July 8, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica Airport Airspace To Expand Slightly On December 12:

The regulated airspace surrounding Santa Monica Airport (SMO) is set to expand Dec. 12 in order to accommodate aircraft arriving at and departing from the facility, according to the Office of the Federal Register.

Referred to as “Class D airspace,” the federal authorities amended Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations to expand the regulated area above and around SMO from a four-mile radius to 4.6 miles northeast of the airport.

According to the Federal Register, “Expanding the current Santa Monica Municipal Airport Class D airspace reduces those areas that pose a high collision risk to low level commercial, general aviation, military and helicopter operations.”

A search of the Instrument Flight Procedures (IFR) Production Plan for SMO on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website shows seven actions are in the works for the airport through July 2014, including the Dec. 13 airspace expansion.

The amendment was discussed at Monday’s Airport Commission meeting after a Sunset Park resident anonymously sent an email to the council members and the city manager alleging the FAA action would result in a “huge increate of jet traffic” at SMO.

“The current Class D is fine for small planes but is being expanded to handle many more jets, and possibly larger ones,” the anonymous email stated. “This will make Sunset Park utterly unlivable and completely destroy the value of our homes. This is not a rumor.”

In the email, the anonymous writer claims if all seven actions listed on the FAA’s IFR Production Plan are executed, it would result in a “deluge” of large jets at SMO.

“These changes are so major that it appears that the FAA is planning to accommodate hundreds of jets per day,” the email stated.

However, the FAA said expanding the Class D airspace radius has no relation to the level of traffic at SMO or any other airport.

“Increasing the size of the Class D airspace has no bearing whatsoever on the type of aircraft they can use the airport,” Allen Kenitzer, the FAA’s manager of communications and media relations, told The Mirror. “Expanding the Class D will better protect all aircraft arriving at and departing from SMO and transiting through the airspace around it.”

According to the FAA, however, the airspace amendment was necessary for SMO to remain “operationally current.”

The Federal Register noted: “This airspace action is not expected to cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and no extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an environmental assessment.”

Class D airspace, which is cylindrical in shape, ranges from the airport surface to 2,500 feet above ground. The standard radius for Class D airspace is generally four nautical miles. Transponders are not required for Class D airspace, though the aircraft must still have some communication capability on board.

According to the FAA, Class D airspace must be sized to “allow for safe and efficient handling of operations.”

A Class D airspace designation is generally reserved for small airports with an operating air traffic control tower, such as SMO.

Beyond requiring pilots to remain in communication with the air traffic control tower, airports with Class D airspace do not face strict flight regulations as those required for airports with Class B or C airspace.

Most commercial airports are either Class B or Class C airspace. LAX, for example, is Class B while Sacramento International Airport is Class C.

Detailed information of the Class D amendment can be found at federalregister.gov/a/2013-21497.

in News
<>Related Posts

Anti-Drunk Driving Resolution Introduced as City Council Honors Late Palisades Teen Killed in Crash

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Levi, who was set to attend the University of Virginia this fall, was killed by a drunk driver on May...

Free and Reduced Price School Meals Available for Eligible Families in Santa Monica-Malibu District

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Parents in Need Encouraged to Apply, SMMUSD Commits to Nutritious, Accessible Meals By Brandyi Phillips, SMMUSD Chief Communications Officer Santa...

Big Blue Bus to Raise Fares for First Time in Nearly a Decade

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

The fare increase aims to offset rising costs for fuel, utilities, and supplies, according to the agency. The Santa Monica...

Shore Hotel: A Local Destination for Summer Fun

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bring on all things summer. Walking or biking along Santa Monica Pier, you might find yourself taking a pause at...

Santa Monica’s 150th Anniversary to be Celebrated with Vibrant State of the City Event

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, beach chairs, and picnics to enjoy during the performances Santa Monica will mark its...

Soprano Golda Zahra Returns to BroadStage For a One-Night-Only Musical Celebration

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Hailed as “the rising star of the opera world” by The Hollywood Times, internationally acclaimed soprano Golda Zahra makes her much-anticipated return to BroadStage in...

(Video) Hundreds of Drones Light up the Sky for Palisades to Celebrate July 4th

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The Event Marked One of the First Large Gatherings Among Palisadians Since the January Wildfires. The Event Marked One of...

Transform Your Life: The Free Virtual ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT Debuts July 18-20, 2025

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT, a transformative three-day virtual event, is coming, July 18-20, 2025, offering participants worldwide a free opportunity...

Santa Monica Home Defies Convention: Architect Eric Owen Moss Debuts Shape-Shifting Design

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Pistachio-Colored Marvel Boasts Curving Walls, Sharp Angles, and Challenging Design A striking residence in Santa Monica is turning heads with...

Caitlyn Jenner’s Friend and Former Foundation CEO Dies in Malibu ATV Crash

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

ATV Plummeted 350 Feet After Rear-Ending Vehicle in Malibu Sophia Hutchins, former CEO of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation and longtime...

New SaMo Bridge Program Refers 56 People in First Month; 37 Connected to Services

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

According to city officials, the program is on pace to meet its goal of serving 260 individuals annually Santa Monica’s...

Multi-Family Venice Property on Rare Double Lot Lists at Over $5M

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

In total, the four units provide 5,398 square feet of living space A multi-family property located one block from Venice...

Hama Sushi Hosts Weekly Music and Comedy Open Mics

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The venue, a Venice Beach staple since 1979, has recently expanded its legendary happy hour to the entire patio Hama...

Connections Breakfast to Network Local Business Professionals in Malibu

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The event, sponsored by Malibu Country Mart, will feature a breakfast mixer where attendees can meet new contacts  A Connections...

12th Annual Gopher Scramble Golf Tournament to Benefit Venice Heritage Museum

July 5, 2025

July 5, 2025

The museum opened to the public in March 2024 at the Main Street Design Center with its inaugural exhibition, “This...