Honoring our unique history, on May 30, 2019, the LA99s filed an application to deem the Compass Rose at Santa Monica Airport a historical landmark.  This application represents the first time a Compass Rose has been nominated as a historical landmark.  Anywhere. On September 9, 2019, after hearing two hours of presentations about the significance of the Compass Rose, the Santa Monica Landmark Commissioners unanimously voted to approve the nomination.   

Unfortunately, our September 9, 2019, celebration was short-lived.  An appeal seeking to overturn the decision has been filed.

A hearing will be held before the Santa Monica City Council on November 11, 2024, to make a final determination on the LA99s application to designate the Compass Rose as a Santa Monica landmark.  Because the appeal seeks to overrule the determination that the Compass Rose is a historical landmark, we need your support. You can show your support of the Compass Rose nomination by personally attending the hearing or if you are not able to attend the hearing, write a letter in support of the nomination. A sample letter below contains the relevant information. We appreciate your support!

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Air Marking – Historical Significance

Air marking is fundamental to being a Ninety-Nine. Its history signifies the emergence of women in aviation and the valuable role we played to the aviation community both locally and internationally.

In 1933, one of the 99 founding members, Phoebe Omlie,was appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt as special advisor for air intelligence to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NASA’s predecessor) becoming the first woman to hold aviation related federal position. During her tenure, she initiated an air marking program to paint 12-foot black and orange letters on the roofs of barns, factories, warehouses, and water tanks to identify the locale and the direction of the nearest airport. She hired fellow members of the Ninety-Nines to administer the program in each state.

The International Ninety-Nines’ Compass Rose logo and monogram was designed by Los Angeles chapter member Wilma Fritschey in 1939, and is still used today. The Compass Rose is a directional piece of navigation used by pilots with both historical and functional significance. The unique physical characteristics of the Compass Rose helps pilots identify airports from above by providing the familiar visual feature.

The Compass Rose also provides a unique, significant and historical ground feature as pilots traditionally calibrated their compass according to the orientation of the markings on the ground. The Ninety-Nines logo is prominently featured at the center of the Compass Rose and has been so displayed for many decades.

For information about our Compass Rose, please contact: Eve@LA99s.org