March 28, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Letter To The Editor: Helicopter Pilots Endorse Initiative To Keep SMO Open:

Dear Editor,

The Professional Helicopter Pilots Association endorses the citizen initiated ballot measure that would put the future of any City actions to change the airport in voters’ hands.

The City Council has demonstrated an unwavering campaign to close the airport over the objections of supporters and numerous failed attempts to abrogate the City’s legal obligations to keep the airport open.

During the March 25, 2014 Council meeting the City Council again reaffirmed its commitment to close the airport no matter the cost, after its most recent loss to the federal government in court.

The city had sued the Federal Aviation Administration to gain control of the property, which was dismissed by the judge presiding over the case. One of many such dismissals.

The PHPA joins with AOPA and airport supporters in their concern that the city fathers will redevelop the airports 227 acres into high density land use thereby increasing traffic and pollution, negatively impacting the people of Santa Monica.

According to a study commissioned by the city and conducted by H R & A Advisors, Inc, Santa Monica Airport generates an economic impact of $275 million annually, is the base of 175 businesses, and provides 1500 jobs within the city, 900 on the airport.

The PHPA is dismayed in this time of economic recession that the city would ignore the airports economic benefits and would work to put people out of their jobs.

The Professional Helicopter Pilots Association (PHPA), based in Los Angeles represents both private and public helicopter pilots and supporters.

The PHPA has had a long-standing commitment to its Fly Neighborly, Safety, and Community Relations programs.

For four decades since 1967, PHPA members have conducted helicopter missions within the L.A. area that serve the needs of the community, such as law enforcement, emergency medical services, aerial firefighting, utility construction & maintenance, as well as support the business community.

The PHPA, along with other leaders in the helicopter industry, have always made safety their number one priority.

Anthony Byrnes

Profession Helicopter Pilots Association

in Opinion
Related Posts

ARB Courage (Part 1 of 2)

March 24, 2024

March 24, 2024

On March 4, 2024, your ARB (Architectural Review Board) ruled in favor of the 521-unit Gelson’s Project at Ocean Park...

SM.a.r.t Column: Can California ARBs Balance Affordable Housing with Community Character in the Face of New Housing Laws?

March 17, 2024

March 17, 2024

By suggestion, I attended the March 4th ARB (Architectural Review Board) meeting that addressed the Gelson Lincoln Boulevard Project.  After...

S.M.a.r.t Column: On the Need for Safety

March 10, 2024

March 10, 2024

Earlier this week, in the dark pre-dawn hours, a pair of thugs covered in masks and hoodies burst into the...

Film Review: The Oscar Landscape 2024

March 7, 2024

March 7, 2024

FILM REVIEWTHE OSCAR LANDSCAPE 2024A Look at the Choices – Academy Awards – March 10, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. on...

S.M.a.r.t Column: Five Saving Historic Santa Monica

March 3, 2024

March 3, 2024

Our beloved City is surrounded by many threats, from sea level rise to homelessness, to housing affordability, to cancerous overdevelopment,...

S.M.a.r.t Column: Gelson’s Looms Large

February 22, 2024

February 22, 2024

Our guest column this week is by SMCLC (the Santa Monica Coalition for a Livable City). SMCLC is a well-established...

S.M.a.r.t Column: Top Toady Town

February 18, 2024

February 18, 2024

Throughout history, from the ancient Romans and Assyrians to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, siege warfare has served as an...

S.M.a.r.t Column: The Sunset of Home Ownership

February 11, 2024

February 11, 2024

We are watching the sunset of our historical and cultural American dream of home ownership as we now are crossing...

SMa.r.t. Column: B(U)Y RIGHT

February 4, 2024

February 4, 2024

“By Right” state housing laws that give developers, in certain projects, the ability to ignore codes ‘by right.’ Well, that...

S.M.a.r.t  Column: Serf City

January 28, 2024

January 28, 2024

Homelessness is a problem in California, and nowhere is this more evident than in our fair city, where the unhoused...

S.M.a.r.t  Column: Bond Fatigue

January 22, 2024

January 22, 2024

Last week’s SMart article,  described two critical problems faced by our Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD): the declining...

S.M.a.r.t Column: Peace on Earth

December 27, 2023

December 27, 2023

We are all, by now, saturated with jingles, holiday cards, “ho ho ho’s,” countless commercial advertisements, and exhortations to feel...

S.M.a.r.t Column: On the Clock with Mayor Brock

December 17, 2023

December 17, 2023

I became Santa Monica’s Mayor on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, following a simple “switch of the chairs” transition with outgoing...

S.M.a.r.t Column: SANTA MONICA CITY COUNCIL 2024

December 10, 2023

December 10, 2023

Position:Seeking Santa Monica City Council Candidate(s) Introduction:Exciting opportunity for the right candidate(s) to work with like-minded Council members committed to...

S.M.a.r.t Column: ARB (NOT Ready to Build!)

December 3, 2023

December 3, 2023

Santa Monica City’s Architectural Review Board (ARB), established in 1974, acts “…to preserve existing areas of natural beauty, cultural importance...