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Health & Fitness

Palomar Airport: Will CPA Fly in 2014: the Irony, Blog 61

Whether California Pacific Airlines [CPA] will fly out of Palomar in 2014 interests many North County residents.  Some who would welcome CPA.   Others who oppose increased noise, smog, and traffic congestion on Palomar Airport road resulting from another 500,000 to 800,000 passengers per year in addition to the less than 100,000 annual passengers now using Palomar.  

CPA for several years has unsuccessfully sought an FAA permit to operate at Palomar.  In July 2012, the FAA circulated a draft National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA] study for comment.  The study had many defects, many noted in comments to the FAA. As of January 2014, the FAA has not circulated a revised study.

In November 2013, The Coast News reported that CPA intended to merge with a smaller airline to take advantage of that airline’s FAA certification so that CPA could begin flying out of Palomar.  The Coast News suggested that “this would effectively circumvent the years of setbacks CP Air has experienced …. and FAA …. confirmed that the FAA does allow airlines to do this.”  [CP Air plans merge with existing air carrier, by Rachel Sting, Nov. 7, 2013 The Coast News.]

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Recent Developments

In response to my recent public records request, the County produced letters updating the above information.

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An October 29, 2013 County letter to CPA reported that the County intended to process a CPA permit to operate in 2014.”  A November 12, 2013 County letter to CPA stated:

“In the November 5, 2013 edition of the San Diego Union Tribune, it was reported that CPA ‘has furloughed all employees and suspended operations until it hears back from the federal agency ….”  An article in The Coast News dated November 7, 2013 stated CPA plans to merge with another airline and begin operating Boeing 737 and Embraer 190 aircraft.  However, CPA’s use permit application seeks to operate only the smaller Embraer 170 aircraft at McClellan-Palomar Airport, so County Airports would like to know if these news articles are accurate.”

In other words, the County is frustrated that it is not receiving the information that the County needs to process a permit.  What planes will CPA use?  How big will they be?  How often will the planes fly?  How many passengers will they carry?

The Irony

The County maintains an airports website.  The Board of Supervisors some time ago established the Palomar Airport Advisory Committee [PAAC] to act as a liason beween the County and the community surrounding Palomar.

For the last two years, look at the County website and at the PAAC agendas. You will find little information about proposed CPA operations or Palomar development.

Isn’t it ironic that the public – and even many members of the PAAC -  get more Palomar Airport information from these blogs after public records requests than from the Board of Supervisors or County airport management or from the monthly meetings of the PAAC, the entity allegedly set up to exchange information with the community?

Isn’t it ironic that the County expresses its frustration when it is kept in the dark but tells the public, when the public is kept in the dark:

  • Kimley-Horn Runway extension Study: Don’t worry: you will have future chances to comment on Palomar Airport development.  [County, August 2013 PAAC meeting and September, 2013 BOS meeting.]
  • Palomar Airport Methane-Emitting Landfills: Don’t worry: we have looked at them informally and there is no reason for concern. [County, May, 2013 meeting with Ray Bender.]
  • PAAC Consideration of FAA CPA Environmental Document:  Don’t worry: The public does not need to know whether the law limits PAAC support of a CPA new service before the environmental document is complete.  [County refusal to inform public of rule governing PAAC decisions at or after the 2012 PAAC August meeting.]
Does the County treat the public the way the County wants to be treated? 

 

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