Base Officials Oppose Joint Use of Airfield

POINT MAGU — Citing safety concerns and potential expansion of base activities, Point Mugu naval officials on Tuesday all but killed a long-debated proposal to open its runway to commercial jets.

Navy officials oppose any joint use of the 11,000-foot-long landing strip, the commander of the Point Mugu Naval Air Weapons Station told a panel of county and city officials.

The announcement effectively scraps a 5-year-old proposal to bring commercial cargo jets and, eventually, passenger service, to the airfield.

The airport authority converted to inactive status at the conclusion of Tuesday’s meeting. The panel will meet once a year unless talks with the Navy are renewed, panel members decided.