Panel to air out airport concerns

Some of the talks will center on how Palmdale could become a destination for cargo flights and how the airport could be used as an aircraft maintenance hub.

Monday, the panel will discuss the issues of growth, land access to the airport and the environmental implications of expanding operations at the airfield.

Tuesday, the discussion will focus on passenger air service from Palmdale Regional Airport, which has a history of failure. The last provider, United Express, pulled out April 22 after passenger loads were too low to make any money.

The meetings are scheduled to last eight and nine hours, respectively.

Jack Driscoll, director of Los Angeles World Airports, said consultants Hagler Baily Inc., based in Arlington, Va., will conduct the meetings.

Taj Sheriff of Hagler Baily did not return Valley Press phone calls Friday.

"They have completed an analysis of what we have to do to make Palmdale a viable airport," Driscoll said of the consulting firm. Monday and Tuesday's discussions are a technical staff meeting with an expert panel and will not be public, he added.

"There's nothing we want to keep secret," Driscoll said. "The community should know about this, and will eventually. We just don't have a room that's big enough for a large public." The meetings will be at the Ramada Inn, 300 West Palmdale Blvd., Palmdale.

Discussions on both days are divided into "modules."

On Monday, there are six modules: purpose, methodology and concept overview; regional demand allocation; land side options; growth options; environmental implications; and discussion of the Palmdale survey.

Tuesday, there are four modules: study, methodology and concept; regional demand allocation; air service options; and Palmdale airport activity scenarios.

The city of Los Angeles bought 17,750 acres of land near Palmdale in 1966 with the intention of building a new airport to reduce pressure at LAX.

By 1971, the city seemed ready to begin construction. Five families who lived on 53rd Street East between avenues P-8 and Q were told their homes would be demolished to make room for the new airport.

Bill Waltman, who owned one of the homes, said demolition crews used bulldozers to dig pits beside each home, then pushed the buildings and their foundations into the holes.

The land has sat mostly vacant since that time.

About 2,000 acres of the property are now leased to farmers who grow carrots, Christmas trees, sod and other crops.

Jim Bort, the administrator at Palmdale Regional Airport in charge of agricultural leases, will not attend Monday or Tuesday's meetings, a receptionist at his office said. He is on vacation until Thursday.