Aiport News & Press Releases

Sunni Gibbons, a member of the Santa Maria Valley chapter of the Ninety-Nines, stands by her Piper Cherokee 235 plane at the Santa Maria Public Airport. Gibbons will be inducted into the Ninety-Nines Forest of Friendship, a living memorial in Atchison, Kan., in June. Sunni Gibbons has been many things throughout her 71 years — …

The Santa Maria Public Airport’s runway extension project is being extended. The project had been scheduled for completion by April 5, but because of delays the full 8,000-foot runway won’t be open to air traffic until May 3, and it won’t be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration until May 31, according to General Manager …

The Vapor Trail Vettes of the Santa Maria area are hosting a low speed autocross on Saturday, April 7 at the Santa Maria Airport on Terminal Drive.  All makes and models of cars are welcome. Drivers must be at least 18 years old.  A registration form can be downloaded from the Vapor Trail Vettes website …

Santa Maria Public Airport District Director Hugh Rafferty has been appointed to two California Special Districts Association committees. Rafferty will serve on the Education Committee and the Elections and Bylaws Committee for 2012. The California Special Districts Association provides legislative advocacy, education and member services for the approximately 900 special districts in California. Rafferty also currently serves as …

Thunder Over the Valley will be a little louder this year, thanks to the Santa Maria Public Airport Board of Directors. The board voted to contribute an extra $12,000 to the annual air show this year to bring in more aerobatics attractions, which have yet to be booked. That money is in addition to its …

For many people, Amelia Earhart is the take-off and landing point for their knowledge about the contribution of women to aviation. The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of licensed women pilots, has worked for 82 years to stretch those horizons, and its Santa Maria Valley chapter is developing a park to honor women in aviation history. …

As the airline industry recovers from the economic turbulence of the past three years, Allegiant Air will be increasing its flights from the Santa Maria Public Airport to Las Vegas in February. The added flight is a bit of good news in a mixed report airport General Manager Chris Hastert received from Mead and Hunt, …

More terminal improvements are on the agenda Thursday for the Santa Maria Public Airport Board of Directors. With paving of the 1,700-foot main runway extension complete, the board will begin considering other improvement projects, including what to do with the outdoor viewing area adjacent to the boarding terminal, when it meets at 7 p.m. at the …

The Santa Maria Public Airport District Board of Directors selected its representatives to local and regional committees last week with a few changes from 2011. Don Lahr, who was chosen by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to replace the late Ted Eckert on the airport board, will serve on the Marketing and Promotions …