FAA backs off airspace plan that could have brought more jet traffic over Redlands

REDLANDS, Calif. — A federal proposal that could have increased jet traffic over Redlands neighborhoods and complicated operations for local pilots has been withdrawn, following strong public opposition from the aviation community and area residents.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had proposed expanding controlled airspace around San Bernardino International Airport (SBD), citing the need to improve safety and accommodate growing air freight operations. However, the plan faced immediate criticism for overlapping with airspace used by Redlands Municipal Airport (REI), just seven miles to the east.

Many who fly out of REI feared the changes would limit access to the sky above Redlands, force smaller aircraft into tighter spaces, and lead to more large jets flying low over residential areas.

On Friday, April 18, the FAA published a notice formally withdrawing the plan, citing concerns raised in 46 written comments and three phone calls submitted during the public review period. Most commenters opposed the changes, pointing out that SBD lacks radar equipment and that the new airspace would leave just 100 feet of vertical separation between REI’s traffic pattern and SBD’s proposed Class D shelf—a setup they said was unsafe.

“The FAA agrees that the Class D shelf within the proposal could compress KREI traffic under the shelf,” the agency wrote in its withdrawal notice.

Ted Gablin, president of the Redlands Airport Association, noted that the proposed airspace design bore similarities to the configuration at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where a tragic midair collision occurred on January 29, 2025. In that incident, an American Eagle regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided over the Potomac River, resulting in the loss of all 67 individuals aboard both aircraft.

“This proposal had similar attributes,” Gablin said. “It would have created very little vertical separation between planes flying in and out of Redlands and aircraft approaching San Bernardino. All it takes is one small mistake, and you could have a midair incident.”

Gablin also emphasized that while the FAA dismissed concerns about the lack of radar at SBD as "outside the scope" of the rule, it's a critical safety factor. “You can’t expand what you can’t see,” he said. “Controlled airspace implies that there’s some ability to monitor aircraft. Right now, the tower in San Bernardino still relies on binoculars.”

The original plan included new procedures for jets landing on Runway 24 at SBD, routing them over Mentone, Green Spot Road, and parts of Redlands. Gablin explained that this redesign was partly aimed at relieving congestion in the region’s crowded skies by giving air traffic controllers more flexibility to direct flights away from an overused navigation point in Corona.

“If it had gone through, it would have opened up more room for jet traffic into San Bernardino,” he said. However, the freight traffic is directly connected to consumer demand for products coming in from overseas.

Local pilots, instructors, and community members also raised concerns about noise, pollution and the potential loss of access for ultralight and recreational pilots. The FAA noted many of those concerns but deemed them "not directly related" to the airspace rule.

A radar display system is expected to be installed at SBD by 2026. Aviation leaders hope any future proposals will better balance safety and local needs.

The full withdrawal notice is available on the Federal Register at https://federalregister.gov/d/2025-06609.

Community Forward Redlands will continue to monitor this issue.