It Doesn’t Take a Rocket Scientist to Pick Airport Site
A consultant’s draft report on the economic viability of Lindbergh Field shows what many people have been saying for some time now: the airport issue should not be viewed as a “NIMBY” (Not In My Back Yard) issue, but instead from an economic perspective. Lindbergh’s expansion capacity will “max out” while traffic demand continues to increase future.
The airport study has moved in a predicted direction. There are really only three possible sites for an airport within San Diego County, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the most logical alternative. There’s Otay, Miramar and Lindbergh. There is simply no other close-in land available unless we were to look at an offshore site, but there are apparently severe environmental concerns with that option.
The logical site for San Diego’s regional airport is at Otay Mesa. Whether binational or strictly on U.S. property, Otay makes the most sense from a variety of perspectives.
- Land is available now. It won’t be available in less than two years, as houses and industrial buildings will cover the property from corner to corner.
- We have an opportunity to preserve an airport area that will allow continued expansion into the middle 21st Century.
- Microwave Landing System technology is now available that can guide approaching airliners, dismissing any geographic concerns to the east of Otay.
- Departure patterns can be structured to make a minimal impact on residents of the South Bay.
- And, last but not least, the job opportunities of a major airport in the South Bay far outweigh the same benefit that could be realized if the land were developed for other purposes.
Miramar is the keystone to the San Diego military community. The Navy contributes well over $1.2 billion to the San Diego economy each year.
Without Miramar, the majority of San Diego’s military mission would be affected, potentially causing a major disruption to San Diego’s stable economy. Miramar cannot be touched, and the Navy will not move.
Lindbergh Field should always remain a viable commuter airport. It cannot, however, extend into the 1990s as San Diego’s only airport, let alone into the 21st Century. Even if its 480 acres were expanded to 700-800 acres by acquiring the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, the facility would still be severely constrained in the near future. The proposed Otay airport would include 4,000 to 6,000 acres, providing an appropriate buffer zone.
There are a few other points worth mentioning:
- Advocating a new airport at Otay for traffic growth is not intended to stimulate the economy, but simply to maintain forecast growth, increased tourism and exports of manufactured goods from San Diego and the Tijuana maquiladora industry.
- In 1987, more than 60% of the total exports from California were by air--and this number is increasing. Exports from both our manufacturing-service industries and Tijuana’s fast-growing maquiladora industry require unconstrained air transportation. We can’t afford to remain tied to Los Angeles and its worsening transportation situation.
- In 1978, a U.S. News & World Report article said Los Angeles International Airport was the third busiest in the United States, with 10.8 million passengers. San Diego is at that figure today--only 11 years later.
Those saying Lindbergh can handle all of San Diego’s aviation demands with a remodeling job are simply looking out for their own special interests and ignoring reality and the region as a whole. They are attempting to stall this issue another 10 years, when our options will be zero.
What they should be saying is keep Lindbergh, and build an airport for the future--an airport that will carry us through the 21st Century. Please don’t pass the problem on to me and my kids.
