Although the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit, denied a petition from NBAA and others arguing for a halt to efforts to shorten the runway and eventually close Santa Monica Airport (SMO), the court did leave open a window of opportunity regarding the settlement agreement between the FAA and the city of Santa Monica.
In its May 4 order denying the motion from the NBAA and SMO businesses Bill's Air Center and Kim Davidson Aviation, and aircraft operators Redgate Partners and Wonderful Citrus (frequent users of SMO), the appeals court denied the motion for a stay and injunction. NBAA and the other parties had sought to challenge the FAA-Santa Monica settlement agreement allowing the city to close the airport after Dec. 31, 2028 and shorten SMO’s 4,973-foot runway to 3,500 feet. However, the appeals court order, according to NBAA, “also refers the case to a merits panel for further review about the legality of the settlement agreement, in the process deferring the FAA’s motion for dismissal of the review.”
According to NBAA president and CEO Ed Bolen, “This order, which recognizes our call to review the underlying case on the settlement agreement, makes clear that the court holds steadfast on the need for a thorough and fair hearing about this unprecedented situation. For decades, NBAA has pursued all potential avenues for preserving business aviation access to Santa Monica Municipal Airport, and we will continue to exercise every remaining option for doing so.”
Meanwhile, the city said it is moving ahead with plans to shorten the runway. “The city will continue to swiftly implement the terms of the consent decree,” said mayor Ted Winterer, “including shortening the runway, and mitigating health and safety impacts on our neighborhoods while the airport is in operation.” The city now estimates that jet traffic at SMO will drop by 45 percent after the runway is shortened; the work is scheduled for completion in December.