Editorial: Safety up in the air

Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2005 | 7:53 a.m.

In North Las Vegas, even the air is more crowded. A period of unprecedented population growth in the Las Vegas Valley also has seen an increase in aircraft accidents and mishaps at North Las Vegas Airport in the past five years -- more than at any other airport of comparable size in the nation.

A Las Vegas Sun analysis of National Transportation Safety Board records dating from 2000 shows North Las Vegas Airport's 36 reports of accidents and near-misses were in some cases 10 times the number of incidents recorded at comparable facilities.

Of the eight other airports examined, only one -- Arizona's Chandler Municipal -- came close with 20 reported incidents. Montgomery Field in San Diego ranked third with 16. The other six all had fewer than 10 reports of accidents in the past five years. Two of them had just three each.

Most of North Las Vegas Airport's mishaps resulted in injuries and property damage. But 12 people died in three crashes that occurred at the airport and two that occurred near it.

Records show there are 218,000 takeoffs and landings annually at the 64-year-old facility that serves small commercial airlines, tour operators, flight schools and private aircraft. Its once-remote location near the northeast corner of Rancho Drive and Carey Avenue is now surrounded by homes and businesses.

One local pilot told the Sun that the airport "is too big, and too crowded," and a chorus of residents are calling for change. Some have asked the Nevada Legislature to reduce the number of flights after 10 p.m. Other residents have spoken to the Clark County Aviation Department, which runs the airport.

County aviation officials told the Sun that most of the accidents were due to pilot error or mechanical problems that fall outside the control of airport officials. But pilots and other airport critics say county officials have allowed too many commercial entities to set up shop at the North Las Vegas facility, and allowed suburban development too close to its perimeter.

The traffic at this airport and the residential development around it are certain to increase, and accidents could increase as well if safety and traffic controls aren't improved.

The Clark County Aviation Department needs to work with the Federal Aviation Administration and get a better grasp on why North Las Vegas Airport's accident numbers are so high. Both agencies should include North Las Vegas City officials, residents and those who use the airport in finding solutions.