Santa Clara County Responds to FAA Informal Investigation

County addresses alleged violations at Reid-Hillview Airport in 12-page letter.

Friday, January 14, 2022 at 03:35 PM ET

Verified

The FAA has launched a Part 13 investigation at Reid-Hillview Airport (KRHV) in San Jose, California. [Courtesy: San Jose Convention and Visitor Bureau]

Key Takeaways:

Santa Clara County is formally refuting allegations from an FAA informal investigation into alleged safety and grant violations at Reid-Hillview Airport (KRHV).
A primary point of contention is the county's ban on the sale of leaded aviation fuel (100LL) at its airports, justified by public health concerns over lead contamination, which the FAA alleges was done without proper approval.
The FAA investigation also addresses concerns about business leases, with aviation groups suggesting the county's actions, such as offering short-term leases, amount to a de facto attempt to diminish the airport's value and operations, despite county denials.

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Officials from Santa Clara County in California are refuting allegations that sparked an informal investigation by the FAA into alleged violations at Reid-Hillview Airport (KRHV). The county responded with a 12-page letter, addressed to Mark McClardy, FAA director of airports division for the Western-Pacific Region.

On December 21, McClardy sent a letter to Santa Clara County, announcing the launch of a Part 13 informal investigation. Under normal circumstances, an entity has 30 days to respond to an FAA Part 13 informal investigation, but McClardy stated that given the seriousness of the allegations made, the FAA was granting only 20 days for a response.