Santa Barbara airport moves to study private-designed GPS approaches as FAA reduces nationwide maintenance

Santa Barbara Airport Director Haster said at the July 10 Airport Commission meeting that the Federal Aviation Administration has begun reducing the number of instrument approaches it maintains nationwide, and the airport is pursuing a consultant to design standalone GPS approaches for both ends of the runway.

Haster said the consultant would draft approaches for Runway 7 and Runway 25 and could provide minimums comparable to previous instrument landing system (ILS) or GPS overlays. “We have the opportunity to work with a consultant who has a letter of agreement with the FAA to be able to design approaches, and they will actually design standalone GPS approaches to both ends of the airport,” Haster said. He added the approaches could be flight-checked and then published by the FAA, but the FAA may not take over maintenance immediately because of current workload.

Why it matters: changes to who designs and maintains instrument procedures affect all pilots using Santa Barbara Airport, including general aviation, corporate traffic and airline operations during low-visibility conditions. Haster said the designs would be developed with noise-abatement corridors in mind and could reduce diversions or missed flights that some in the general aviation community have reported since recent FAA procedure changes.

Details from the director’s report: Haster also said the FAA will update approach lighting systems at the airport and that some nighttime closures of the main runway are expected through about Sept. 9; he emphasized the work would not affect airline schedules and would not take place on weekends. The airport’s noise working group has been delayed after the tower manager and a close colleague retired; Haster said the consultant’s scope would include coordination with Los Angeles Center where needed.

Commission discussion and related consent items: Commissioners asked for additional details about a consent item to consolidate Above All Aviation’s leases. Greg from the city properties division said the consolidation aligns multiple lease terms into a single term and that the consolidation would reduce leased space but did not have the precise square-foot figure available at the meeting. Commissioners also asked a brief question about use of a small trailer and equipment storage referenced on the consent calendar; staff said it would occupy a small parking area.

Votes at a glance: The commission voted to approve consent calendar items 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13 (motion moved and seconded; voice vote passed unanimously). Item 11 from the consent calendar was approved after a separate motion; the vote passed with one abstention. The meeting record shows one commissioner was excused from tonight’s meeting.

What did not happen: No contract for approach design was approved at the meeting. Haster said the airport attorney reviewed the provider’s agreement and returned it to the provider with suggested edits; the contract remains under discussion and will come back to the commission for later action.

Next steps and context: Haster said the airport will circulate additional information to tenants and stakeholders about runway closures and will bring the design/feasibility work for the approaches back to the commission for further consideration. He also encouraged commission members to consider a virtual training offered by the American Association of Airport Executives; the airport will cover the cost for commissioners who opt in and will send the conference link by email.

Ending: With the consent calendar approved, the commission adjourned after a short meeting.