http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20060217-9999-7m17airport.html
Navy: 'We will cooperate' on new airport site By David E. Graham UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER February 17, 2006 A senior Navy official told airport agency members yesterday that the Navy is willing to be "part of the process" of helping San Diego find a location for a new regional airport. The meeting with Navy Assistant Secretary BJ Penn in Washington, D.C., was requested by San Diego County Regional Airport Authority members to inform him about their interest in sharing a military airport, said Joe W. Craver, chairman of the authority's board. .. ... ... .. ... ... The authority is considering several sites for a new airport, including an expansion of Lindbergh. It plans to put before voters in November an advisory measure on how to serve the region's future air passenger and cargo needs as Lindbergh becomes increasingly crowded. Marine Corps and Navy officials here have previously said that using their bases would compromise national defense. They have said that at two often-mentioned sites, Miramar and North Island, civilian flights would interfere with pilot training, helicopters and the handling needed for aircraft that return with bombs or rockets. Yesterday, Craver said Penn told him the Navy's criteria in evaluating any proposal would be whether it supports the Navy, troops and the country.>> ------------------- The switch here is that civilian use of military facilities in San Diego County is being considered since the existing Lindbergh airport is forecast to be inadequate in future. Apart from this detail the dynamics seem intriguingly very much comparable to the Dabolim/Mopa issue in Goa (including the appearance of the name Miramar!). It may provide a useful perspective on local developments. Any thoughts? Cheers.
