I Recall Standing on the Ramp at Brown Field …
… several years back. It sits one mile north of the U.S./Mexico border, south of San Diego, and is one of two general aviation airports which the city operates. A major highway crossing nearby is continuously flowing with a flood of trans-border truck traffic. And, standing on the Brown Field ramp, one can see a control tower off in the distance. It’s the tower for Tijuana’s Rodriguez International Airport.
Since then, whenever the usual banter arises from discussions related to building a new airport in Southern California, I always recall my Brown Field experience. As I stood there then, I was struck by the notion that this is a perfect spot for constructing a dual-use international airport that could instantly solve the projected capacity issues at San Diego International.
This week, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority revealed that it is beginning a study to consider just that idea. According to the Authority, a “cross-border terminal” would allow passengers to park on the American side and enter the Tijuana airport through a dedicated walkway. Infrastructure Management Group was selected to perform a passenger demand study as a first step.
Good move. The FAA, in its recently updated FACT 2 study predicting future system capacity needs, identifies San Diego International as one of six U.S. airports that need to be monitored between 2007 and 2015.
These days we hear much about the changing airport environment and about looking at the business of airports in new ways. This is the type of out-of-the-box thinking that could prove the answer for at least one congested region.
Thanks for reading. jfi
If my young memory serves correctly Brown Field has been studied more than the time mentioned by Mr. Caufman. Each time the NIMBY’s or PIG’s always find a serious flaw. The idea that Lindbergh field wasn’t sufficient has been around since the B707 (maybe before). Surprisingly, the governmental leaders of San Diego are reluctant to use Eminent Domain in this case - although this situation would be the very reason the constitutional framers incorporated it into our basic laws. Everyone living in the Southland would benefit from a more modern and SAFER but nobody will step up and be inconvenienced. Too bad, it is costing the city and county millions in tourist’s dollars.
That was the grand plan back in the late 50s and early 60s except the San Diego Mayor and some of his friends bought up the farm land around Brown Field for almost nothing (yes land was cheap back then in San Diego) thinking they would sell to the Port Authority or City for BIG BUCKS. Word of the back room deals leaked out and the project was scrapped. Since then Brown Field has been a taboo subject for an international airport.
One other factor is high terrane to the east of the airport.