County Issue / Commercial Flights to...
Guy Wysinger
President, Ventura Chamber of Commerce
We have been on record for a number of years for support of a commercial airport in Ventura County, one that can handle large carriers. We are pleased that new discussions have begun and that the Navy but initiated them. We also believe it would be a major benefit to tourism for the city of Ventura and the county of Ventura. Many large and small businesses have not been able to consider Ventura County because they cannot fly in for conventions and major gatherings of their people. I would think with a population of 600,000 in the county and our location, we would not have difficulty getting the major airlines to strongly consider bringing flights to our area. The chamber is aware there are concerns in Camarillo with flight patterns in inclement weather, but we feel those can be addressed positively. We feel that a partnership between public and private or military and business is a win-win situation.
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Andy Prokopow
Member, Environmental Coalition of Ventura County, and a Navy civil service engineer at Point Mugu
That 11,000-foot strip is pointed (northeast) toward the head winds of the Santa Anas. As a result, whenever the Santa Anas blow, the landings are from the ocean. The takeoffs would be toward Camarillo, but more than likely after takeoff they would make a right-hand turn over the Santa Monica Mountains before they got to Camarillo. As a result the noise impacts would be minimal. During normal weather conditions, the high-power takeoffs would be over the ocean. The landing approaches would be over Camarillo, but since the engine power would be cut way back, noise would not be a factor. From an economic point of view, I think it would be beneficial for the county because we’re losing a lot of business to Santa Barbara Airport because they can take the jets and we can’t. There are three ecological concerns: traffic, air pollution and noise. But I think they could be adequately mitigated. You’d have to widen Las Posas (Road) to four lanes as an absolute minimum. That’s the way I see it.
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Manuel Lopez
Mayor, Oxnard
I think there will be enough business. I don’t remember the exact numbers, but I have seen a great number of individuals in the immediate area that go to LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). It would be more convenient for those living in Oxnard, Ventura and Thousand Oaks to go to Mugu than it would be to go to LAX. It would just make it easier. All of the area here is growing. I’m not referring just to Oxnard, but the county. It’s not going to stop, so I think the future would be quite bright for any (airline) service that would originate in Mugu. If the airlines do a marketing study, I think they would find it would be profitable for them to expand into this area. There is an untapped market here. A lot of people who are currently using other modes of transportation to commute would now use the airlines. Products from the area--like strawberries--that need rapid modes of transportation also could be utilizing the airline, and that would mean additional business for the airline. That would be what I call a currently untapped market.
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Madge Schaefer
Thousand Oaks resident and former Ventura County supervisor
Joint use makes excellent sense. It certainly is an effective way to have civilian and military operate out of the same facility. For instance, Hickham Air Field and Honolulu Airport share the same runway facilities. There are questions about the impact of increased air traffic and demand. Is there enough demand for commercial air service? It can be studied and the county can make a determination as to whether they want the (commercial) use, but whether any airline will service it will be dictated by the market. If the demand is there for service then the airlines will provide the service. My husband is a commercial airline pilot and has also flown with the National Guard. His reaction was that Point Mugu gets a lot of fog, and flights would likely have to be diverted at certain times of the year because of weather conditions. That happens a lot at LAX, but they have more alternatives. Really, until the impacts are studied, I wouldn’t think it would be prudent to make a decision on supporting it one way or another.
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Evie Bystrom-Herrera
Executive director, Camarillo Chamber of Commerce
The Camarillo Chamber is beginning to do some long-range planning and recognize the need that transportation is a high priority for expanded economic growth, not only in Camarillo, but the county as a whole. We want to make sure that expanded air service is really well thought out and that any ramifications are studied and various options explored. When companies are looking to locate here, the fact that there could be commercial air traffic in and out would be a real plus, especially when you look at the existing rail lines and deep water ports that are nearby. It puts us in a very positive position for economic development and businesses relocating here, which means jobs. An expanded air service of a commercial type could have less noise impact than some of the military that is currently out there, but an education process as a whole and the benefits to the business community are part of the chamber’s overall education and community focus.
