Dear AOPA Member,
We need your voice NOW to help protect the future of Santa Monica Airport (SMO). On Tuesday, July 8th, the Santa Monica City Council will consider a proposal that could shape the future of SMO for the better. This is a pivotal moment, one where your voice and action can make a real and lasting difference.
Here's how you can help:
1. Send an email to the City Council by Tuesday, July 8 at 12:00 PM PT
Urge them to support an evolution of Santa Monica Airport, not its elimination. We've included an email template below, but a personalized message from you can be even more effective!
2. Attend the City Council meeting in person (if you're local):
- Tuesday, July 8
- 5:30 PM PT
- Santa Monica City Hall, 1685 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Let’s show the Council that the aviation community believes in a forward-thinking vision for SMO, one that includes not only flight schools and advanced simulators, but also electric aircraft, STEM education hubs, and green infrastructure.
Email addresses to send to (copy/paste):
dan....@santamonica.gov, lana.n...@santamonica.gov, ellis....@santamonica.gov, barry...@santamonica.gov, caroline...@santamonica.gov, natalya.z...@santamonica.gov, jesse...@santamonica.gov, in...@friendsofsunsetpark.org
EMAIL TEMPLATE: [Copy and paste the letter below into your email or if possible, include a more personalized message]
July 8 City Council Meeting, Item 7: Evolve Santa Monica Airport (USE THIS SUBJECT LINE)
Dear Mayor Negrete and City Councilmembers,
As a member of the aviation community and a long-time admirer of Santa Monica’s historic role in American aerospace, I urge you to consider a path of evolution, not elimination for Santa Monica Airport.
Santa Monica was once the center of the aviation world—where Donald Douglas built the DC-3 and helped win a world war. That same pioneering spirit can thrive again if we seize this opportunity not to close SMO, but to reimagine it for the future.
This is not about preserving the status quo. It’s about leading the next chapter of clean, quiet, community-minded aviation. Electric aircraft, advanced simulators, flight schools, STEM education hubs, and green infrastructure can all co-exist alongside open space—and even a modest amount of thoughtfully integrated housing.
Here’s what evolution could mean: - A world-class STEM education and training center, where Santa Monica students are inspired to pursue science, technology, and flight
- A hub for electric and autonomous aviation, already being tested at SMO and poised to reduce traffic congestion and emissions
- Green space and community access, thoughtfully integrated with aviation infrastructure
- Long-term economic vitality for a city facing major fiscal headwinds
- Continued local control over airport operations and land use after 2028, allowing the City to shape SMO’s evolution in line with community values and future technologies
Santa Monica doesn’t need to pick between a park and an airport. We can build a 21st-century innovation campus—one that honors our history, serves our residents, and inspires future generations.
Please don’t rush to erase our past. Let’s evolve it into something extraordinary.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Aviation Role or Affiliation]
[Optional: Santa Monica Resident / Organization Name]
Be sure to sign your name and include your aviation role or affiliation!
We only have a short window to speak up. With your help, we can shape a bold, balanced future for SMO, one that benefits aviation, education, the environment, and the local community.
Thank you for standing up for general aviation and the future of flight.
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