County approves more commercial flights for Carlsbad airport

San Diego County’s Board of Supervisors approved a lease Wednesday allowing United Airlines to resume daily commercial flights out of McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad beginning March 30.

The 4-1 decision came despite opposition from residents and Carlsbad city officials. Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, whose district includes Carlsbad, said she could not support the lease without a written requirement for planes to only operate between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

The county and city should work together to “get the V out of VNAP,” Lawson-Remer said, referring to the “voluntary noise abatement program” in place for aircraft using the Palomar Airport. All in-flight operations are controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration, and only the FAA can make the program mandatory.

Years ago, the county tried to make noise-abatement procedures mandatory and failed, a county staffer said, and today, with more efficient and quieter aircraft, approval remains unlikely.

Jason Haber, Carlsbad’s intergovernmental affairs director, said Wednesday the lease is an expansion of airport services that could violate a conditional use permit issued by the city in 1980.

“The county’s recent actions … demonstrate a shift to a higher level of operations at the airport … (and) reflect poorly on good stewardship,” Haber said at the supervisors’ meeting.

The county needs to apply for an amendment to the permit before approving the lease, Haber said. County offic...