Aiport News & Press Releases

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 …

Pavement will be on the agenda for the Santa Maria Public Airport Board of Directors when it meets at 7:00 p.m. tonight at the Airport Administration building. While construction crews have begun paving the 1,700-foot extension to the main runway, the board will discuss whether or not to award a contract for parking lot repaving …

The paving work to lengthen the Santa Maria Public Airport's main runway is about to take off. John Smith, project manager with Tartaglia Engineering, said the pavement, which should begin being laid on Monday, is the icing of a 1,700-foot long, 150-foot wide, 55-inch thick layer cake. Crews from Granite Construction, the general contractor on …

  U.S. Navy Corpsman David Oliver get a big welcome Dec. 8 from Dover, official mascot for Welcome Home Troops, a Central Coast group that welcomes service members returning from deployment.  Jo Hartman of Orcutt, center, and her therapy dog were at the Santa Maria Public Airport to welcome Oliver home after his tour in …

Union Valley Parkway will provide freeway access to southern Santa Maria, and Airport. Santa Barbara County has about 30 percent of the right of way in hand for the final section of Union Valley Parkway, and is negotiating with Walmart to purchase the remainder.  The retail giant owns three of five parcels necessary to complete …

Tight budgets will ground some Air Force aircraft that traditionally appear in smaller air shows, but the organizer of Thunder Over the Valley in Santa Maria retains high hopes of landing an F-22 demonstration team and other military aircraft in 2012. The Air Force’s Air Combat Command has announced a reduction of single-ship demonstration teams …

Family, friends, strangers and one special dog gathered at the Santa Maria Public Airport on Thursday afternoon to welcome home Navy corpsman David Oliver. Barbara Romero of Orcutt said her son had one simple request.  "He said,'I just want to see my dog,'" she said as the yellow-haired Sly tugged at his leash while standing …

The P2E Neptune air tanker sitting recently on the tarmac at the Santa Maria Jet Center won't be a permanent fixture - even when a full-time tanker reload base opens at the airport next fire season.  It's one of a federal fleet of air tankers that fly to bases across the country when they're needed …