Airport backers seek expansion support

Larry Chimbole, president of the Palmdale Regional Airport Advisory Commission, said the group is working to build a stable and bright future for Palmdale as a major air traffic center.

The commission wants to complete a study by next year to show the need for a major airport in this area. The group also is seeking support for using the 17,000 acres adjacent to Plant 42 for a major airport in the 21st century.

For that reason, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter has been asked to come to a Tuesday, Sept. 19, luncheon at the airport terminal. Galanter has been a proponent of diverting traffic from Los Angeles International Airport to other areas to decrease LAX air traffic, which totals 65 million flights a year.

"We are not anti-LAX, but we are pro this facility. We will ask Galanter what we can do," Chimbole said.

The commission president said Palmdale could eventually help ease traffic at LAX.

"At Palmdale, we have two 15,000-foot runways, Federal Aviation Administration towers, repair facilities and we can even paint their planes here. We could fit 10 LAXs here. We have 17,000 acres. That's as big as Manhattan Island. There is great potential," Chimbole said.

He said Galanter could suggest how to position Palmdale in order to get a study completed, begin to develop the huge expanse and ultimately become a major aviation center.

"What we need to say in the market research report is that there are X number of people that will use service to X places, with X frequency," Chimbole said.

The commission also knows having the right planes to transport people to a hub city like Las Vegas is essential in developing a new airport and having it be successfu³.

"We are not critical of the Los Angeles Department of Airports, but we believe a major airport belongs in Palmdale in the next century," he said.

"It could be a major facility. We need to show there are people wanting the service and there are airlines are ready to provide service. We think the market study can show a half million population for airlines to serve. We think service to Sacramento would be particularly successful."

To attend the lunch, call 266-7602 or 272-1578. Tickets are $15; the event begins at 11:30 a.m.