SANTA MONICA AIRPORT

(Redirected from Clover Field)

'Santa Monica Airport' , also known as 'Santa Monica Municipal Airport', is a general aviation airport located in the heart of the residential community of Santa Monica, California, United States. The airport is located approximately six statute miles north of LAX and one mile east of the Santa Monica Bay (Pacific Ocean). Van Nuys Airport is 12 miles to the north. The airport has a control tower and, on average, handles 400-500 operations a day - which includes 18,000 jets per year (up from 1,000 per year since 1984).[1]
Originally called ''Clover Field'', the airport was the home of the Douglas Aircraft company. The first circumnavigation of the world by air took off from and returned to Clover Field in 1924.
Three restaurants are on the airport property; ''The Hump'' and ''Typhoon'' both have runway views and ''Spitfire Grill'' is across an airport street with no view of the runway. The ''Museum Of Flying'' at the airport houses a collection of historic aircraft. It is currently closed while a new facility is built on the North side of the airport and is expected to re-open in late 2007 or early 2008.
The City of Santa Monica recently opened an 8.3-acre public park on non-aviation lands at the southeast corner of the Airport. The new park, known as Airport Park[2], features a synthetic turf soccer field, open green space and an off-leash dog area.

Contents

Pollution

Safety concerns

Noise

Major accidents

Landing fees

References

External links

Pollution

Jet air traffic has skyrocketed in the last decade. As a result, there is now great concern among local residents and assemblymen regarding the substantial decrease in air quality in the neighboring areas. Currently, California Assembly Bill 700 (AB 700) would require the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to study the amount of time that turbine aircraft engines run pre-take-off to help determine the extent of this danger. This bill is supported by residents and environmentalists[3] but opposed by business interests who have a financial stake in the increased airport operations.[4]

Safety concerns

The City of Santa Monica Airport Commission recently voted a proposal to extend the safety perimeter around the runways to protect residences in the event of an aircraft accident (see below). The issue has gained increased attention since the explosion of jet traffic in the past few years - which has increased the likelihood of an accident. However, this proposal places the city at odds with the FAA, which is concerned that a shortening of the existing runway will result in heavier air traffic being diverted to LAX.[5] Balancing issues are airport safety versus regional air traffic concerns. City officials were reported to be surprised at the FAA's position on the matter. "I believe the City was blindsided by the fact that the FAA finds only half the safety (footage) acceptable," said Commission Chair Mark Young. "The only compromise has been on the City's part… yet we have been asked to compromise further." A response from the FAA regarding the passage of this proposal is expected on August 3rd, 2007.

Noise

In an effort to peacefully coexist with the residents that live in the upscale western Los Angeles County the city of Santa Monica has strict noise ordinances[6] that prohibit takeoffs between the hours of 11pm and 7am on weekdays and between 11pm and 8am on weekends as well as other procedures to minimize the noise impact on nearby residents.

Major accidents

★ In 1994, the pilot of a single-engine Piper Saratoga died when a fuel system misconfiguration led to an in-flight engine shutdown. The aircraft stalled in a subsequent 180 degree turn for a forced emergency landing and impacted the ground, which resulted in a post-crash fire. [7]

★ In 2001, an inexperienced pilot rented a Cessna 172 from Justice Aviation at the airport and subsequently lost control of the aircraft over the Pacific Ocean upon encountering dark, instrument meteorological conditions. Three were killed. [8]

★ Later that year, the pilot of a twin-engine Cessna failed to remove the device that locks the control system for parking (to prevent wind damage) and two were killed when the aircraft overran the runway after an unsuccessful aborted takeoff. [9].

★ Game-show host Peter Tomarken and his wife Kathleen died when his Beechcraft Bonanza crashed during climb-out from the airport on the morning of March 13, 2006. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that the aircraft had engine trouble and attempted to turn back [10] before crashing into Santa Monica Bay. FlightAware shows the flight track information and flight map[11].

Landing fees

On August 1, 2005, the Santa Monica City Council implemented a revised landing fee program (Resolution No. 9855) for all transient aircraft (those not based at the Santa Monica Airport) based on a uniform rate of $2.07 per 1000 pounds of Maximum Certificated Gross Landing Weight.
For small aircraft such as a Cessna 172, the cost is roughly $4–6. For a mid-size business jet such as a Lear 45, the price is roughly $40 and for larger aircraft such as a Gulfstream IV, approximately $120.
Since the Santa Monica Airport receives no federal, state or local funding to operate, the landing fees fill the gap between other Airport revenue and the cost of operations. SMO Landing Fee Program

References

★ Santa Monica Airport

★ Runway Safety

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External links

★ Museum of Flying

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