NBAA’s battle over the January deal between FAA and the City of Santa Monica has bigger stakes than trying to keep Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO) from shortening its runway and perhaps closing.

“One of the primary reasons we’re doing it is to make sure no other local jurisdictions follow the same path,” NBAA COO Steve Brown told the Greater Washington Business Aviation Association (GWBAA) June 1. Speaking during today’s GWBAA’s annual safety standdown, Brown said that while the SMO saga is not new, NBAA is concerned that localities are increasing efforts to control airport access and airspace. Not long ago, airports were considered part of a system that served both local communities and a broader common interest. But that’s changing.

“Increasingly, local officials tend to view the common interest from the perspective of the city or district they’re elected from,” he said. "They have a different perspective of what common interest is when it comes to aviation. They like the idea of curfews and access restrictions.”

While NBAA and other national organizations won’t stop advocating, Brown says it is more important than ever that local stakeholders like GWBAA make their voices heard. Political leaders “need to hear from us,” Brown said. "There are plenty of voices on the other side. It’s important that we have local campaigns.”

GWBAA's 11th annual standdown drew about 100 attendees and 10 exhibitors to NTSB's Ashburn, Virginia training center. The event also highlighted the latest training trends, the FAA's shifting compliance philosophy and data's growing role in risk mitigation.