SM Airport: Strong and Differing Opinions Among Residents

Recent crashes and noise complaints regarding the Santa Monica Airport have given rise to talk of its shutdown. Some residents, especially those in the Sunset Park area, which is directly under the airport's flight path, are pushing for its closing.

The City of Santa Monica filed a suit against the Federal Aviation Administration last month to gain control of the airport.

"Noise, particularly from pattern flying and jets at [The Santa Monica Airport] is virtually continuous and continues at weekends," Airport2Park co-founder John Fairweather said. "Stress from aircraft noise is a major issue in the adjacent areas."

Fairweather is pushing for the establishment of a large park where the airport currently is. The park would be a tourist attraction, a money-saving tool and a positive addition to the city, Fairweather believes.

"While solving all the other problems," Fairweather said, "removing a major 'blemish' on Santa Monica's 'green' credentials and improving quality of life for the community, a great park would be an invaluable gift to our children for generations to come. We will never get another chance with a piece of land like this. If we throw away this opportunity, it will be a massive failure on our part."

Some citizens are not as eager to shut down the airport, which has been a part of the city since 1917. Bart Everett, a former professional pilot and Santa Monica Airport neighbor, disagrees with the proposal for a shutdown.

"I believe the many and years-old proposals to shut down Santa Monica Airport are born of ignorance, short-sightedness and greed," Everett said.

Everett sees the positive aspects of the airport, and even has person benefits from the airport. Aside from his occasional visits to the airport for leisure, he realizes that the airport can help the entire community.

"The airport is not only a prestigious resource for a city the size of Santa Monica, it is the source of millions of dollars in revenue spent by those who fly into the airport," Everett said. "It is also an important emergency and disaster recovery resource, and it serves as a base for news and some police operations."

According to Congressman Henry Waxman's website, he has been working with the city to increase runway safety, and since Sept. 29's crash of a twin-engine Cessna that killed four people, has been urging deeper investigations of the airport.

"The people of Santa Monica – and especially those living next to the airport – deserve [Michael Huerta of the FAA's] full attention," Waxman wrote in response to the recent crash. "They have been warning for years that the airport is an accident waiting to happen."