Laura Silagi, who is Update’s “go-to” person for Santa Monica Airport status, wants to clarify the airport flight patterns.

“The take-off pattern for jets is completely over Venice and is controlled by the FAA,” she wrote. “Jets are required to take off over the Penmar Golf course, which is in Venice, and fly over Rose to the ocean before turning. The jet noise and pollution impacts Venice residents and those Santa Monicans who live on the south edge of Santa Monica, as well as have a tremendous polluting impact on the neighborhood to the east (across Bundy.)

“Propeller planes are to take off over the golf course as well. Once at a certain altitude, the propeller plane pilots are allowed to turn any way they wish within the designated air corridor; however, the city of Santa Monica ‘highly recommends’ that propeller pilots, if turning east, first turn south at Lincoln and then east at Venice Blvd. Most of pilots do follow this procedure, more or less.

“This recommendation is part of Santa Monica’s ‘fly neighborly’ program, which shunts planes over Venice rather than its own city. When the Venice Neighborhood Council Santa Monica Airport committee met with FAA officials, the officials said they had no control over prop planes unless they violate the air corridor. Student pilots fly south then east when practicing various procedures, so they fly over Venice too.

“Even though the city of Santa Monica has been a bad neighbor to Venice, the ballot measure LC is far more preferable to those impacted by the airport than the aviation industry’s ballot measure D, which would keep the airport open for the foreseeable future.

“We need to encourage our Santa Monica friends to vote for LC not D.”