Palmdale airport foe set to retire

Driscoll's retirement date comes as a coalition of regional activists are opposing further expansion of LAX, saying that the airport is already crowded past capacity and can only deteriorate the quality of life for nearby residents in cities such as El Segundo and Torrance.

Appointed in December 1992, Driscoll has been responsible for the administration, operation, and development of four airports: Los Angeles International, Ontario International, Palmdale Regional and Van Nuys.

If anything, during Driscoll's tenure, Palmdale Regional's role diminished, with the last passenger service leaving last year.

Since 1992, LAX has grown from 47.8 million annual passengers to become the third busiest airport in the world, with 61.2 million annual passengers.

In addition, LAX has grown from 1.2 million tons of cargo to become the second busiest air cargo airport in the world with two million tons of air freight and mail annually.

While Ontario is the sixth busiest airport in California - 35th in the world - with 6.5 million passengers and 460,000 tons of air cargo annually - Palmdale's airport is a virtual ghost ship.

According to a department news release, the new terminals position Ontario to play a major role in LAWA's commitment to bring regional solutions to meet Southern California's growing future air transport needs. Ontario is the only airport in the region with new facilities to do so.

Recognizing the growing needs of LAX and all the other commercial airports in the Southern California region, Driscoll started the LAX Master Plan to guide development of LAX to meet passenger and cargo demands for the next 20 years.

The process has been controversial and riddled with opposition by community activists who oppose LAX expansion, including Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, whose district is near the airport.

Under Driscoll, LAWA committed to undertake major noise reduction and management programs, including a nearly $500 million program in residential soundproofing and compatible land-use; recycled water programs; and clean-air programs, including alternative-fuel vehicles and traffic mitigation.

In an interview last year, Driscoll said he supported a study on how to make Palmdale a viable airport as part of the LAX Master Plan. Expectations must be realistic, however, he said.

"This is not a field of dreams. Air carriers fly to markets, not to airports," Driscoll said.

Dan Garcia, the former president of the Board of Airport Commissioners, stated in a Los Angeles publication that lack of infrastructure, highways and population made Palmdale an unlikely choice for a major airport. Garcia stepped down last year.

Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said Garcia was under the mistaken impression that Palmdale seeks to be an international airport. With help from the Department of Airports, Palmdale can develop its airport into a regional facility someday, Ledford said.

Even maintenance and cargo operations - believed by many Antelope Valley officials to be a way for Palmdale to participate in a regional air scheme - was unlikely to come about, Driscoll said.

Most main air carriers consolidated major maintenance in areas devoid of unions and rich in tax incentives, Driscoll said. What's left is not much and leaves little room for Palmdale.

Concerning cargo, Driscoll said 60% to 65% of cargo comes to LAX in the bellies of commercial planes, and sent on trucks and planes to other destinations. Driscoll promised cargo improvements in Palmdale that would range from $15 million to $20 million.

From the airport department's point of view, for Palmdale to be viable, a San Gabriel Mountain Highway would be required, Garcia said last year. Such a project was abandoned long ago. And if high-speed rail materializes, it provides no more than a 25% increase in passengers to airports anywhere in North America, Garcia said.

"Thus, Palmdale would require a high-speed rail and a new major highway before it became accessible to potential regional travelers, but neither of these two improvements will occur in the next 20 years, if ever," Garcia said.