Neighbors of the Santa Monica Airport were invited to participate in its “First Around the World Day” on September 23, 2023. Featuring displays on cutting edge technologies, electric aircraft, urban air mobility, aviation scholarships and job training opportunities, the event attracted airport neighbors far and wide and engaged them in activities designed to illustrate the value of their community airport, understand the impact of green, quiet and clean aviation.
Ben Marcus, co -chair of Up Partners, an SMO based innovative venture capital company with a stated mission of transforming the moving world, was instrumental in bringing a number of important partners and participants to the event. He told us why this event was so personally meaningful.
“I was born and raised in Santa Monica. I live in Sunset Park and am raising my family here. My cofounder Cyrus Sigari and I met and became childhood friends as cadets in the Civil Air Patrol at Santa Monica Airport. We are deeply passionate about this community and the work we’re doing to help make transportation cleaner, faster, safer and more economical for people around the world. We love bringing our neighbors intoour world, helping them see that the future is promising and that they will benefit from it.”
Created to showcase the past, present and future of aviation among the activities at the event were displays on cutting edge aviation technologies, electric aircraft, urban air mobility, offers for aviation scholarships and job training and a display of numerous aircraft. The family friendly day included a blimp fly by, historic bus tours and food trucks with a variety of cuisines, a DJ and a live band.
Mark Smith, co-president of the Santa Monica Airport Association, explains why this event was designed to engage the community in the airport’s future. “Electric aviation is now a reality that is clean and quiet, and will ensure that this airport remains a vital asset for future generations.”
Ben Marcus adds: “Green and quiet aircraft are flying now and will soon be certified. Electrification is coming to virtually all modalities of transport. This will help create sustainable value for travelers, community members, and the businesses that operate transportation services. Although current technology aircraft produce a relatively small percentage of greenhouse gas emissions, every sector of the economy needs to do its part to reduce the impacts of climate change.”
Vanessa Gibson, the event co-producer and SMAA Board member with fellow Co-producer and Events Committee Chairman, Dylan Lukes, explained the vision for the event.
“We created the First Around the World Day so that our local community could celebrate and connect to experience SMO’s history and future of innovation with our neighbors in partnership with the City of Santa Monica. Our Open House showcased family-friendly fun, STEM education, career development information and historic tours while highlighting emerging electric mobility advancements. Our team of enthusiastic volunteers are committed to providing important resources to the community.”
Ben Marcus, his company Up Partners, and the other organizations and individuals who contributed to this event believe this is the right time to educate his Santa Monica neighbors on the impact that changing transportation technologies will bring to their community.
“I think we have an incredible opportunity ahead to change the airport for the better. I’d like to see this land become the Pride of Santa Monica, a place where the community comes to learn, play, work, create, and travel about the region in new ways. Our community has an opportunity to imagine and create the transportation infrastructure of the future, to be on the leading edge of innovation in how people and goods move around the world. The Santa Monica Airport visioning process serves as a catalyst to reignite our city’s flame of innovation and to give us purpose.”
Among the many compelling reasons for keeping local general aviation airports open is the exciting future of “green aviation” which will dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of transportation and bring a long list of other benefits to the community.
Along with fast-moving global efforts to transform all modes of transportation, electric airplanes are already flying in Europe while awaiting certification in the US. Innovations in urban air mobility are multiplying quickly, and in various stages of development and approvals. Clean and quiet aviation is on its way, with the development of hybrid aircraft, sustainable fuels and eco airports also in development.
Note: Eco-Aviation Foundation can provide guidance to local airports in crafting plans to assist them and their aviation stakeholders in building community friendly operations. We are also available to provide talks on the development of the electric aviation industry to interested groups. For more information contact us at: info@eco-aviation.org.
More information on Up Partners at: https://up.partners
