The recent letter from the Oceano Beach Community Association calling for Oceano Airport to be converted into a vertiport is putting the cart before the horse (“The Oceano Airport needs to evolve,” June 4). Before Oceano abandons another public asset, we should examine the facts.
The authors, who have no aviation experience, argue that the airport is redundant because other airports exist nearby. But local airports are not miniature versions of commercial airports. They provide emergency access, support tourism and small businesses, relieve congestion at larger airports, and serve important community functions. Their value is measured by the services they provide—not by their proximity to another runway.
The authors also suggest that the airport could be replaced with housing and other development. That claim ignores a major reality: Much of the airport property is constrained by wetlands, floodplain, and coastal resource protections. The same environmental regulations the authors cite would significantly limit the redevelopment they envision. This is not a blank slate waiting for housing.
They further dismiss the airport as a playground for hobbyists. In reality, it is a public facility that supports local businesses, tourism, emergency operations, and the broader aviation system.
Most telling is the claim that this proposal is not a closure, but “modernization.” Eliminating the runway would eliminate fixed-wing aviation and many of the services the airport provides today. Rebranding going backwards as modernization does not change the outcome.
At its core, this proposal asks Oceano to give up a functioning public asset in exchange for a redevelopment vision that cannot be built. The airport is real. The promised housing is not.
Oceano’s most urgent challenge is not the existence of its airport. It is the loss of its fire station. Before we start looking for ways to eliminate another community asset, we should focus on restoring the one that already disappeared: our fire station.
Alyssa Sparling
Oceano
This article appears in June 11-18, 2026.
Ms Starling’s letter is typical of those supporting the Oceano Airport. Full of glittering generalities about its benefits with absolutely no facts provided. Her statement that Oceano airport “provides emergency access, support tourism and small businesses, relieve congestion at larger airports, and serve important community functions” are simply empty claims. Where is the data on how many fly in tourists stay and spend moneyin Oceano? What small businesses benefit from the airport and how? What congestion is relieved since no jets land in Oceano? Where is the beef Ms Starling?
With regards to alternative uses of the land, Cal Poly engineers have written a plan for grading and filling different portions to create flood proof elevations suitable for development, and other sections for recreation fields, storm water retention, and expanded wetlands.
I believe the Airport will continue to be in Oceano. My question is what type of mitigation for the use of this land exclusively by private pilots is owed the community? The County is on record as saying the Airport is simply a recreational operation for private pilots. As mitigation maybe the Airport should pay OCSD Parks and Recreation $150,000 a year to support recreational opportunites for the Oceano community? After all the Airport paid $165,000 for a three hour Holiday party last December at the Oceano facility
Finally, Oceano needs a emergency medical response station, not so much an airport. The currentset-up, with services from AG, Grover, Pismo, and Nipomo is working fine for fire fighting. Response times are equal or better than they were before the station closed down.