The Pinocchio Chronicles #5: Palomar, County & FAA, #292

Do Longer Runways Make an Airport Safer? ­­­

Why does county hide data?

In 2013, county’s longtime consultant listed Palomar Airport crash risks – even before taking into account the methane gas that could escape from the Palomar Unit3 19-acre landfill a few hundred feet from the runway east end.

Identified risks included: Jet fuel flammable liquid spills; burning of pathogenic substances, radioactive materials, metals, and fiber-reinforced polymer composites of aircraft fuselage and wings; and cryogenic liquid spills, such as liquid nitrogen and liquid helium used as cooling agents to reduce engine temperatures – among others.

Where's the report? County buried it. Though the consultant preparing the report has worked for the county for many years and was clearly well-qualified to write it, county dismissed the report. Want to see it? File a public records request and ask for SCS Engineers Report dated October 15, 2013, File No. 01213281. Or ask me for a copy.

Do the Math

In pre-covid 2016, Palomar had 149,000 (rounded) flights. Of these, 119,000 were less than B-II rated, 8,000 were B-II rated, 4,000 C-rated, and 1,700 D rated. (2018 PMP, Table 3.5)

An FAA A-rated aircraft may carry 100 gallons of fuel and the Gulfstream D-III can carry 6,696 gallons of fuel – 60 times greater. Think firecracker risk v big bomb risk.

Conclusion: An 800-foot longer Palomar runway will attract larger and larger aircraft each carrying 10 to 60 times the fuel as small aircraft and hazardous materials to boot. The Palomar aircraft mix could easily change from 80% small risk (A & B aircraft), 19% medium risk (C aircraft), and high risk (D aircraft) 1% to 30% small risk, 60% medium risk, and 10% high risk.

County’s Own Board of Supervisors Evidence: ARFF, ARFF

Fictional detective Sherlock Holmes solved a missing racehorse case by noting that no one noticed the racetrack watchdog was not barking. In Palomar’s case, listen.

Supervisor Desmond barked loud and clear at the May 5, 2021 Board of Supervisors hearing saying the county needed to make Palomar safe by lengthening the runway, adding EMAS safety systems, and adding an ARFF.

You know, an ARFF – an Airport Rescue and Firefighting Facility. Actually, Palomar has had an ARFF for many years because it is FAA required. But what Supervisor Desmond failed to tell you is what even the FAA knows: As aircraft sizes and use frequency increase, ARFF facilities must meet higher standards because the risks are greater.

Oh, and two more things. With today’s 4900-foot runway, aircraft landing at Palomar from the east have 1000 to 1400 feet to clear El Camino Real roadway traffic that can sometimes be bumper to bumper. After county’s extension, a landing pilot’s safety margin is 200 to 600 feet. Yes, as you drive Palomar, enjoy the landing aircraft 100-feet above your car rooftops.

Number two: Those big aircraft fire, explosion, and gaseous cloud issues that the county consultant identified. They are not just a Palomar crash problem. They are your problem if a Palomar aircraft crashes in your neighborhood. And that spiffy new Supervisor Desmond Palomar ARFF won't be 1 minute away to help you.

So the next time county says a longer Palomar runway makes you safer, ask for the written county analysis discussing the issues above.

And recall that the 2018 Board of Supervisors sidestepped this issue by sending its draft PMP to the San Diego Regional Airport Authority Land Use Commission only a few weeks before adopting the PMP. State law charges that Land Use Commission with analyzing off-airport safety risks when an airport expands.