Feds fight city over jet ban

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 19 (UPI) -- The Federal Aviation Administration is battling a California city over its unprecedented attempt to ban certain high-performance jets for safety reasons.

The city passed an ordinance prohibiting Gulfstream IVs and similar aircraft from using Santa Monica Airport because homes and businesses are located too near the end of the runway, The Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

The ordinance, approved last year, has not been implemented because the FAA obtained a temporary restraining order against the ban.

FAA officials charge that under federal law the city cannot restrict high-speed jets.

They say airport officials and the federal government must reach agreement before any type of aircraft can be banned from an airport.

The restrictions would affect about 7 percent of all flight operations at Santa Monica Airport.

"We still hope to settle this issue through an agreement with the city and not through the court process," FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said.