NBAA Promises to Fight On in Spite of Latest SMO Ruling

The National Business Aviation Association is promising to continue its fight to save Santa Monica Airport in California. But the association is warning operators to prepare for runway closures and construction in the wake of a district court decision to dissolve the temporary restraining order on the city’s plan to shorten the airport’s runway from 5,000 feet to 3,500 feet.

Construction on the runway-shortening project is expected to begin October 23, initially leading to an airport closure to all aircraft, including helicopters, from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. The city is planning, but has not yet set the dates for, a second phase that will entail closing the airport altogether for 10 days. At the end of the second phase, the airport will reopen with a 3,500-foot runway.

Related Article

Federal Judge Grants TRO To Halt SMO Runway Shortening

The judge believes the case against Santa Monica would likely prevail in court.

The decision of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to lift the temporary restraining order proved a setback to the business and general aviation community that has been fighting to save the airport from the city of Santa Monica’s ultimate plans to close it.

“Santa Monica is an important airport in the National Airspace System, and in particular to Southern California,” said Stacy Howard, the NBAA Western regional representative. “Shortening the runway—which essentially denies airport access to a variety of aircraft operators—will have a major negative impact on area residents, businesses, general aviation, and the flying public.”

But Alex Gertsen, NBAA director of airports and ground infrastructure, added that the association is continuing to fight to preserve access, pointing to its lawsuit before the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Court, challenging the settlement agreement between the city and the FAA that paved the way for the runway-shortening project and ultimate closure of the airport at the end of 2028.