Regional Affairs
Jackson Hole lease should be extended, AOPA says
An alternative that would grant the Jackson Hole Airport two 10-year extensions of its existing lease has AOPA’s support.
In a letter to Mary Scott, superintendent of the Grand Teton National Park, AOPA Airport Policy Manager John Collins called the airport a “vital transportation asset” and added, “Through the extension of the use agreement and continued operation of the Jackson Hole Airport, the town of Jackson and Teton County, Wyoming, will continue to experience long-term socioeconomic benefits.” The airport is located in the park.
The two 10-year extensions will allow the airport to maintain eligibility for federal funding.
The airport sits on land leased from the National Park Service; the lease is up in April 2033. If the agency does not extend the airport’s use agreement, it will not be eligible for FAA funding after April 2013. Failure to extend the lease would lead to the airport’s closure in 2033.
The closest airport with scheduled passenger service is 90 miles from the Jackson Hole Airport.
June 17, 2009
