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.

FMI: www.aopa.org, www.eaa.org