Palmdale airport could be more convenient than LAX

According to a study by the Antelope Valley-based Los Angeles International Airport Expansion Task Force, someone who lived an equal distance from both airports would save an average of 35 minutes by going to Palmdale, given the congestion likely in Los Angeles.

The results of the study were announced at the task force's Friday morning meeting at the Palmdale Cultural Center, the same meeting at which Col. Bob Catlin, commander of Edwards Air Force Base, remarked about SwissAir's interest in a facility at Site 9.

The task force conducted the study by measuring the time it took two drivers to arrive at the respective airports. They departed from the San Fernando Road near Santa Clarita, a distance of 36.5 miles from both locations, and they conducted the study during three different traffic periods.

On top of the 35 minutes of saved driving time, Palmdale's airport patrons would likely save even more time after they arrive, as parking would be closer and the terminals smaller.

R. Gregg Anderson, the task force chairman, has been campaigning for a Palmdale airport for 20 years. He said the study shows that an airport here would provide a convenient alternative to LAX for a large population of Los Angeles County.

"It's pretty conclusive proof that we're not remote," Anderson said.

For the airport's proponents in the Antelope Valley, much of the challenge is convincing Southern California that a Palmdale airport is close enough to relieve crowding at the region's other airports.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike D. Antonovich is ready to do his part. Antonovich is expected to make a motion at Tuesday's county board meeting calling for the county to recruit a consultant with expertise in planning and developing regional airports.

That consultant would draft a business and economic incentive plan for attracting air services to the Palmdale airport.

Anderson believes the crucial step in realizing an airport may be just that - proving to airlines that routes to Palmdale can be lucrative.

Apparently, the airlines are reluctant to invest in terminal attendants, mechanics and other staff for gates at a Palmdale airport. Anderson said "the airlines are the ones dragging their feet."

It's up to LAX, then, to convince their airlines to fly to the Valley.

"LAX has to tell the airlines that they're only going to give additional gates to airlines that will serve Palmdale," Anderson said.

Fortunately, LAX may have no choice but to send some air traffic to Palmdale. Before LAX's expansion was granted, Los Angeles World Airports - which owns both LAX and the land on which Palmdale's airport would be built - promised it would develop Palmdale Regional Airport as a longterm alternative to LAX.

Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford believes this will ensure that the city finally gets its airport.

"What's driving (Palmdale's case for an airport) is the LAX expansion itself," Ledford said. "We in Palmdale are looked at as mitigation for that expansion.

"We'd be a place that would take domestic flights and they could increase their international service."

Ledford adds that while a number of airport plans have collapsed in the past, none had as solid a foundation as the current one does. Most critical of all, he says, are the public endorsements of support made by Los Angeles World Airports officials and Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan.

Meanwhile, Anderson is hopeful, but he's learned not to believe in an airport until he sees the jumbo jets on the runways.

"We're guardedly optimistic because we've had false starts before," Anderson said.