Right now, two towns on opposite sides of the U.S. are fighting to restrict business jet access at their local airports. On Florida’s Gulf Coast, Venice Airport is under siege; on the West Coast, it’s Santa Monica (Calif.) Airport that’s on the defensive. Although the two towns are going about their efforts differently, each has its airport in its sights and has already started shooting.
The town of Venice has steadfastly refused to allow the FBO on the field–Venice Jet Center–to build more hangars, fearing these would attract more jet traffic. And despite the FAA repeatedly decreeing that Venice allow the hangars, the city has rebuffed the FAA’s authority and spent armloads of taxpayer money in lawyer fees to fight the agency’s ruling.
Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group. He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion, the student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot magazine, he joined AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.
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