No Commercial Service, No Need For Field?
Aero-News has learned
that the Steamboat Springs (CO) City Council will consider closure
of Bob Adams Field/Steamboat Springs Airport at a meeting Tuesday
night.
The issue arises as the airport is in need of a new Master Plan
for its development. The Colorado Aviation News reports the last
plan was created in 1998, and it needs to be updated -- at a cost
of around $250,000, with the FAA footing over half the bill and the
state picking up an additional $30,000.
One council member, however, questions the need for an airport
in the first place. Councilwoman Susan Dellinger wants the option
of closing the airport considered.
The last scheduled commercial flight departed SBS in 1995.
Today, commercial traffic favors nearby Yampa Valley Regional
Airport (HDN), 16 nautical miles to the west.
That means Bob Adams Field -- which features a 4,450' x 100'
runway, and is located in the heart of Rocky Mountain skiing
country -- is a GA-only mecca (albeit a snowy one, and
prone to crosswinds.)
Despite a lack of
commercial traffic, the field also contributes $7.5 million
annually to the state and local economies, according to the
Colorado Department of Transportation. The airport also generates
about 116 jobs, including two full-time and four part-time jobs at
the city-owned FBO.
So... what's approximately $95,000 -- roughly the cost of
Steamboat Spring's total investment in a new Master Plan -- against
$7.5 million? Even taking our natural pro-airport bias out of the
equation (wait a sec... okay, done) simple math would seem to
support keeping the airport open... right?
In fact, the math has already been done, as recently as three
years ago. A study prepared by the Yampa Valley Airport Commission
(of which Dellinger is a member) said both the commission and the
FAA supported keeping both airports open.
The 2003 study also said that closing SBS would result in costs
as high as $18.8 million, factoring in such expenses as relocating
current SBS tenants to Yampa Valley, paying back FAA grant money
and expected legal costs of fighting such organizations as
AOPA.
Closing SBS would also result in approximately $4.5 million in
economic damage to the area, according to the 2003 study.
"It appears that there
is no economic, social or safety justification to consider closing
Bob Adams and consolidating all aeronautical activity at YVRA," the
study determined. "In fact, it appears that the risks of doing so
far out-weigh any benefits."
"...The current two-airport model, using Bob Adams and Yampa
Valley Regional in a complementary manner, is in the best overall
interests of the Community," the 2003 commission found.
So... what's changed since then? We're not sure. The meeting is
scheduled for 5 pm Tuesday night... and while no vote is expected
then, ANN expects to hear more on this issue. Stay tuned.
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