Aiport News & Press Releases

Mock crash tests rescue reactions

By Julian J. Ramos/Staff Writer jramos@santamariatimes.com Although no grades will be handed out after a drill simulating a plane crash Wednesday at Santa Maria Public Airport, officials from the city and the airport said the exercise served as a valuable test run for a real-life incident. Coordinated chiefly by the Santa Maria Public Airport District …

Read More

Simulated plane crash this morning

A simulated plane crash is scheduled for today at Santa Maria Public Airport. The airport will remain open for normal operations during this exercise, and people in the terminal, Pepper Garcia's restaurant and general aviation areas will be notified of the drill, city of Santa Maria officials said. The drill - involving the city police …

Read More

Simulated plane crash planned for Wednesday

A simulated plane crash is scheduled for Wednesday at Santa Maria Public Airport, city of Santa Maria officials announced. The airport will remain open for normal operations during this exercise, and people in the terminal, Pepper Garcia's restaurant and general aviation areas will be notified of the drill, the city said. The mass-casualty scenario is …

Read More

Tanker makes first US water drop on Santa Maria

By Julian J. Ramos/Staff Writer jramos@santamariatimes.com | Wednesday, April 14, 2010  A Russian-made firefighting tanker drops water Tuesday during a test over the Santa Maria Public Airport.  A Russian air tanker made its first water drop on American soil Tuesday in a demonstration flight at the Santa Maria Public Airport. Carrying 3,000 gallons of water, …

Read More

Russian Air Tanker Lands in Santa Maria

Santa Maria City firefighter Shane Gidlund takes a photo of the Be-200. The Russian air tanker, known as the Altair, landed Wednesday at the Santa Maria Public Airport for a week-long visit. Below, Russian crew members unload their luggage. An amphibious aircraft being touted as possibly the future of aerial firefighting in America landed Wednesday …

Read More

Biz Buzz: Airline that flies through Santa Maria expands to Hawaii

Allegiant Travel, the Las Vegas parent company of discount commercial carrier Allegiant Air, is expanding its service into Hawaii. The low-cost carrier currently offers regional service from Santa Maria to Las Vegas twice a day, according to schedules published online by the Santa Maria Public Airport District. The company is buying six Boeings over the …

Read More

Aerial spectacular to soar this year at Santa Maria Public Airport

Thunder returns to air show By Julian J. Ramos / Staff Writer / jramos@santamariatimes.com | Posted: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 12:00 am The roar of American air power will be back for the 2010 Thunder Over the Valley air show at the Santa Maria Public Airport, airport sources said. Last year, in a change from …

Read More

High flyers bring in the crowd

Thousands of people craned their necks and squinted against the sunlight Saturday in an effort to glimpse the warbirds in flight over the Santa Maria Public Airport. Thunder Over the Valley, put on by the Santa Maria Museum of Flight, is expected to attract about 10,000 people for the two-day air show that ends today. …

Read More

GM getting familiar with SMX

Chris Hastert’s first couple of months on the job as the Santa Maria Public Airport’s general manager have been “a little bit of a whirlwind.” He joins the airport at a time when longtime plans call for creating a business park and golf course south of the airfield, extending the runway and expanding airline service …

Read More