Aiport News & Press Releases

Looking beyond the Great Recession

Dave Cross/Improving North County Santa Maria Times | Posted: Thursday, February 24, 2011 12:00 am As concerns about the local economy continue, there are hopeful signs we have made it through the worst and we are finally on a slow path toward recovery. Santa Maria is one of the very few cities in California that …

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Positive impact of runway extension

Hugh Rafferty/Improving North County Santa Maria Times | Posted: Thursday, December 16, 2010 12:00 am The Santa Maria Public Airport District has initiated a major expansion — runway 12-30 is being extended 1,700 feet to the northwest. When complete, the main runway will be 8,004 feet long. In addition to increasing the safe operation of …

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Crucial difference

Dusk was approaching as Calstar 7, the Central Coast’s first dedicated air ambulance, returned to its base at the Santa Maria Public Airport, having come from the scene of an accident. But before the helicopter could touchdown, the crew received a new call for assistance: A man had a high-speed collision on his all-terrain vehicle, …

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Incumbents leading

Two incumbents were leading in their bids Tuesday night to be re-elected to the Santa Maria Public Airport District Board of Directors.  Incumbents Chuck Damiano and Ted Eckert were ahead in the field of four candidates seeking a pair of four-year terms on the board, according to unofficial results. Damiano led with 28.5 percent, followed …

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Four candidates vie for airport board seats

By Julian J. Ramos / Staff Writer / jramos@santamariatimes.com  Santa Maria Times Four candidates are in the running for two seats on the Santa Maria Public Airport District board of directors.  Incumbents Chuck Damiano and Ted Eckert will face challengers Richard Plumlee and Girard (Geoff) Brenneman on the Nov. 2 ballot. Santa Maria's airport, known …

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Santa Maria Airport Unveils Cutting-Edge Technology

Travelers at the Santa Maria Public Airport are now enjoying one more benefit at Central California’s most convenient airport.  SMX has installed a flight information display system which provides targeted, real-time data that is extremely accurate.   As one of the first airports in the nation to use this technology, the Santa Maria Public Airport …

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Contract OK’d for first phase of airport runway expansion

Work is expected to begin this fall on a long-awaited runway extension project at Santa Maria Public Airport. A unanimous Santa Maria Public Airport District Board of Directors approved a contract last week with Granite Construction for the first phase of a runway and taxiway extension development. Funded by a Federal Aviation Administration grant, the …

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Air show attendance numbers soar

About 8,500 people attended this year’s Thunder Over the Valley air show at the Santa Maria Public Airport, according to the event organizer. Although a final tally for the weekend is pending, the total for Saturday and Sunday is at least 3,500 more than in 2009 and roughly 1,000 more than in 2008, said Mike …

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Attendees, flight crews enjoy show

Airplane enthusiasts and families with children eagerly toured the planes on display Saturday at the Thunder Over the Valley air show, walking through cargo craft and climbing into cockpits. Likewise, military members standing beside the planes and helicopters that they fly were excited to be at the show, explaining their work to wide-eyed youngsters at …

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C-17 arrives for weekend air show

Although an Air Force C-17 landed at Santa Maria Public Airport on Friday, the 174-foot-long cargo plane will not take to the air this weekend during the Thunder Over the Valley air show as originally planned. Because of a crash of a similar aircraft in Alaska during a training exercise for an air show in …

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