SMO Runway Safety Areas???

Jet Air Pollution

SMO Runway Safety Areas???

A Closer Look at Santa Monica Airport - Runway Safety Areas

Quoted from the May 9, 2006 - The LookOut News
in regards to the position of Santa Monica on California Assembly Bill AB 2501 (to have the airport record taxi/idle times of aircraft for one year):

Airport Bill Faces City Opposition
"Airport officials counter that there are several airports in the United States that have high volumes of traffic that are in close proximity to neighborhoods, including the Haywood Airport in Northern California."

Which brings us to a comparison of the airports.

First of all, the airport they make reference to is actually: Hayward Air Terminal Airport located about two miles from the San Francisco Bay and is more than 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

What I noticed immediatly was the substantial difference of Runway Safety Areas between the airports.

To the right we have an overview of the two airports.

Hayward Air Terminal Airport

Santa Monica Airport

Now for a closer look.

Hayward Air Terminal Airport

NW: 1,443 feet from white take-off marks to airport border, plus a buffer zone of a golf course of another 700 to 900+ feet. A total safety zone of about 2, 000 to 2,500 feet.

Santa Monica Airport

NE: 175 feet from white take-off marks to airport border (Bundy Drive, Los Angeles).

Hayward Air Terminal Airport

SE: 1,370 feet from white take-off marks to airport border.

Santa Monica Airport

SW: 333 feet from white take-off marks to airport border (23^rd Street, Santa Monica).

I find it very disturbing that the City of Santa Monica would aggressively oppose the collection of data that will give insight into the extent of air pollution from idling jets into the surrounding communities, and yet moves very, very cautiously when addressing the insufficient Runway Safety Area issue.

Martin Rubin

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