Santa Monica Runway Shortening To Start October 9

Work to shorten the Santa Monica [California] Airport’s (SMO) sole runway from 5,000 to 3,500 feet will start next month, despite legal objections by the National Business Aviation Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, and others against the Federal Aviation Aministration's settlement allowing this shortening. The FAA settlement also permits the city to close SMO in 2028.

AECOM, the contractor hired by the city to shorten Runway 3/21, will begin the project on October 9 and complete the work by December 30, according to an official notification released last week by the city. During Phase 1, which starts October 9 and ends December 20, the runway will be closed daily from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. while the work is performed. The runway will be closed to all operations during a 10-day Phase 2, which starts December 20 and ends December 30.

The shortening project will curtail business jet traffic by “an estimated 44 percent and reduce large-jet noise and air pollution, improving the air quality for nearby residents,” the city claimed. It also said that the work will add six new taxiways and bring the airport into compliance with FAA safety standards.

However, the Santa Monica Airport Association said the runway already meets FAA safety standards and called claims about improved air quality “highly suspect.” The group is also concerned about AECOM, which “has zero experience with runway shortening projects,” it said.