It should come as no surprise that when a runway is shortened there is a price to pay in terms of safety. After shortening the runway from about 5,000 feet to 3,500 feet, the city of Santa Monica published statistics that show that the closed sections are indeed needed.
Shorter Runway at KSMO Increases Risk
Key Takeaways:
- The shortening of Santa Monica Airport's runway from 5,000 to 3,500 feet resulted in over 40 documented instances in 2018 where aircraft used the closed portions, including two emergency landings, highlighting a significant safety concern.
- Most incidents involved non-KSMO based piston singles, which used the closed sections for landing short, departing from, or other runway excursions, with these events reported as potential FAR violations.
- The city's plan to destroy the inactive runway pavement and hydroseed the area is currently delayed due to bids exceeding the allocated budget, while the FAA has already authorized the airport's full closure in 2028.
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