Dear Editor,
As a dual citizen with some love of aviation history, I’d like to keep the confusion from continuing by pointing out that the “Gimli Glider” incident resulted from confusion over the use of metric units ( kilograms / liters ) vs Imperial units ( pounds / gallons ), and didn’t involve US units at all ( which are not the same as Imperial except in name, and were never used in Canada or anywhere else in the world for aviation ).
If the error had been in US to Imperial conversion, or vice versa, the Glider would have never had to Glide at all, as it would have had plenty of fuel on board for the trip.
Sincerely,
Michael Morehouse
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Dear Editor,
I have read the letter from Mr. Davie. He seems like a good person who is interested in community.
As a resident of Venice, I experience that my property stinks of jet fumes. I open my door and it smells like LAX. This is not a homey or appetizing feeling. There are certain local businesses that I frequented a decade ago that I will not go to now, as there are too many airplanes flying too close overhead. The situation has certainly gotten worse, and there is a terrible conflict of interest between the peaceful enjoyment of a residence and the nuisance of air traffic.
Thank you,
Eva Roberts
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Dear Editor,
My family lives close to the east side of the Santa Monica airport. My wife and her parents have lived in this area for over 50 years. The airport was never an issue until jets started using the airport. Personally, I enjoy watching the antique airplanes flying around our neighborhood and most of the private prop aircraft go unnoticed.
There have been numerous small aircraft crashes in our neighborhood and a few deaths, however, I truly believe that it is an unavoidable that someday there will be a major crash of a jet in this area that will be catastrophic. Also, as beautiful as the weather was over the holidays, we were unable to spend time in our backyard due to the stench of jet fumes.
The fumes, noise and safety issues have aroused the anger of the entire community. We have fought the FAA for years over these issues and lost. It now appears that our only recourse is to force closure of Santa Monica Airport in 2015 when the FAA’s steel fisted control of the airport expires.
Jim Plowden
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Dear Editor,
When I learned of the sham that was perpetrated by the Fairview Library manager regarding the the cancellation of the very successful chess program I got very upset. This program has been very popular! Over 3600 gifted kids who have had the enjoyment of playing over 40,000 lesson games will now lose this valuable learning tool! Snuffed out because SM LIBRARY said there wasn’t enough money in the budget. Not enough money!!??
It is my opinion that if the money can’t be found for this then the salaried staff should be directed to help oversee this important program.
Sincerely,
Bob Bradlin
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To whom it may concern,
My son, Miller Moss, has been playing chess at the Santa Monica Library Fairview branch since he was four years-old. The program is superlative- run by chess masters of various ages and backgrounds. It is the only true multicultural experience we have had in Los Angeles; people from the ages of four to ninety, from Los Angeles to Pakistan, to russia, very poor to very wealthy, coming together to play chess- to learn the game and teach the game- a truly unique and beautiful program. My son has learned more about sportsmanship, winning graciously, losing gracefully, strategy, anticipation, and logical consequences at the chess program than he has at his private school or club soccer team. That this self-supporting program would be tossed aside due to laziness and other pathetic excuses is unconscionable. Please contact me to speak further about this and and to hopefully take action to right this egregious misstep.
Thank you for your time,
Emily Kovner Moss
