Why We Are Here

This conversation is not about where to put an airport, but rather what kind of airport we want, and the decision will impact the subsequent site selection process.

The SDCRAA started off studying thirty-two possible sites, each with two 12,000 foot runways with at least 5,000 feet of separation. Further information about all thirty-two sites is available on the Airport Site Selection Program web site.

Site selection in San Diego has a long and complex history. Over the years, many sites have been considered for future airport development. The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority has currently identified nine potential airport sites (including Lindbergh Field) for further study.

The sites currently under consideration include: Campo Area, Lindbergh Field, Imperial Desert, March Air Reserve Base (Riverside County), Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, MCAS Miramar East, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and Naval Air Station North Island.

SDCRAA will eliminate some sites currently under consideration based on ongoing analysis.

Some of these sites are active military bases. One or more of these bases may become available through the periodic Base Realignment and Closure process (or BRAC). Under BRAC the Department of Defense closes, realigns or reorganizes military bases in order to streamline operations and reduce costs.

A preliminary list of the next round of potential BRAC proposals was released in May.

The SDCRAA has agreed to support San Diego's active military bases through the BRAC 2005 process by postponing full review of military sites until the completion of the BRAC process, expected in November, 2005.