CAA: GA News, "Small airports still struggling after Sept. 11"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Sunday, February 3, 2002

Small airports still struggling after Sept. 11
By Dawn Marks
The Oklahoman


Five months later, as some smaller Oklahoma airports still struggle with
the financial effects of Sept. 11, security challenges are fast
approaching. 

In the weeks after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington,
general aviation activity greatly decreased, leaving smaller airports
without fuel sales to pay for day-to-day operations, said Bill Miller,
director of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission. 

"Those first three months, fuel sales were down significantly. Yes, it
has hurt," Miller said. 

According to Ken Reid, airport board chairman, fuel sales have not
recovered from Sept. 11 at Thomas P. Stafford Airport in Weatherford,
and the airport may have to ask the city for financial help. The airport
sold 420 gallons in the first two weeks of January, when levels normally
are about 3,000 gallons. 

To make matters worse, owners aren't flying their planes, and more
people seem to be visiting the Thomas P. Stafford Air and Space Museum
than using airport services, he said. 

"I suspect it will take two years or more to recover," Reid said. 

Airport board members will decide in February what type of help they
will request from the city. A contractor runs the city-owned airport
independently from the city budget. 

Mayor Ed Berrong Jr. said he would recommend that the city provide a
subsidy rather than taking over operations. 

In addition, Stafford has offered to let the city use money from the
operating funds of the museum to help out, Reid said. 

Miller said two bills pending in Congress would provide grants or loans
to small general aviation airports impacted between Sept. 11 and Dec.
31. More than likely, Oklahoma airports will be eligible for loans since
airports in the east were shut down longer. In addition, cities
traditionally are supportive of their airports, he said. 

Tracy Yoder, Clinton Municipal Airport manager, said the airport was
selling less fuel even before Sept. 11. Air traffic is slightly less
than normal for this time of year, as well, she said. 

"I think it's just the economy. People just can't afford it," Yoder
said. 

Sustained flight training has helped Clinton, as well as other airports
such as Stillwater Regional. 

Gary Johnson, Stillwater airport director, said there also has been an
increase in corporate flying that has kept the airport financially
stable. 

"We're probably one of the fortunate ones to have sustained flight
activity," he said. 

But, he knows he will need to look at security measures soon and could
need state assistance. 

Miller said the commission is working to understand security regulations
in the works in Congress and at the Federal Aviation Administration. For
smaller airports, it could mean large amounts of fencing, which could
put other projects, such as runway work, on hold if the state has to
help pay for security measures. 

"That would set us back a while," he said. 

Some airports were already discussing fencing before the terrorist
attacks. Ada Municipal Airport will install five miles of fence for
$300,000 this year, manager Terry Hall said. 

Meanwhile, the commission is conducting a security assessment at
airports across the state to prepare for the regulations.


   Post your opinion on this story in the CAA General Aviation Forum
http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID2

*****************************************