PASO ROBLES
SPACEPORT
INITIATIVE
FAA Part
420 Launch Site
Operator License
City Council Meeting
October 06, 2026
Now 14 commercial spaceports in the US
Cal Poly Students…
Paso Robles Spaceport Training and Research Center
*conceptual rendering
Paso Robles Spaceport Training and Research Center
*conceptual rendering
Preliminary Technical
Review
2022
Cal Poly
2023
FAA 420 License
Application Phase 1
2024
Test Site Development
2025
Airport Master Plan
Update Begins…
2025
RS&H Road Map to
Licensing
2025
EIFD Scoping
2025
RS&H Economic
Impact Study
2025
Special Joint Session:
City Council
Planning Commission
Airport Commission
March 4th, 2026
Paso Robles Spaceport Development Timeline:
FAA Part 420 Spaceport License — Progress & Path to Completion 10 licensing plans have received conditional FAA approval 4 major workstreams remain before a complete application can be submitted.
COMPLETED DOCUMENTS WITH CONDITIONAL FAA APPROVAL
✓ Spaceport Records Management Plan
✓ Spaceport User Guide
✓ Public Access Control Plan
✓ Ground Operations Safety Plan
✓ Mishap & Emergency Response Plan
✓
Explosive Site Plan
Hazard Analysis
Scheduling & Notifications Plan
Scheduling & Notifications Procedure
General Site Familiarization &
Safety Training
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
FAA Part 420 Spaceport License — Progress & Path to Completion 10 licensing plans have received conditional FAA approval 4 major workstreams remain before a complete application can be submitted.
MAJOR REQUIREMENTS REMAINING
1 Flight Safety & Risk Analysis
2 Letters of Agreement
U.S. Coast Guard, FAA Air Traffic, Tribal, and emergency-response coordination. 3 Airport Layout Plan
4 Environmental Review
State/federal review and permitting, including anticipated NEPA/CEQA documentation.
RS&H PATH TO FINAL APPLICATION
Coordinate with FAA AST and review existing application materials / FAA correspondence Prepare gap analysis and licensing-completion roadmap
Complete technical, flight-safety, risk and environmental analyses (EIR) Coordinate agencies and prepare execution-ready LOAs
Update and assemble documents;
Prepare the final Part 420 application package
Project Costs
Total Project Cost
(Not-to-Exceed)
$786,455.49
RS&H has proposed a not-to-exceed project
cost of $786,455.49 to complete the scope
of services associated with the Spaceport
License application.
Funding Sources
Funding for the proposed spaceport license application
process was anticipated and included in the City’s Operating and Capital Budget Report for FY 2026–27.
Senate Bill 1090
Economic Vitality Fund
Funds can only be used for Economic Development
General Fund
Remaining project costs ~$337,000
~$450,000
Anticipated Project Timeline
Options
1. Take no action;
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with RS&H, Inc. for a not-to-exceed project cost of $786,455.49 to complete the remaining outstanding requirements for the City’s Federal Aviation Administration Part 420 Horizontal Launch Site Operator License, including any minor, technical, or non-substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney, for the preparation of all required technical documentation and supporting materials, and completion and submittal of the LSOL application to the FAA on behalf of the City of Paso Robles and Paso Robles Municipal Airport;
3. Do not approve the Professional Services Agreement for the completion and submittal of the Part 420 Horizontal Launch Site Operator License application to the FAA and direct staff to discontinue further efforts related to obtaining a FAA Part 420 Horizontal LSOL for the Paso Robles Municipal Airport.
4. Provide alternative direction to staff.
Recommendation:
• Option 2 – Approve Resolution 26-XXX, authorizing the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with RS&H, Inc. for a not-to-exceed project cost of $786,455.49 to complete the remaining outstanding requirements for the City’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 420 Horizontal Launch Site Operator License (LSOL), including any minor, technical, or non-substantive changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney, for the preparation of all required technical documentation and supporting materials, and completion and submittal of the LSOL application to the FAA on behalf of the City of Paso Robles and Paso Robles Municipal Airport;
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