|
139 and counting down . . .
According to WSDOT General Aviation will grow 44%
over the next 20 years. Sometime back we had over 300 airports in the
State of Washington. We now have 139. As if that fact is not a wakeup
call, consider how many of the remaining139 airports are being managed
and/or governed by public servants and/or citizens with no or limited
expertise in aviation. Consider the fact that airports, because of noise
and perceived safety concerns, have been deemed to be a pariah for
politicians. When was the last time you heard of a new airport being
built . . . kind of fits with nuclear power plants. We, as technicians
and engineers know they are safe and needed . . . but the public is
clueless.
Consider for a moment; why would the Chelan County
Planning department grant a permit to the owner of an old church to
convert it to a daycare center knowing the structure was on the approach
end of Runway 7 at Cashmere (See page 17 of the new Airport Reference
Guide)? Why did the County of Snohomish request FEMA use the Density
Fringe methodology for Harvey Field knowing that the airport would be
incompatible? Why the war between Pierce County and the City of Tacoma
over improvements to the Tacoma Narrows Airport? Why has the City of
Kennewick hired a non-aviation consultant for $58,805.57 to “identify
the highest and best use of the Vista Field Airport Property?” Why did
the Port of Hoquium allow a 911 tower to be built at the outer marker?
And what about landing fees at BFI? And the list goes on.
Back in 1996 we were all so proud that the State
legislature enacted a recommendation for all municipalities to adopt
“safety and noise” overlays. Let’s prevent incompatible land development
about our airports. To date we know that 40% of these municipalities are
not in compliance. The legislature passed recommendations to the Growth
Management Act calling airports Essential Public Facilities. So how do
Cities and Ports have the right to close these facilities? A few years
ago WSDOT modified the language within their Grant Assurance Program.
Yet last week the Port of Kennewick stated that they were not obligated
to keep their airport open during the useful life of the project that
our aviation taxes paid for? They believe they only have to pay back the
“borrowed” funds.
If General Aviation is to survive in Washington,
airports must be removed from or at best isolated from community
politics. During our Board of Directors Retreat in Wenatchee we spent a
great deal of time discussing ways to insulate our remaining airports.
Here are four recommendations that will protect our future;
1. Require (not recommend) compliance with Noise
and Safety Overlays to eliminate incompatible land use zoning.
2. Strengthen the definition of an Essential Public
Facility and tie it to Growth Management and Land Use Compatibility
3. All Property Owners must assume responsibility
for all obstructions affecting the safe operation of an airport. It is
not the obligation of the airport to displace the threshold because a
tree or cell tower creates a significant safety hazard to aircraft.
4. Monies received through the WSDOT Airport Aid
Program come with a strictly enforced Agreement. “The Public Entity
agrees to keep the facility open during the useful life of the project
or for a stated term of years, whichever is longer, as determined by the
Aviation Division”. The minimum, regardless of project, should be 20
years from the date of completion.
And
finally to put some teeth into the WPA we have begun the process to
establish a Political Action Committee (PAC). We have guidelines to
write and legal research to complete. But without the money to fund
candidates and buy newspaper and radio ads in communities with one sided
interests, we have limited influence. As I have said so many times
before, if you fly in this State, if you are a 152 driver, a freight
dog, a G-5 corporate owner, or belong to local airport association you
can no longer sit on the sidelines. It is time to get involved and its
time to join the WPA.John F. Dobson
State President
Washington Pilots Association |
