Opinion: Look to Chino for airport-housing harmony

By Mark DiLullo

As a pilot with more than 17,000 flight hours and the owner of one of the largest private aviation operations in San Bernardino County, Threshold Aviation Group, I’m confident that the planned project by Diversified Pacific can peacefully – and more importantly, safely – coexist with the current operations at the Redlands Airport.

At my company’s home, Chino Airport, we experienced a situation similar to what is happening in Redlands, but on a much larger scale because the airport is busier and the homes in question were located even closer.

After moving from our original location at the Ontario Airport 10 years ago, we were surrounded mainly by dairy operations.

Eventually, a very large, master planned community of about 10,000 homes was proposed 1,400 feet south of our runway. This project is now building out and, to this day, we operate with homes approximately one quarter of a mile from our front door.

Despite this, we have had very few issues with the surrounding neighborhoods – none that could not be worked out by people of goodwill and understanding. 

In fact, members of the community join us for our air shows and our annual Hope, Love & Charity event, in addition to our wine tastings and tours.

This proactive approach has built a positive relationship between Threshold, the airport in general and our homeowner neighbors.

Personally, I feel it’s a better approach than the one recently developed by some airport supporters who oppose the Diversified Pacific home development.

A careful review of the facts will demonstrate that the developer is in full compliance with the city planning policy – a policy that allows for housing in that precise location. In fact, the developer is building at a lower density than the city’s General Plan allows for at that location.

There are also full disclosure statements that the homeowners must review and sign as part of the home buying process; these statements notify them that they are buying a home near an operating airport.

Because of Redlands’ rich history in citrus growing, the developer has dedicated eight acres of the project to a new orange grove.

So what can and should the pilots’ response to the further development of the community surrounding them be? Work with the city and the development company and, if necessary, alter flight paths.

The property that is flown over by aircraft out of the Redlands Airport does not belong to the pilots, so it is difficult to argue that their rights are being compromised. Why not fly the helicopters in the north traffic pattern away from land intended for residential development for more than 25 years?

The north portion of the airport is optimal for airplanes and helicopters, and the property naturally slopes away from the end of the runway, providing more altitude for takeoffs and landings and a riverbed in the event of an emergency. Also, airplanes and helicopters routinely operate in the same traffic pattern with separation provided by altitude. They often do it here at the Chino Airport.

In densely populated areas such as Southern California, aviation is going to be surrounded by development. The land is simply in too high-demand to leave open space. Those in the aviation community need to accept this fact and work with the communities where they operate, like we have done with our neighbors.

It is my belief that this approach will eliminate the need to pick a fight, and will lead to many more happy landings.

Mark DiLullo.

Original article can be found here:  http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/opinion