News and Information

 

SANTA MONICA AIRPORT INFORMATION

The FAA has filed for a preliminary injunction to prevent the city from enforcing the ordinance banning Class C & D aircraft from the airport while the matter is in litigation.  A hearing on the preliminary injunction is set for May 15, 2008.  As required by the judicial process, the FAA has filed its application for the preliminary injunction and the City has filed its response for the May 15, 2008 hearing the federal district court.

FAA filing for a preliminary injunction
FAA petition in support of the preliminary injunction


On May 5, 2008, the City has filed its response to the Interim Cease and Desist Order served on the City on April 23, 2008.  In response the FAA has served the City with a Supplemental Interim Cease and Desist Order.
 
FAA's Supplemental Cease and Desist


The FAA issued an Interim Cease and Desist Order on April 23, 2008 and filed an application for a TRO the next day. After receiving notice of the application for a Temporary Restraining Order, the federal government and the City agreed to forestall enforcement of the Ordinance pending the hearing on the Temporary Restraining Order. On April 28, the Judge George Wu issued a Temporary Restraining Order enjoining the City’s Ordinance until the hearing on the preliminary injunction on May 15, 2008.

Temporary Restraining Order granted April 28, 2008


An ordinance banning C and D class aircraft at Santa Monica Municipal Airport to ensure public safety goes into effect on April 24, 2008.  The FAA advised Santa Monica on April 21, 2008 that the city should not enforce the ban pending the outcome of the FAA’s administrative investigation. The ordinance will go into effect as scheduled on April 24, 2008 and the city has submitted a response to the FAA.  The FAA issued an Interim Cease and Desist Order on April 23, 2008.

Read the FAA’s notice to the city and the city’s response
FAA's Cease and Desist Order


Immediately after Council acted to ensure public safety by adopting an ordinance requiring aircraft operations at the airport to conform with FAA design standards for Category A and B aircraft, the FAA issued an "Order to Show Cause", requiring the city to justify and legitimize its runway safety program.  The city responded on April 7 with a 40-page brief and hundreds of exhibits.

April 7, 2007 Press Release - "CITY DEFENDS RUNWAY SAFETY ORDINANCE BY CHALLENGING FAA ORDER"
City's response to the FAA's Order (PDF)
Read the proposal from the FAA (PDF)
Read the City's response to the proposal (PDF)
Read the FAA Order to Show Cause (PDF)