Here.
The Resurrection Of Lady Vi - RAFE brings a rare and special VariViggen to life. - "The Rutan Aircraft Flying Experience, a nonprofit organization based in Covington, Tennessee, is dedicated to preserving, flying and training pilots in Burt Rutan’s canard designs. Ryszard Zadow, the founder and prime mover behind RAFE, had a dream—he wanted to acquire a flying example of each Burt Rutan homebuilt design and fly them at places like the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual AirVenture airshow. In theory it seemed possible. EAA asked RAFE to help..." Continue Here.
Preventing Gear-Up Landings - "Despite the care we take to ensure we land with the rolling thingies down, insurance claims for gear-up landings are far too common. -When accidents or incidents occur, it is important to complete a root-cause analysis. There are many ways to accomplish this. In fact, you can take an upper-level college course on different methods of determining the root case of events. It extends well beyond aviation; basically any field where human error can occur and create catastrophic results will utilize these techniques.
Luckily, many of the methods are extremely simple. Take the “Five Why’s” method, where you ask the question “Why?” until you reach one (or several) root causes for the incident. Here is a scenario loosely based on a true story. Incident: A pilot lands gear-up after..." Continue Here.
There’s now a significant market for already-built aircraft changing hands to what the kit built industry has termed NBOs—non-builder owners. When a person buys the fruits of another builder’s efforts, they take on that project without the same knowledge as the original builder. With many NBOs coming from backgrounds of only flying, operating, and perhaps owning Part 23-certificated aircraft, the gap in understanding can lead to frustration, wasted money and time—or an accident during the first 10 hours of flight following the purchase." Continue Here.
Ask the A&Ps: Do you really want tp pull that prop? - Should you really pull a propeller through before starting the engine? Plus, how lean-of-peak operation impacts exhaust longevity, and our experts take your questions. Find it in your favorite podcast app, or watch Episode 4 on YouTube.
AVIATION SAFETY REPORTING SYSTEM—PROTECTING YOUR CERTIFICATE - Recognizing when you've made a mistake in your aircraft can provide an opportunity for reflection and protection. The Aviation Safety Reporting System offers a voluntary, confidential, and non-punitive process to report potential safety issues—particularly unintentional errors. Read more >
These were the words of my CFII (certified flight instructor-instrument) the first time he took me into the clouds. He is ex-Air Force and taught me to fly the AF way. The acronyms MARTHA, the UPs and the 5Ts were all part of my training—as was going in and out of clouds. “Nothing but water vapor!” he declared. We always double checked the temperature because flying through a cloud in freezing conditions would turn us into a Cessna-cicle or Piper-cicle in a hurry, something we wished to avoid.
Although there is no requirement for the instrument rating candidate to log time in actual conditions, I wanted at least 15 hours of “actual” before I took the instrument check ride. When I trained for the instrument instructor rating I did the same thing—delaying the check ride until I had time in the clouds with..." Continue.
EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT AT NIGHT - What’s the difference between flying during the day and flying at night? The simple answer is, pretty much everything. SAFETY - From AOPA - " Ernest Hemingway said it a lot better: “The things of the night cannot be explained in the day, because they do not then exist.” Night flying is really IFR flying, and we need to use all of our IFR skills to assure safety during nighttime ops.
In the last few articles, we’ve been talking about our most important physical sense, our vision, and how visual illusions can lead us astray. In the dark of night, when we can’t see outside the cockpit, the risks..." Learn More About this Here.
It started with early visionaries—and that ready source of capital—but it attained legendary status because of entrepreneurs by the names of E.M. “Matty” Laird, Lloyd Stearman, and Walter Beech—and supported by oil men like Jake Moellendick. The trio toiled together for the E.M. Laird Airplane Company—Stearman on drafting aircraft plans and Beech on sales—until Laird left in 1923. After a few more fits and starts, in 1924, Stearman..." Continue Here.
Preventing Takeoff Emergencies - From Aviation Safety Magazine - "One of the easier maneuvers we must perform carries a high level of risk and very few opportunities to practice the associated emergencies. - One thing that surprised me at the time was how much I was allowed to do right off the bat. I was allowed to crank the starter, taxi out, even take off! Taking off is truly one of the joys of flying, and I think I was set down this path as soon as those wheels left the ground. In hindsight, the Certified Flight Instructor was assuredly right there on the controls with me through the whole thing. Still, how quickly was it before you were taking off without instructor assistance? For those instructors out there, when did you feel comfortable letting go of the reins with a new student during takeoff?" Takeoff Commentary Here.
Aero Club Luncheon Remarks - Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen - addresses FAA PLANS for Future Aviation
The Aero Club of Washington is an historic aviation club, founded in 1909 in Washington DC, with the mission of providing a forum for the discussion and advancement of aviation and aerospace. - THE AREO CLUB FOUNDATION - Established in 1995, the Aero Club Foundation of Washington’s mission is to foster interest in the principles and development of aviation, aeronautics and the science of aerodynamics by establishing and sponsoring educational programs at public and Charter schools in the District of Columbia, is carried out in a variety of meaningful initiatives. Mr, Billy Nolan's Keynote Speech (November 17, 2022) follows:
"Thank you, Jana [Denning]. Good afternoon, everyone. It’s good to see so many friends and colleagues.
Before I get started, I want you to look around the room at all of the familiar faces. We get together on a pretty regular basis, and it’s always great to catch up with one another. But I have a question for you: How many new faces do you see?
The reason I ask is because it has to do with the very fabric of aerospace. If you look at the big milestones, most of them started when somebody from the outside threw away conventional wisdom, and dared to try the thing that the established community said could not be done.
Kitty Hawk. The jet engine. Radar. The sound barrier. Apollo 11. The Concorde. And reusable rocket boosters.
Today, we are on the cusp of another new era — drones, electric air taxis and other kinds of innovations that promise a future where Science Fiction is more like Science Fact.
But we’ll never make the next Big Leap unless we set a place at our tables for the disruptors, the ones outside asking “Why can’t we do it this way?”
I know that sounds pretty funny coming from the FAA, where we find a lot of comfort in moving deliberately and incrementally. Air travel has never been safer, right? Why change!
It’s true — the Jet Age shrunk the world. It’s been a great age, but it is a loud and polluting one, and one that brought massive opportunity to many, but not to all, and not equally.
I get it. Change is always uncomfortable. But in aviation, nothing ever moved forward without someone challenging the status quo.
My challenge to us today is that we must commit ourselves to thinking differently, so that we can make REAL breakthroughs. Breakthroughs that will unlock solutions to our toughest challenges … including the ones we’re not even aware of today.
How do we make the safest mode of transportation in human history EVEN SAFER, when the risk of a fatal accident is already so low? And while we do that, how do we make this system more efficient, equitable, and sustainable? These are the things we must work together to achieve.
But making this happen requires us to think about – not just what’s on the horizon – but what’s beyond the horizon. Or to use a term that’s become familiar in recent years — “what’s beyond our visual line of sight?”
Let’s take safety. Over the past 25 years, we’ve established a preventive-based approach. Safety Management Systems have been a big part of that, and we need to expand that safety net to manufacturers and charter operators.
What about the new hazards, and new challenges, that are lurking out beyond the horizon?
We have to be able to predict and address these things in advance. Preventive is no longer enough. We need to evolve to a predictive approach to safety. Do we have the tools, talent, and training we need to do that today? Are we sharing this data with the stakeholders who need it?
Within the FAA, we’re building toward using artificial intelligence to yield quality, consistent streams of safety data. For example, we have a new program that gives us a more comprehensive risk picture. It includes a predictive analytics engine that detects possible safety events, combines them with models, and estimates the likelihood that a string of events could lead to an accident.
And when it comes to electric air taxis and advanced drones, how do we move quickly to embrace new technologies when there is simply zero tolerance for an accident?
We know that when the Los Angeles Olympics get underway in 2028, air taxis will be in high demand. We may see some of them in the years leading up, but nowhere near the scale in 2028. All of these Advanced Air Mobility companies will expect to be there.
Our job at the FAA is to make that possible. Next May, we will have an implementation plan that will allow us to match industry’s tempo.
2028 is roughly when the agency’s next Congressional reauthorization will run through. The legislation will be consequential. I know you’ll need to look out for your interests, but the legislation should not be used to entrench the past.
It should accelerate the next era of aviation and take big leaps.
We can no longer think of aviation as a no-fly zone for outsiders. We must engage other industries -- like the 5G network providers. Or the electric utility industry, whose partnership we need to charge eVTOL aircraft.
Sometimes to think differently, we need to leave the past behind. Right now, the FAA is managing essentially three National Airspace Systems. The classic; the modern -- that we have created with NextGen; and the future -- which we need for space vehicles, drones, air taxis and whatever comes at us next. Sustaining, implementing and planning all of it takes resources, and while the crowd is getting bigger, the loaves and fishes remain the same.
So how do we achieve all of this?
We need to think differently, and invite new people to the table.
I’m reminded of a scene in the movie Captain America: The First Avenger.
Steve Rogers – the guy who goes on to become Captain America – is training on an army base with his unit. But he’s the slowest, smallest, and shortest one in the group. One day, they’re out on a long run, exhausted, when they come to a tall flag pole. The drill sergeant tells the trainees that whoever can bring him the flag from the top of the pole doesn’t have to run anymore.
But in 17 years, no one’s ever been able to get that flag!
Several soldiers tried to climb up the pole – none of them could get even halfway up. But then Steve Rogers thinks about the problem differently. He pulls the pin holding the pole up. When the pole falls to the ground, he retrieves the flag. Victory!
What I just related, is not a story about a comic book hero. It’s a story about how sometimes we find solutions when we THINK differently. And that sometimes that thinking comes from people you’d least expect.
Look at me. I grew up in a small town in Alabama. And look at where I’m standing now. I fell in love with aviation when I heard the sound of a rotor in the distance. I became a helicopter pilot in the Army. Then I became an airline pilot and went on to become an airline safety executive. Now, I’m in this room.
And speaking of being in the room, I want to acknowledge the high school students who are here today. I’m proud of you for being here. You made your interest in flying known. And you got the right people’s attention. That’s why you’re here.
And when you’re in the room, you get a chance to make a difference.
I want to thank Aero Club for having them hear, and for supporting young people with scholarships and through your Runway program.
We want the best, brightest, most diverse group of people to be in the room. This room!
But if we keep seeing the same faces here – luncheon after luncheon – then we’re limiting ourselves.
I’ve got news for you: The people who are going to help us solve our toughest challenges are not sitting here today. In fact, they are probably going to be playing Fortnite tonight while their parents think they’re upstairs doing homework!
But it’s possible to reach them now. Take it from us: The FAA went after gamers to recruit them as air traffic controllers. And we went to Tiktok influencers to get the word out.
Turns out when you go outside of the normal circles, big things happen.
We hoped to receive 10,000 applications. We ended up receiving 58,000! Not only was the number the biggest in FAA history, it was the most diverse. We had record-high percentages of Black, Hispanic, Asian and women applicants.
In fact, we have someone with us today who has championed bringing in different voices: Steve Alterman, who will receive the Donald Engen Award. Steve has connected with young people from underserved communities, to prepare them for skilled positions in the aerospace field. He’s also been an advocate for people with disabilities.
And Steve has also been a strong advocate for making flying more sustainable. The climate crisis is the world’s greatest existential threat.
We are attacking it on many fronts – from scaling the development of sustainable aviation fuels, and the development of more fuel efficient aircraft. But fundamentally, the improvements are incremental. Eventually, we will no longer be able to squeeze efficiency from the swept-wing frame.
We need transformational change.
And we need to think beyond the jet engine.
We must seek major improvements to hit our 2050 net-zero goal. Just imagine if we committed the same level of focus to this goal, as we did 25 years ago, when we set out to drive down the risk of fatal accidents within 10 years -- and we DID it.
Sometimes the future can feel far away; it can be hard to sense that urgency. But the Aero Club can’t make the mistake the one in Paris did 120 years ago. The Parisians were comfortable—enamored!—with ballooning.
When Octave Chanute, a French-American engineer warned them that two bicycle mechanics were about to beat them to powered flight, the crowd scoffed, offended that French superiority could be overcome!
By the end of the year, people the world over were talking about what happened on a no-name beach.
If we’re going to seize the promise of this new era in aviation, then we must move with a sense of urgency. We must think in new ways, bring new people to the table, and bring the kind of innovative spirit and integrative thinking that will help us achieve major breakthroughs.
I can’t think of a more exciting challenge.
Thank you."
TIPS FOR FLYING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN - " general aviation trips with young children—particularly children who aren’t yet old enough to express themselves clearly—takes extra planning to keep them safe and comfortable." - "Before taking your little ones on a long trip, try a few short flights to see how they handle being in the airplane, wearing infant or child headsets, etc. Most of the time, children quickly fall asleep with the hum and vibration of the engine, but other times they have needs..." Continue Here.
Best Of The Web: CAF Dallas Crash Early Analysis - VIDEO From AOPA - "AOPA Aviation Safety Foundation VP Richard McSpadden prepared this early analysis video of last week’s CAF fatal B-17/P-63 midair in Dallas. His explanation of how parallel show lines are used to separate mixed types illuminates how such an accident could occur." To watch, Click Here.
How to Avoid Plan Continuation Bias - Research conducted by the General Aviation Joint Safety Committee’s (GAJSC) Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT) work group report suggests that human bias — particularly plan continuation bias — may be a significant factor in CFIT accidents. It’s important for pilots to know how these human biases could negatively influence pilot decision-making, as well as learn how to more effectively manage things that we can control and plan for those that are beyond our control. Learn more here with our latest #FlySafe fact sheet.
Tragedy In Dallas - Paul Bertorelli - "It’s never a good thing when a general aviation accident occupies the lead slot on the evening news on a Saturday night. Or when it consumes five minutes of an abbreviated newscast that aired in the market where I live. But that’s exactly what happened with dramatic coverage of collision between a B-17 and an even rarer P-63 at a Dallas airshow Saturday. There were no survivors among the five aboard the B-17 and the single pilot in the P-63. As is the way of these things, the crash received wide news coverage with video from several angles. You can view it yourself and you hardly need instant YouTube analysis to see what happened. Why it happened awaits further investigation. - The question that always occurs to me after every airshow crash—and they’re not exactly rare—is this: Are these..." Continue Here.
The Lost Art of Circling - Webmaster; I have included this article from Aviation Safety Magazine here as many refer to circling approaches as a dangerous way to spend your time, and those folks might term this pro-circle position as controversial - "With the rise in quality and quantity of GPS approaches, especially at smaller airports, the beloved circling approach is becoming an infrequently used maneuver. That’s a shame, since circling to a preferred runway after breaking out on an approach can help resolve many challenges in the IFR environment. Having the confidence to circle is one more arrow in your quiver for that dark and stormy night." Continue Here.
Press Release: WHITEMAN AIRPORT OPPOSITION GROUPS NEED A BETTER CRYSTAL BALL! - LOS ANGELES, CA – Some of the airport closure advocates present during CAC presentations say that they want representation and justice for a neighborhood that deserves better. For them, closing a valuable enterprise that provides jobs, education, and community services, in the Pacoima area is their answer. Recently their airport noise concerns were not substantiated by the now-concluded study. The new FAA acceptance of both 94UL and 100UL unleaded avgas should pummel their concern with regard to leaded Avgas. But the future is greater than presently addressed, and has been ignored. Whiteman airport may be an important gateway to the next generation of neighborhood development. As published by NBAA:
“Washington, DC, Oct. 18, 2022 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) welcomed President Biden’s signing into law this week of the Advance Air Mobility Coordination and Leadership Act, which will promote policies, procedures, and programs to support the integration of this emerging aviation sector into America’s transportation infrastructure.
Advanced air mobility (AAM) is an air transportation system that moves people and property by air between places using electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, in local, regional, intraregional, rural, and urban environments.
AAM utilizes aircraft ranging in size from single-passenger vehicles to large shuttles to make cities, underserved communities and geographically distant regions more accessible.”
NASA, Major Airlines, our Armed Forces, and big business have invested millions of dollars toward this next-generation air travel potential. Contracts and plans for thousands of eVTOLs are inked and scheduled. Private industry and government planning agencies are in motion. The question is, do the organizations that feel Pacoima deserves better, also feel that they deserve to be left behind? Should Pacoima erase the already existing Whiteman Airport pathway to the future that will allow their neighborhood to join with the rest of LA, and participate in the transportation and blossoming economic future?
Those that don’t recognize the onset of the sustainable transportation era, and the support for and the benefits of future economic development need to seriously consider shopping for a new crystal ball. - SCAUWG.ORG
An OPEN LETTER to CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS and to CONGRESSMAN TONY CARDENAS
New Data, A New Time - Whiteman Airport Shouldn't be Under Siege!
LOS ANGELES, CA - Whiteman Noise Study Revealed - A New Perspective - An Open Letter to Elected Officials
"Whether we are a father or a friend or a community leader, we need to make sure that we are impeccable with our words and that we constantly be mindful of what we say and always try to be loving and caring with everything that we say," Congressman Tony Cardenas
"City Hall hits a New Low. Is this a Turning Point?" LA Times.
SCAUWG.ORG, the aviation safety website operated on behalf of the Southern California Airspace Users Working Group, is issuing this open letter to Los Angeles Council Members and to Congressman Cardenas and asks that they should no longer be moved in the direction City Council previously determined regarding Whiteman Airport.
Whiteman Air Park was established in 1946, and purchased by LA County in 1970. City zoning has allowed building residences and businesses right up to the airport boundaries. Ironically, the LA County owned airport is blamed by city closure supporters for it's proximity to residents. Now is the time for unity, not division in Los Angeles, now is the time for real community service, for community resident support, and not community misrepresentation, or political jockeying. Now is the time to take advantage of the local airport already in place, to reap it's obvious benefits, and to plan future enhancements that will multiply it's value for the neighborhood.
The recent Whiteman noise study results appeared to disappoint two vocal community organizers that promote airport closure. One, who has been aided by a City Councilwoman with a real estate background, already has plans rendered for airport closure and land development. SCAUWG.ORG wonders if implementing those plans might promote future area gentrification, and as a result, force current residents from their homes.
The second closure advocate initially called for the expensive noise study to be done again after hearing that there is no real noise to hear! The result as reported: Out of over 17000 Pacoima residential units, only 335 (less than 2%) are qualified for noise relief services under the part 150 process.
Additionally, the railroad noise from the tracks that closely parallel Whiteman's runway, and train whistles (both appear much louder than the aircraft) were not requested to be evaluated, and neither was a study evaluating noise resulting from busy San Fernando Road which parallels the runway. Nor were any noise restrictions upon rail and road traffic requested at the recent Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting when the noise study results were announced, but a nighttime curfew was proposed by closure advocates for the airport, who were dismayed when the consulting firm expert revealed data that indicated only a voluntary curfew might be feasible.
Now those who may be biased against the airport whilst purporting to represent the local residents have a possibly uncomfortable choice to make. They can either support pursuing the Part 150 soundproofing for those units located very close to the airport that experience a sound level a little over the acceptable 65 Db, or they can choose to not pursue the relief, pursue closing the airport, and leave the current residents subjected to the noise that the anti-airport advocates have complained about for years, as Whiteman cannot be closed any time soon due to the County's previous acceptance of Federal Airport Improvement Grants.
Closure advocates may be disappointed on the pollution front as well! Not only are aircraft LESSOR POLLUTERS than San Fernando Rd Diesel trucks right now (EPA 2007- citing more lead is located near freeways than at KWHP), a fact not accented by those who refer to that report, but GAMI 100 Octane UNLEADED fuel (Just FAA approved) is being looked into for KWHP. That fuel would replace the 100 Low Lead fuel currently in place, hence, it is possible that within a reasonable time period there may be no lead argument at all that those who claim pollution can advocate.
Finally, airport operators do not cause accidents. Think of a car low on gas with the driver knowing that there is a gas station a few blocks ahead. The driver continues toward the gas station, but the car runs out of fuel and slows. The car then gets hit by a vehicle following behind it. Does anyone conclude that the gas station should be closed? However, that is essentially the argument critics point to who accuse Whiteman Airport as a threat instead of a refuge, because a pilot experiencing mechanical difficulties in 2020, tried to reach Whiteman Airport, but failed to do so.
To our elected officials: SCAUWG.ORG is hopeful that you will be able to review your positions regarding Whiteman. Include Pacoima and Whiteman Airport in the healing process, and work together, not for personal interest, but for community interest.
The "privileged few" (those closure advocates criticize for having an aircraft at KWHP) are really those that live within easy airport access and take advantage of the community perks the airport offers. EAA Chapter 40 even invites area youth to help build an airplane that they will fly when completed! They offer free flying for youth monthly as well! The EAA Young Eagles program has flown over 9000 free flights at Whiteman.
These examples do not even begin to touch upon the KWHP Air Explorers program, Glendale Community College's aviation program, the local jobs, aviation training and the GA flight community, the search and rescue facilities, the firefighting headquarters, the police activity facilitated, the public press helicopter support, the financial benefit for area businesses, plus the monthly free aviation safety programs sponsored by the FAA Safety FAASTeam, and more.
To find out more about aviation safety and airspace education, you are invited to join us at www.scauwg.org
To listen to the recent noise study report, you can access it at https://www.reenvisionwhitemanairport.com/resources - SCAUWG.ORG