Sun, Mar 30, 2003
Long-Running Effort Finally Pays Off
Fort Wayne, Indiana's Smith Field (SMD) is safe today, thanks to
the long, persistent efforts of local pilots. Working closely with
AOPA and EAA, the local pilots' group SAFE (Smith Airfield ForEver)
yesterday convinced the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority
to overturn its earlier decision to close the general aviation
airport this coming summer.
SAFE fought a years-long battle against the airport authority,
which seemed determined to close Smith Field, no matter what. The
pilots' organization lined up support from businesses and even
community members in the neighborhoods around Smith Field. SAFE
organized a rally in support of the airport earlier this year, at
which Boyer and AOPA Vice President of Airports Anne Esposito spoke
in support of Smith Field. Boyer and Esposito also spent much of
that day talking to local reporters about the value of keeping the
airport open.
AOPA, EAA Join Fight
Helping to lead the fight to keep the airport open has been
AOPA's Airport Support Network volunteer Ken Russell. "The reason
AOPA formed the ASN Program in the first place was to help save
airports," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "The hard work of our
more than 1,400 volunteers nationwide does not go unnoticed, and
the efforts of Ken and all the local supporters are proof that
airports can be saved from closure through the hard work of pilots,
backed by a strong national organization like AOPA."
The airport authority's vote Thursday to keep Smith Field open
was four commissioners in favor, one abstention, and one
absent.
Concerns Linger
The deciding
vote came from board member Dan Weaver who said last week that he
was ready to vote to keep the airport open. The only dissenting
vote came from Cathy Zehr, who was in favor of delaying the closure
in order to further explore financial and safety issues. Last week
Zehr and board member Deborah Sturges boycotted the scheduled March
17 meeting, which delayed the vote until this week. Sturges did not
vote in yesterday's meeting, as she was on vacation.
SMDFund Chairman and EAA member Joe Tocci told EAA that his
group still holds several concerns about SMD's future. Some of
these concerns regard pending historic registry issues and federal
versus private funding. SMDFund filed a lawsuit against the airport
authority on February 12, 2003, that called for the authority's
disbandment. The group does not intend to drop the suit. "We have
done our homework over the last 23 months and we will not shame
ourselves," Tocci said.
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