Other Issues - Santa Monica Airport

Santa Monica Airport

Rep. Waxman has been working closely with the City of Santa Monica, the community surrounding the Santa Monica Airport (SMO), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address safety, noise and pollution at the airport. A particular issue of concern is the absence of a Runway Safety Area (RSA) at the airport.

Chronology

On April 5, 2006, Rep. Waxman and Rep. Jane Harman sent a letter urging FAA Administrator Marion Blakey to install Runway Safety Areas (RSAs) at both the eastern and western ends of the Santa Monica Airport. The letter was sent in response to a January 20, 2006 letter in which the FAA acknowledged the need for safety enhancements at the airport, but only specified proposed RSA changes at the western side of the runway.

April 5, 2006
Letter to FAA Administrator Blakey and the FAA's June 12, 2006 Response

January 20, 2006
Letter from the FAA of Airport and Safety Standards to the Santa Monica Airport Manager

On June 15, 2004, Rep. Waxman sent a letter to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey to request that the FAA conduct a Runway Safety Area (RSA) determination of the existing airport configuration.

June 15, 2004
Letter to FAA Administrator Blakey and the FAA's July 19, 2004 response

On August 26, 2003, Rep. Waxman wrote to Administrator Blakey in opposition to a proposed rule, FAA-2003-15495, to require airports to admit planes up to twice their runway's normal weight-bearing capacity

August 26, 2003
Letter to FAA Administrator Blakey and the FAA's October 6, 2003 response

On November 28, 2001, HAW sent a letter to FAA Administrator Jane Garvey to oppose a proposed rule, FAA-2001-10047, to allow fractionally-owned and charter jets to use up to 85% of runway space rather than the 60% permitted by existing rules.

November 28, 2001
Letter to FAA Administrator Garvey and the FAA's January 28, 2002 response

On December 11, 2000, the FAA Director of the Office of Airport Safety and Standards responded to questions posed by Rep. Waxman's staff during an August 21, 2000 meeting following up on the requests made in Rep. Waxman's May 26, 2000 letter.

December 11, 2000
Letter from the FAA to Rep. Waxman

On May 26, 2000, Rep. Waxman sent a letter to FAA Administrator Garvey requesting that the FAA: (1) designate 1,000 feet of existing runway as a Runway Safety Area to conform with current FAA guidelines on RSA length; and (2) institute an 80 dB maximum noise limit on all arriving aircraft during curfew hours from 11 pm to 7 am on weekdays and from 11 pm to 8 am on weekends.

May 26, 2000
Letter to FAA Administrator Garvey and July 19, 2000 FAA response