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"Half a truth is often a great lie."
Benjamin Franklin
~ FAA Controlled Airspace ~
This map is dated March 2, 2005, today it is assumed the density would be much, much more dense in the future. Additionally, according to the June 2016 PAAC (Palomar Airport Advisory Committee) meeting, the FAA controlled airspace boundary of this map will grow from a 3 Mile radius to a 5 Mile radius if the airport expansion is approved.
McClellan-Palomar Airport is a CLASS B-II Airport!
What does that mean? It is FAA certified to allow small
(mostly less than 12,000 lbs) aircraft to use the airport.
McClellan-Palomar (CRQ) is not FAA certified for C/D AIRCRAFT!
Why are more than 6,000 C/D aircraft routinely using CRQ?
WHAT IS A C CLASS AIRCRAFT
75,000 lbs and 135 knots approach speed at max load
WHAT IS A D CLASS AIRCRAFT
The above flight "Daytime Departure" Map shows the planes that used McClellan-Palomar Airport (CRQ) daytime hours airspace in 2005 and EVIDENTLY DOES NOT INCLUDE THE NIGHTTIME AIRCRAFT. The chart shows the annual aircraft operations from 1992 to 2016 and a projected number (in red) for 2017.
On the surface, it could be assumed the aircraft operations have vastly decreased thought the years. BUT, for the reason why, the rest of the story must be told and it is not good for Carlsbad and the airport's surrounding communities.
According to newspaper reports, beginning in 2006, the County purposely started to force the small pilots out of the airport through various means, including removing the small aircraft hangers and/or dramatically increasing the rental fees for the remaining small aircraft hangers. Consequently, the mix of aircraft began to change from small single engine propeller aircraft (the aircraft the airport was built for and approved by Carlsbad) to larger business jet aircraft.
The reason why this occurred became clear when Peter Drinkwater, Director of San Diego County Airports, presented the next 20 Year CRQ Master Plan to the San Diego Board of Supervisors on December 16, 2015. In that presentation it was stated CRQ would become a C/D Airport. In fact, Mr. Drinkwater also stated, if more than 500 larger aircraft used a smaller certified airport within a year period, the FAA recommends that airport should apply to upgrade to a larger airport. Mr. Drinkwater went on to say, he was surprised to learn more than 6,000 C/D-III aircraft would use CRQ in 2015.
WOW, surprised to learn more than 6,000 C/D-III aircraft used CRQ in 2015 - who is kidding who??? Is nobody at the County paying attention to the landing fee income from heavier aircraft taking off and landing at the airport!