Powerful House Transportation Chairman Says Efforts To Close
Buchanan Field Should Stop
The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee says the FAA should consider wresting control of Buchanan
Field (CCR) from Contra Costa County unless the county abandons its
efforts to close the airport. In a letter to FAA Administrator
Marion Blakey, Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) wrote that continuing
efforts to close the airport, while at the same time spending
federal dollars to study expanding it, are "inconsistent and
wasteful."
The AOPA says the chairman's letter provided powerful ammunition
when AOPA California Regional Representative John Pfeifer testified
against the closure before the county board of supervisors. The
letter is a result of efforts by local members of the Mt. Diablo
Pilots Association and the Friends of Buchanan Field, and local
congressional representatives, Reps. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) and
George Miller (D-CA).
Young, a former resident of Contra Costa County, said county
officials' determination to study closing Buchanan, "has become
detrimental to the continued development of the airport and will
discourage investment by the private sector."
He concluded his letter with a
warning shot. "In the event that the County continues to take
action that is not in the best interest of the airport or our
national aviation system, the FAA must consider transferring the
sponsorship and control of CCR to another local agency that would
be more willing and able to meet its obligation to the Federal
government."
Despite Young's harsh warning, the county's board of supervisors
decided to put out a request for proposals to build a replacement
airport and develop the Buchanan Field land. During a hearing
before the vote, Pfeifer told the supervisors that funding the
study would be a waste of taxpayer money because the FAA has
already said there is almost no chance the agency would approve
closing Buchanan.
The supervisors say they expect the study could take 10 years or
more to complete. Even the main proponent of closing Buchanan,
Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier, was quoted as saying his idea is a "pie
in the sky."
"As the representative of Alaska, where general aviation is a
necessary part of everyday life, Congressman Young understands
better than most the need to preserve our nation's airports," said
AOPA President Phil Boyer. "And as chairman of the committee that
oversees the FAA, his word carries a lot of weight."