"Airspace problems could kill Imperial airport plan"

Tuesday, October 4, 2005

Airspace problems could kill Imperial airport plan
The San Diego (CA) North County Times


Airspace problems that could cause major flight detours may force the San
Diego County Regional Airport Authority to abandon a proposal to build a
regional airport in the Imperial County desert.

Restrictions over a military base in Imperial and over nearby Mexico could
push flights hundreds of miles off course before landing at the proposed
airport, said Angela Shafer-Payne, who is overseeing the search for a new
regional airport. 

Proponents of putting a new airport in Imperial County say such restrictions
are commonly worked out by aviation officials and shouldn't keep the region
from building an air hub there.

The airport authority is charged with finding an airport site to replace or
expand downtown's Lindbergh Field, the which is projected to become
overcrowded in the next decade.

One of the nine possible airport locations is in the Imperial County desert,
more than 100 miles east of San Diego. Proponents of that site have pushed
for the construction of a high-speed train to transport San Diego County
passengers to and from the airport.

The authority is still studying the Imperial County site and will bring
information about airspace restrictions to its board on Monday, Shafer-Payne
said.

Nine possible airport sites have been identified, including local military
bases and a location in the East San Diego County desert town of Campo. The
authority won't study the military possibilities until after the government
finishes a new round of base closures later this year.

Imperial County airport supporters include Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego,
whose congressional district includes Imperial County.

Filner called the airspace restrictions a "red herring" being used by people
who don't want a regional airport outside of San Diego County.

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