American Airlines to Potentially Return Commercial Service to Palomar Airport

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• What is a Commercial Service Airport?
  • A publicly owned airport with at least 2,500 annual boardings and scheduled air carrier service. 
  • McClellan Palomar Airport is the only commercial service airport in San Diego County besides San Diego International Airport. 

  • Palomar Airport is certified by the FAA to serve commercial air carrier operations. 
• Why would the County allow American Airlines to establish service at Palomar?
  • With the passage of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 (Deregulation Act), air carriers may freely enter new domestic markets. 

  • In addition, per FAA Order 5190.6B Change 3, Chapter 9.8 and FAA Grant Assurance 22, we are to make the airport available as an airport for public use on reasonable terms and without unjust discrimination to all types, kinds and classes of aeronautical activities, including commercial aeronautical activities offering services to the public at the airport. (Therefore, the County can not prevent American Airlines' service.)
• Will establishing commercial service at Palomar open the door for other carriers to come in with larger aircraft like 737s?

  1. The airport's facilities, parking areas, and terminal are not equipped to handle large airplanes like 737's or larger.

  2. American Airlines is proposing to use an Embraer 175, which has 76 seats. Modern 737’s have over 151 seats. 

• Has Palomar ever had commercial service?

  1. Yes, commercial carriers serviced the airport from 1991 to 2015.

  2. JSX (public charter) has been servicing Palomar currently since 2023 with flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix. Advanced Air (public charter) has had limited service since 2021 Mammoth and Taos.

• What environmental review was completed for American Airlines?

  The McClellan-Palomar Airport Master Plan Update Program EIR (PEIR) was certified by the County Board of Supervisors on December 8, 2021. The PEIR included the environmental review of forecasted commercial air passenger service up to 575,000 annual enplanements . American Airlines proposes up to 55,480 enplanements each year during the two-year lease, which is approximately 10% of the operations previously evaluated in the PEIR and uses aircraft modeled in the evaluation of environmental impacts.

  In accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15168(c), an Environmental Review Update Checklist was completed, and the analysis concludes that the project would result in no new impacts.

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• Will the new commercial service increase the existing aircraft noise?
  1. No, all airplanes will operate within allowed noise levels governed by the airport's master plan.
  2. As part of the Master Plan's environmental analysis approved by the Board of Supervisors, it was determined that there would be no aircraft-related significant noise impacts. The environmental analysis found that no residences are located within the 65-decibel noise contour under existing conditions or future conditions. The 65-decibel contour is the FAA-defined threshold for determining a noise impact.
  3. Commercial service was forecasted in the Master Plan.  The proposed commercial service does not exceed the noise levels forecasted. 
• Why does Palomar not have any mandatory noise regulations for aircraft?
  • In 1990 Congress enacted the Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANAC), during a time when community noise concerns led to uncoordinated and inconsistent restrictions on aviation that were said to impede the nation’s airport system. ANCA called for establishment of a national aviation noise policy. It also moved control of noise restrictions out or the hands of airport operators and moved it to the FAA. Airports that had noise regulations in place prior to the passing of the ANCA in 1990 were grandfathered in. such as airports like John Wayne and San Diego Internation Airport. Palomar Airport had no such regulations prior to 1990. 
  • Palomar Airport completed a Airport Noise Compatibility Planning study also now as a (Part 150 study) and sent its recommendations to the FAA for approval.  Some of these requests were approved Voluntary and others Denied.

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• What oversight and regulations are in place to ensure the safety of operations at Palomar Airport?
  1. The County of San Diego is the owner and sponsor of the Palomar Airport, and under regulation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the County provides for the safe operation of the airport surface facilities.  While the County Airports staff are committed to the safety of aviation and strive continuously to meet all safety requirements within their jurisdiction on the surface of the airport, they do not have authority over aircraft in flight.  “The United States Government has exclusive sovereignty of airspace of the United States” — Title 49USC Subtitle VII Section 40103(a)(1).  The  Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Organization (ATO)  controls the flight of aircraft.
  2. The  FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)  is responsible for aviation safety.  FSDO certifies and licenses aircraft and pilots, provides safety training and conducts safety investigations.  To report safety issues, residents may contact the San Diego FSDO at (858) 810-2626.

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• How is air traffic around Palomar Airport managed and controlled?

   Aircraft in flight at or below 2,800 feet mean sea level and within three nautical miles of the airport are under the control and jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control tower at Palomar Airport. Control instructions based on pilots requests, position, weather, conflicting traffic, and direction of flight are issued by the control tower. The FAA has established rules and regulations for flight safety, separation, and sequencing of aircraft arrivals and departures. All aircraft in the vicinity of Palomar Airport are required by CFR 14, Part 91.123 b, to comply with FAA air traffic control commands and Federal regulations 24 hours a day.

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• Are there voluntary “Quiet Hours” for aircraft operations at Palomar Airport?
  1.  Propeller aircraft operations are discouraged between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.  
  2.  Jet operations are discouraged between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.  
  3. Exceptions for emergency aircraft, such as law enforcement and medical.

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• What are the key FAA regulations and requirements governing operations at Palomar Airport?

  1) With the passage of the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 (Deregulation Act), air carriers may freely enter new domestic markets. 

  2) FAA Order 5190.6B Change 3, Chapter 9.8 and FAA Grant Assurance 22, we are to make the airport available as an airport for public use on reasonable terms and without unjust discrimination to all types, kinds and classes of aeronautical activities, including commercial       aeronautical activities offering services to the public at the airport.  

  3)  1990 Congress enacted the Airport Noise and Capacity Act (ANAC),

  4) Part 139 Commercial Airport; U.S. airports serving certain air carrier operations are required to be certificated by the FAA. Under 14 CFR Part 139, Certification of Airports (Part 139), the FAA issues Airport Operating Certificates to allow airport operators to serve the following air carrier passenger operations:

  • Scheduled passenger-carrying operations of an air carrier operating aircraft with more than 9 seats (with some exceptions for airports in the State of Alaska); and 
  • Unscheduled passenger-carrying operations of an air carrier operating aircraft with at least 31 passenger seats.

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• What are Palomar Airport's plans for transitioning to sustainable aviation fuel?

  Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) sales are rising at Palomar Airport as Fixed Based Operators (FBOs) transition to the newer, more environmentally friendly fuel. SAF is a jet fuel made from renewable sources, such as agricultural waste or vegetable oils, that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel. FBOs are companies that provide fueling, hangar, and other services to aircraft operators at airports

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• What types of aircraft fuel are used at Palomar Airport and what are the plans for transitioning to lead-free fuel?
  1. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificates aircraft and sets regulations for the industry, including what fuels aircraft can safely use. Piston-powered aircraft use a type of fuel called Avgas. The most common and reliable type of avgas is 100 octane Low Lead, also known as 100LL. This leaded fuel contains tetra-ethyl-lead (TEL), which is an additive used to prevent engine damage at higher power settings.
  2. The FAA has committed to transition the industry to a lead-free aviation fuel by the end of 2030, which is strongly supported by San Diego County Airports. This FAA commitment also compliments the SDCA’s future Sustainability Management Plan, a project underway by County Airports staff and consultants. *An important note: leaded fuel does not apply to jets

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• Will Palomar Airport become a busy, large-scale commercial airport like “the John Wayne Airport”?
  1. The County is dedicated to maintaining Palomar as a community airport that supports local aviation needs, not turning it into a large airport on the scale of John Wayne (JWA). The planned development for Palomar will keep growth within reasonable bounds and be responsive to the concerns of the surrounding communities.
  2. The projects identified in the Airport Master Plan do not provide the facilities or space needed to support the aircraft size and volume operating at John Wayne.
  3. Economic Impact / Advantages: 
     • The airport currently supports approximately 2,600 jobs in the region, drives $461 million in industry activity, and generates $72 million in federal, state, and local taxes annually. 35% of these airport-generated jobs and 36% of the industry’s economic activity is located in the City of Carlsbad.  Adding commercial service will further strengthen the local economy.
     • Generates revenue for the Airport Enterprise Fund.  The enterprise fund is self-sufficient and does not rely on financial support from the County’s General Fund. 
     • In line with Airport’s sustainability goals, this service will provide the public an option to fly from Palomar instead of driving further to fly from San Diego, Orange County, or Los Angeles. 
     • FAA provides additional entitlement funds to airports with commercial service. Entitlement funds are used for any eligible airport improvement or planning project.