Briefing: April 2017

The general-aviation airport in Santa Monica, California, which has been in place since the 1920s, has long been in contention, as the surrounding area has become densely populated at the same time as the airports importance as a GA hub has intensified. In January, the FAA said it had agreed to end decades of legal wrangling over the airport and close it in 2028, citing safety and environmental concerns. The airport has about 270 resident aircraft and 450 landings and takeoffs a day. NBAA, AOPA, and EAA said they may challenge the agreement. The city plans to turn the 227 acres into a park.

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, March 01, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The FAA has agreed to close Santa Monica Airport in 2028 due to safety and environmental concerns, a decision aviation groups may challenge, with plans to convert the land into a park.
Presidential Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in Florida are causing significant economic disruption and operational difficulties for local general aviation and flight schools.
Autonomous flying taxi technology is rapidly progressing, with Dubai planning public flights by summer using EHang drones, and companies like Uber and Airbus also developing their own prototypes.
The FAA has issued a warning to pilots regarding the increased risk of near-midair collisions near Class B airspace boundaries and stressed the importance of knowing vertical and lateral limits.

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FAA: Santa Monica Airport Will Close In 2028

The general-aviation airport in Santa Monica, California, which has been in place since the 1920s, has long been in contention, as the surrounding area has become densely populated at the same time as the airport’s importance as a GA hub has intensified. In January, the FAA said it had agreed to end decades of legal wrangling over the airport and close it in 2028, citing safety and environmental concerns. The airport has about 270 resident aircraft and 450 landings and takeoffs a day. NBAA, AOPA, and EAA said they may challenge the agreement. The city plans to turn the 227 acres into a park.

POTUS TFRs Affect Florida Operations

Airport operators and flight schools near Palm Beach, Florida, complained in February they suffered economic loss and disruption due to TFRs related to President Trump’s visits to his Mar-a-Lago resort. The TFR essentially shut down busy Palm Beach County/Lantana Airport and disrupted flight training and other GA activities. Lantana is located about 6.5 miles from Mar-a-Lago, which is on a barrier island off the Florida coast. Local authorities and advocacy groups asked the Secret Service for relief, but none was forthcoming. AOPA requested a meeting with the FAA to propose a TFR that would put Lantana in an airspace cutout, but no date was set.