Airships get OK to land at Moffett Field

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Apr. 8--The airship will be back at the Marina Municipal Airport.

The City Council, on a 4-0 vote late Tuesday, approved a one-year permit to allow a commercial airship operator from the San Francisco Bay Area to take off and land sightseeing flights at the Marina airport.

Council members and the public expressed satisfaction about the agreement with Airship Ventures of Moffett Field, which pays the city $150 a day for use of the airport.

Dwayne Oslund of Airship Ventures said they will probably fly out of Marina every month or two, offering sightseeing flights over Monterey Bay and the Big Sur coast.

The company first approached the city last fall about the Marina airport, but dropped out for a few months after the council delayed action about language in the permit dealing with alcohol and illegal drug use.

That caused some political friction. Councilman Dave McCall, who has expressed his intent to run for mayor in November, took to his blog where he said, "The City Council drove Airship Ventures out of Marina by over-regulating them."

McCall said Wednesday that he stood by that comment, but was "glad they came back and gave us another shot."

At Tuesday's meeting, Oslund said the company didn't feel like it had been driven away, but concentrated its sightseeing flights during the winter in Southern California.

The company offers sightseeing flights in the Bay Area, Long Beach and Monterey Bay. The airship, which Oslund said is one of three such

commercial zeppelins in the world, can carry 12 passengers.

The charge for an hour flight is $500 per person. That may be pricey, but Oslund said seeing the sights from an airship is "one of those bucket-list" experiences. He said the airship typically makes between four to eight flights in a day.

After tinkering with the permit language regarding alcohol and illegal drugs, the council was well-prepared for liftoff for approval.

"It's a great proposal," McCall said.

Oslund assured the council that federal aviation rules tightly restrict alcohol on the airship. Only the crew can carry it aboard, and alcohol can only be served during flight. Typically, alcohol is served on charter flights, such as birthday or anniversary gatherings, he said.

The council and public were happy to hear that the shuttle bus taking airship passengers to and from the airport would run from a Marina hotel-restaurant. They asked Oslund to highlight Marina attractions in promotional materials and during flights.

"This can be a very good thing for the city of Marina," said Nancy Amadeo, a former council member who has expressed interest in running in November.

On another flight-friendly subject, the council voted 4-0 to exempt the 2010 Marina International Festival of the Winds from $650 in city fees.

The two-day event, which starts May 8 at Glorya Jean Tate Park and Marina State Beach, features hang gliding, kite flying and wind-related crafts. This is the first year the city hasn't contributed money to the event because of its tight budget. In the past, the city has put up to $10,000 into the event, officials said.

Festival chairman Steve Emerson said event finances are tight and a few more sponsors are needed.

City resident Dan Amadeo urged approval of the fee exemption. He said the Festival of the Winds is the only time of year a person can tell somebody "to go fly a kite (without) being mean."

Larry Parsons can be reached at 646-4379 or [email protected].