Are you a Torrance Airport stakeholder?

3/16/2025

In a letter dated 2/27/2025, Mr Pinela, Facilities Operations Manager, invited a select few to ". . .an Airport round table stakeholder meeting to discuss the current status of Airport operations and noise abatement." The meeting will take place March 20th from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM at the General Aviation Center meeting room.

Among the invitees listed in the letter were: "Torrance Airport users, including businesses and private tenants, Robinson Helicopter, Western Museum of Flight, Community Members, and City of Torrance Staff."

Although I did not receive an invitation, I asked to attend because I am:

• an airport customer for over a half-century;
• a Torrance homeowner for over a half-century;
• a prior Torrance Airport Commissioner;
• a prior board member for four years of the Hollywood Riviera Homeowners Association,
• an organizer of the Torrance Airport Air Fairs for 4 years;
• the organizer of the Collings Foundation bomber visits for 5 years;
• the publisher of The Airport Report (with 646 airport customer subscribers as of today) and
• the Past President and prior Board Member of the Torrance Airport Association for over 20 years.

I feel that the interests of the majority of Airport Customers are not adequately represented by the attendees mentioned in Mr Pinela's letter of 2/27/2025. For example, the Museum, although a valuable airport tenant, has few if any active pilots and the Airport businesses, which in the past have been threatened with expulsion from the Airport if they don't acquiesce to City demands, represent their own business interests.

I have asked Mr Pinela to allow me to participate in the meeting and provide feedback regarding current operation of the airfield based on our recent survey you filled out--not just be "filled in" afterward about the outcome. When he refused, I asked for a list of invitees and an agenda. Nine days later, no response.

What do you think?