Email List

Amidst pleas by various camps in favor or against the landing fees at Santa Monica Airport (SMO), David Goddard, chair of the Airport Commission, spent five minutes speaking to the council about the agreements that govern one of the City’s most controversial pieces of real estate.

News, City Council, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Paving Improvements Approved For Santa Monica Airport

Posted May. 3, 2013, 9:24 am

The pavement at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) is about to be upgraded, as the Santa Monica City Council approved at its Tuesday special meeting a contract for almost $700,000 to repave the airport’s runway and runway; parking lot improvements are also included in the expenditure.

Pilots who land at Santa Monica Airport will soon have to pay $5.48 per 1,000 pounds of aircraft when touching down. That rate could go up to $5.89 per 1,000 pounds of aircraft by 2016.

News, City Council, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Santa Monica Airport Landing Fees To Increase

Posted May. 3, 2013, 8:55 am

Landing at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) will be more expensive, as the City Council approved at a special meeting Tuesday night a resolution increasing the landing fee for all aircraft touching down at the airfield.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Two Cessna 172s That Collided Mid-Air Departed From Santa Monica Airport

Posted May. 1, 2013, 10:30 am

Both planes that crashed into each other mid-flight above the Santa Monica Mountains on Monday afternoon took off from Santa Monica Airport.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Pilot Who Took Off At Santa Monica Airport Killed In Mid-Air Cessna 172 Crash

Posted Apr. 30, 2013, 9:40 am

At least one of the two planes that crashed into each other mid-flight above the Santa Monica Mountains on Monday afternoon took off from Santa Monica Airport.

News, City Council, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Anti-Airport Advocates To Urge Council To Let 1984 SMO Agreements Expire

Posted Apr. 19, 2013, 9:35 am

Anti-airport advocates are preparing for their first formal interaction with City Council members who will decide the fate of Santa Monica Airport (SMO) when its current contract with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expires on June 30, 2015.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Community Groups To Host Santa Monica Airport Forum April 27

Posted Apr. 11, 2013, 10:42 am

The Venice Neighborhood Council and the Mar Vista Community Council will hold a joint forum on the effects of the Santa Monica Airport (SMO) on Los Angeles residents later this month.

“Now Boarding: Fentress Airports The Architecture of Flight” is the first-ever, multi-media exhibition examining the changing state of airport architecture and design.

Museum, Seven Days, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

LAX Tom Bradley Terminal Stars In Santa Monica Museum Of Flying Exhibit

Posted Apr. 3, 2013, 9:13 am

The first international museum exhibition of airport architecture, "Now Boarding: Fentress Airports + The Architecture of Flight," opens to the public Thursday at the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Santa Monica Airport Air Traffic Control Tower To Stay Open For Now

Posted Mar. 22, 2013, 1:49 pm

The future of Santa Monica Airport’s air traffic control tower hangs in the balance despite it not being included in the list of 149 federal contract towers (FCT) that will close beginning April 7, according to the Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Santa Monica Airport's tower has been identified as a possible closure.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Anti-Airport Groups To Congress: Close Santa Monica Airport Control Tower

Posted Mar. 8, 2013, 8:38 am

Two anti-airport groups have written to the area’s federal representatives in Congress to push for the closure of Santa Monica Airport’s (SMO) air control tower. The letter, dated March 3, written on behalf of the Citizens Against Santa Monica Airport Traffic (CASMAT) and Sunset Park Anti-Airport, Inc., (SPAA) also sought the cessation of FAA funds to the airport.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport, Smo

Santa Monica Airport Tower May Be Shut Down By Feds

Posted Mar. 1, 2013, 6:42 am

With nearly $600 million in budget cuts pending due to this week’s sequestration in Washington, D.C., the air traffic control tower at Santa Monica Airport (SMO) may be shut down, according to a letter issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

News, Museum, Santa Monica Airport

Santa To Fly Into Santa Monica Airport Sunday In Vintage World War II Bi-Plane

Posted Dec. 6, 2012, 12:38 am

The Santa Monica Museum of Flying has confirmed the filing of a flight plan for this Sunday, Dec. 9 by a pilot named Kris Kringle, otherwise known as Santa Claus, flying a vintage World War II bi-plane.

Several City Council candidates suggest eliminating 2,000 feet of the western runway at Santa Monica Airport so jets would not be able to fly in and out. This report is the final of four parts examining some of the issues related to SMO.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Grappling With SMO: No Direct Flight Plan To An Easy Solution

Posted Sep. 28, 2012, 1:17 am

Santa Monica Airport (SMO) is certainly a lightning rod of an issue for residents both within Santa Monica city limits and in neighboring communities such as Mar Vista, Venice, and Pacific Palisades. One thing is for certain: no matter the final verdict of the airport’s fate, there will be those who will be unsatisfied with the result.

A seminar will be held by the City of Santa Monica as a part of its continuing effort to enhance Santa Monica Airport’s compatibility within the community by exploring new and emerging noise reduction technologies.

Seven Days, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Aircraft Silencer Technology Seminar Saturday Morning At Museum Of Flying

Posted Sep. 21, 2012, 11:00 pm

An Aircraft Silencer Technology Seminar will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Museum of Flying today (9/22).

Santa Monica Airport Open HouseSaturday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Airport Drive between Centinela and WalgroveFree admission, parking, and bike valet

Seven Days, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

What's Hot: Santa Monica Airport Open House This Saturday, September 22

Posted Sep. 21, 2012, 1:56 am

Explore Santa Monica Airport at its second annual free Open House this Saturday (9/22) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will have free admission, parking, and bike valet.

The annual operation of the Santa Monica Airport campus includes 177 different aviation and non-aviation businesses spread across 42 different industry sectors. This is part three of four of The Mirror’s special report.

News, Business, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Can Santa Monica Airport Be A Benefit To The City?

Posted Sep. 21, 2012, 1:30 am

As the debate continues about whether Santa Monica Airport (SMO) should be shut down or continue operating as is, one thing is for certain: what happens in the next 30 months will determine whether or not City Hall may potentially be engaged in a litigious battle with the federal government.

In 2010, Santa Monica Airport reported 12,583 jets flew in and out of the airport. This is part two of four in The Mirror’s special report examining SMO.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Looking Ahead By Looking Back: Examining Santa Monica Airport

Posted Sep. 14, 2012, 12:30 am

As residents and city leaders alike grapple with deciding the ultimate future for Santa Monica Airport (SMO), there is a maze of information to navigate before anyone can determine whether or not the aviation facility should remain open as is, be abridged into a smaller operation, or shut down completely.

All 15 Santa Monica City Council Candidates, including two incumbents, have been invited to give their thoughts on Santa Monica Airport.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Santa Monica City Council Candidate Forum Tonight To Focus On Airport

Posted Sep. 13, 2012, 1:31 am

Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution (CRAAP) hold its fifth consecutive Santa Monica City Council Candidates Forum tonight, Sept. 13, with the focus solely on Santa Monica Airport and issues such as air pollution, noise, health, and safety.

Santa Monica Airport will open its doors to the public on Saturday, Sept. 22 at its Open House event.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Santa Monica Airport Open House Set For September 22

Posted Sep. 13, 2012, 1:17 am

Explore Santa Monica Airport at its second annual free Open House next Saturday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Aircraft Silencer Technology Seminar To Be Held In Santa Monica On September 22

Posted Sep. 8, 2012, 2:08 am

The public, pilots, and aviation administrators are invited to a free Aircraft Silencer Technology Seminar on Sept. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Santa Monica Museum of Flying.

The Mirror’s four-part special report will examine Santa Monica Airport’s future and will include perspectives from airport officials, citizens, the City Attorney’s office, council members, and other leaders.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

The Future Of Santa Monica Airport: 2015 Is Almost Here

Posted Sep. 7, 2012, 1:43 am

This November, Santa Monica voters will have more at stake than deciding who is best fit to significantly alter the course of America’s economic, social, and political future for the next four years. With four Santa Monica City Council seats up for grabs and two council members not seeking reelection, who voters select to represent them at City Hall these next two years will directly influence the future of Santa Monica Airport (SMO).

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Council Candidates To Discuss Santa Monica Airport Issues At Sept. 13 Forum

Posted Sep. 4, 2012, 4:53 am

Issues focusing on Santa Monica Airport's air pollution, noise, health, and safety issues will be discussed when Concerned Residents Against Airport Pollution (CRAAP) hold its fifth consecutive Santa Monica City Council Candidates Forum on Santa Monica Airport issues next week.

A sketch courtesy of Gavin Scott depicting what could be if SMO finally closes down.

Opinion, Letters To The Editor, Santa Monica Airport

Envisioning Santa Monica Airport If It Finally Closes Down: Letter To The Editor

Posted Sep. 1, 2012, 11:00 pm

Dear Editor, If the Santa Monica Airport is finally closed down I propose it should be converted into an urban forest, the asphalt replaced ...

Police cars and firetrucks block the road along Mississippi Ave. and Westwood Blvd. in West Los Angeles after a small plane crashed in the neighborhood.

News, Santa Monica, Santa Monica Airport

Authorities Identify Pilot Who Fatally Crashed Friday After Taking Off At SMO

Posted Aug. 12, 2012, 4:34 am

The pilot who fatally crashed Friday night after taking off from Santa Monica Airport has been identified as 70-year-old Sean M. McMillan, an attorney at a large Century City law firm, according to according to Ian Gregor, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Advertise With Us

For the best in Santa Monica advertising opportunities, click here!