Extraordinary Airman Honored For Albert Whitted Airport Save

ANN was pleased to be in attendance when AOPA recognized one of the figureheads from one of the most successful and positive GA victories of 2003. AOPA President Phil Boyer honored Jack Tunstill, the AOPA Airport Support Network (ASN) volunteer for St. Petersburg, Fla.'s Albert Whitted Airport, at a surprise dinner Thursday night. Tunstill was the driving force locally behind the triumphant effort to save the bayside airport, working in close coordination with AOPA's Airports department.

"Jack epitomizes the ASN volunteer," said Boyer. "He spoke out in strong defense of Albert Whitted in the face of apparently overwhelming odds. He worked to coordinate the efforts of two airport support groups — the Airport Advisory Council and the Albert Whitted Airport Preservation Society — both of which are represented here tonight. He helped St. Petersburg residents understand the true consequences of the anti-airport ballot initiative. In short, he supported his airport and he never gave up."

Albert Whitted Airport (SPG) had been under attack by a group that wanted to close the airport and turn half of it into a waterfront park. The proposal did not mention what was to become of the other half of the airport property, but because backers of the park proposal included a real estate developer, residents were concerned that more waterfront high-rises might be in the works.

Thanks to Tunstill's efforts, in concert with the airport support groups and AOPA, St. Petersburg voters overwhelmingly supported keeping Albert Whitted open in perpetuity, three-to-one in favor, and rejected a companion measure to turn the land into a park by a similar margin.

As a result of the vote, St. Petersburg's mayor, who had never been a strong airport backer, has recognized the will of his constituents and has reached out to AOPA for support in revitalizing Albert Whitted.

The Presidential Citation Boyer presented to Tunstill read in part, "For your leadership, tenacity and advocacy for Albert Whitted Airport. Your successful efforts ensure that SPG remains an airport and preserve this vital transportation link in the nation's air transportation system."

AOPA established the Airport Support Network more than five years ago to help stem the tide of airport closures. The network has grown to include volunteers at nearly 1,600 general aviation airports across the country. ASN volunteers act as advocates for their local airports in their communities and before local governments. They are also AOPA's liaisons with individual airports, making sure the association is aware of any issues at the airports. In return, AOPA offers the volunteers the resources they need to advocate on behalf of the airport, as well as technical and tactical support if the airport is under fire.

"Our nation continues to lose too many airports every year," said Boyer. "We desperately need people like Jack and the rest of our nearly 1,600 ASN volunteers to ensure that our best-in-the-world aviation system remains strong."

E-I-C Note: This was a great night for Tunstill and the many pilots and friends he counted on for support and consult through one of the most persuasive GA victories in recent memory. A cadre of true aviation advocates told stories for several hours that recounted how intense and aggressive their efforts were... efforts that ultimately saved an airport and showed the world that GA can and will (from here on out) fight it's own battles and its history of silent victimization. With truly aggressive support from AOPA (who was smart enough to realize, right from the get-go, how pivotal this effort might become), the aviation world, still smarting form the impending loss of Meigs Field finally got a chance to show its stuff in a fair fight and won.... persuasively. 

There are some amazing lessons to be learned from this victory because there is NO question that this is a battle that will need to be waged again and again... so do expect some future stories from ANN about the behind-the-scenes battle that was waged by some of the best Florida flyers and AOPA staffers we know... and how we can use their sterling example to win more battles in the future.

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