Palmdale airport use is soaring

Airport use jumped as much as 300 percent following the Jan. 17 temblor, bringing new attention to the facility that may be used to maintain passenger levels in the future.

"The more you use the airport, the greater and sooner its success will be," said Clifton Moore, former executive director of the Los Angeles Department of Airports, at the Palmdale Regional Airport Advisory Council meeting Wednesday.

Moore, who has been a supporter of the airport since its inception, said that the facility could become a major travel center if it is able to first build a solid base of local passengers.

Under its agreement with the Air Force - the airport uses Air Force property - the facility is allowed up to 400 operations daily.

At this level, it would be possible for the airport to serve 12 million passengers a year, twice as many as the Ontario airport, Moore said.

To reach that goal, the airport must first generate interest among local travelers - interest it has begun to create with the demise of the normal routes to Los Angeles.

"We're very, very busy, to say the least," said Brandon Eaton, United Express station manager. "The loads we have been putting out - I feel - we should be putting out every week."

Before the quake, one of the airport's two passenger carriers, Skywest (the Delta connection) had announced it would end service Feb. 28. However, with the increased business caused by the quake, the company is considering extending service. The decision is expected this week.

If the airport is able to maintain the passenger gains brought on by the quake and begin building a base for existing carriers, the business may then encourage more carriers to come in and offer more services, Moore said.

After building a base with local passengers, the next step in the airport's development should be recruiting "import" travelers from outside the Antelope Valley.

"The Metrolink service (to Palmdale) may well be the opening wedge" in recruiting such passengers from the Santa Clarita Valley, Moore said.

With reliable rail service between the Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys, travelers may be more willing to come up here than face the traffic snarls into Los Angeles International Airport.

"The opening for the imported passengers becomes more and more realistic as time passes," Moore said.

Although he sees the Palmdale Regional Airport as eventually becoming a strong facility with a variety of services, Moore cautioned that it will take time - and continuing local population growth - to bring it to that point.

To that end, airport supporters must "do our best to improve, promote and preserve the facility," he said.

Moore also presided over the installation of new officers for the advisory council. Howard Brooks was installed as president, Walter Spivak as president-elect, Sue Visco as vice president finance/treasurer, Alma Lou Tinsley as vice president membership, Paul Heindel as vice president programs, and Jean Ray as secretary.