Will Palmdale airport fly as a major transportation hub?

Vern Lawson Jr., Lancaster Economic Development Corp.'s executive director, said Thursday he wants to find out how much a study would cost. He said he will look into how long it would take to complete a study and what companies have both the expertise and credibility to find out where people here travel.

Larry Chimbole, Palmdale Regional Airport Advisory Committee president, first suggested a market study months ago.

Partnership members, which include Palmdale and Lancaster mayors and community leaders, agreed to accept an invitation from Los Angeles International Airport officials to take a role in developing the airport's master plan. The plan includes a section on Palmdale.

Working with Los Angeles airport officials has benefits beyond potentially helping to determine how the area fits into the airport plan, said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford.

"Look beyond bringing cargo and more passengers to the airport. There are issues of right-ofways and drainage we might be able to address with them or include in the master plan," he said.

Partnership members will have a letter sent to the airport department accepting the invitation and setting a date for a representative to come here to discuss the document.

Several partnership members agreed taking a role in the master plan process is necessary to keep up-to-date with the final plan.

Ledford agreed the Antelope Valley must show a potential carrier it has the numbers of people to support air service. He said the study must be completed by an independent firm that the airlines see as credible.

In addition to collaborating on the airport department master plan, Ledford had another idea for the partnership.

"We need to build our own longrange plan for Palmdale Regional Airport," Ledford said.

If there was a market study and a Antelope Valley master plan for the airport, Ledford said it would be possible to free up the $3 million budgeted to improve taxiways at the Palmdale airport.

Airport department officials said the money for the taxiways improvements is budgeted and improvements could be completed 90 days after Palmdale officials show it will be used.