The Pinocchio Chronicles #6: Palomar, County & FAA, #293

The FAA & County Position

According to the county, a large corporation can force county to expand the McClellan-Palomar Airport (Palomar) runway.

Think about that. If county is correct, Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos or Qualcomm’s president can force about 200,000 Carlsbad, Encinitas, San Marcos, and Vista residents within 4-air-minutes of aircraft using Palomar to endure more noise, air pollution, and traffic -- even though 99% of the Palomar Aircraft would not benefit from a runway upgrade.

No doubt bigwig business can benefit North County. But there is a balance in life. Carlsbad’s adopted-goals include maintaining Carlsbad resident quality of life. County promised Carlsbad a B airport if Carlsbad annexed the airport into the city. (See Carlsbad CUP 172, Conditions 8 & 11).

At some point, burdens outweigh benefits – especially when the main beneficiaries are corporate executives who could, but do not wish to, use San Diego International Airport.

Supervisor Jim Desmond’s (JD) May 5, 2021 Board Statement Explained: A Hypothetical Conversation

JD to Corporate BigWig (BW): We have a great airport in my district, Palomar. You can live in La Jolla and Rancho Santa Fe and fly to China, India, and London from there.

BW: Sounds great but Palomar has a 4900-foot runway. We want 6000 feet.

JD: No problem. The FAA lets pilots go where they want. FAA-rated C and D aircraft already use Palomar. With your flights, county will have enough flights to get FAA runway extension grants.

BW: 6000 feet?

JD: We’ll get there. I’m a pilot. Your $68,000,000 Gulfstream VI can land in 4200 feet.

And with a runway 5800 feet long, the VI has a range up to 7000 air miles (8050 land miles). Using half the maximum fuel, the VI can take off and reach U.S. destinations without 5800 feet.

BW: But we go to China.

JD: Yes, But for those few trips, you can refuel at Lindbergh Field 15 minutes away. And though the Gulfstream VI range is impressive, many foreign destinations would require you to refuel outside California anyway – especially with the fuel safety margins that you need in case you encounter bad weather at the destination airport many hours away.

BW: What about my 6000-foot runway. Even the Palomar Master Plan says only 5800 feet.

JD: Read more closely. We tell the public 5800 feet. But we can add another 100 feet on the runway west end by building the retaining wall that the Master Plan calls for.

BW: How do I know you’ll come through?

JD: The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority just released its 2021 Regional Strategic Plan Implementation report. It targets Palomar as a high end corporate airport.

Just listen to my Board presentations. We can sell the extension as a safety project and get FAA monies. The Gulfstream VI will be the FAA critical design aircraft. The FAA will make us upgrade Palomar to an FAA-rated D airport.

BW: Great information. We’ll remember you.

JD: I’m counting on it.