Make Way For The Casinos
Aero-News has learned
that New Jersey's Bader Field will soon be closing its doors, and
its runways... after receiving word from the FAA that its fate is
sealed after the airport's current funding dries up in
September.
Despite efforts from such entities as the Aircraft Owners and
Pilots Association...in the end, it was lack of community interest
that doomed Bader, a 143-acre facility within a stone's throw of
casinos on the Atlantic City boardwalk.
As AOPA President Phil Boyer says, in the end "the gambling
interests were stronger than the aviation interests"... a matter
not helped by the fact the former head of the New Jersey Aviation
Association, Tom Carver, is now executive director of the Casino
Reinvestment Development Authority... which is offering to pay for
studies and consultants to the city to turn the airport into
something else.
Carver told the New Jersey Courier-Post there was "no desire"
from the community to keep Bader Field open... a lack of interest
confirmed by AOPA, who reports that as of 2001, only 10 aircraft
were based at the airport.
It isn't hard to see why, as neglect on the part of community,
and city leaders, doomed the airport to a state of disrepair...
even to the point the city was cited by the FAA for poor repairs to
Bader's runways, driving away business from the airport.
As pilots and businesses fled, says Boyer... so to went any
political clout Bader Field had.
"All politics are local," said Boyer. "A national organization
like AOPA can have some influence on local politicians, but
ultimately they respond to the loudest and most influential voices
among their voters."
It's worth noting that pilots elsewhere can help ensure that
their own airport doesn't go the way of Bader. Boyer says that by
becoming involved in the local community, and by being an advocate
for your airport, pilots may push local authorities to apply for
federal grants to maintain and improve the airport.
"Spending $10 to get $90 should look mighty good to local
taxpayers, if they know about it," said Boyer. Federal Airport
Improvement Program (AIP) grants are a 90-10 match; the federal
government will pay 90 percent of the project cost if the local
entity pays 10 percent.
"But there is a string tied to a federal airport grant," Boyer
adds, "a contractual obligation to operate the airport for 20
years, or in perpetuity if the grant is used to buy land."