12.5.2009

Pilot Group Joins FAA in Battle

The Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association has joined the FAA in a battle with the city of Santa Monica.

In 2008, the city of Santa Monica issued a city ordinance that banned certain jets from its airport. Jets classified as either C or D class jets can no longer use the Santa Monica Airport. Such jets include the Gulfstream and Citation Jets. The ordinance came after fears that a jet may overshoot the runway and crash into residents that live just 300 feet from the runway.

In July 2009, the FAA said that the city has no authority to ban the jets from the airport. The city quickly filed an appeal on Sept. 4. The case is before the United States Court of Appeals and is set to begin in January 2010 with a decision to be made later that year.

The AOPA looks to add a little muscle to the fight with it membership being more than 400,000 strong. “AOPA will bring a national perspective to this most critical issue," said Bill Dunn, the AOPA vice president of local airport advocacy, "The outcome of this case could affect every publicly funded airport in the United States.

Citizen Involved

Mark McLellan, a Santa Monica Resident, was given the Citizen Involvement Award by the Santa Monica police department this past week. The SMPD decided that McLellan was more than worthy of the award after he stopped a bicycle theft in progess over the summer.

McLellan noticed a man leaving his apartment complex early on June 29. This man was not someone McLellan recognized, but the bike the man was walking away with, did ring a bell. The bike belonged to a neighbor of McLellan’s, and upon noticing he jumped into action. First confronting the man, the chasing him down the street and makin a citizen’s arrest while he waited for police to arrive.

SMPD Chief Tim Jackman called McLellan an asset to the community and then added that his “involvement reflects the highest level of citizen participation thereby making the City of Santa Monica a safer place to live.”

Parents Lend a Hand, and an Ear

The Santa Monica and Malibu Unified School district and Parent teacher Association is more than happy to get some help. Last year they implemented a program called the Parent Resource Network. This Network is for parents of special need children within the district.

The program, which calls for two volunteers per school, gives parents access to other parents, that may be more involved or more experienced with special needs children and their education.

Since the program began in 2008, parents have been able to aide each other and share stories and tips regarding their children. Christy Hobart, co-chair of the PTA Councils Special Education Committee, said that before it seemed as if the district wanted to keep parents away from each other. Hobart is a mother of a special needs child, when asked about the new program she said, “They didn't want us talking to one another, sharing stories and tips and advice but it's a new day in the district and I couldn't be happier.”

Currently there are 25 volunteers in the program, with the numbers expected to expand. The plans for the program call for two volunteers at each of the 17 schools in the district.

All of the schools are expected to have a Parent resource Network by the next school year. “Schools can be daunting and people don't understand how it works and may be intimidated," Superintendent Tim Cuneo said. "This is a way for them to have that connection to help them out.”