Shortly after earning my private pilot certificate while living in northern California, we planned our first flying vacation. The destination we chose, having young children, was Disneyland, located in the southern part of the state. It's with fond memories of that first successful use of a rented Skyhawk that I think of Fullerton (California) Municipal Airport. This was the closest general aviation airport to Disneyland, and courtesy vans from the surrounding motels eliminated the need for a rental car.
Much to my dismay, last year when I visited Fullerton for an AOPA Pilot Town Meeting, I was informed that the local communities had almost caused this important reliever airport to close.
Several years back, it appeared that the airport might actually be forced to close or severely restrict its operations. The location of the runway placed the airport in one community, yet the noise patterns fell over another. At the eleventh hour, local pilots and airport management joined forces and began an aggressive campaign to save the airport. The result, which I saw firsthand in my trip last year, is that the airport and its neighbors have an excellent relationship — each understanding the concerns and needs of the other. The pilots and owners at Fullerton learned the hard way that it's no longer possible to end problems by using the age-old argument that "the airport was here long before the homes surrounding it." While it's true, homeowners just don't buy that line when noise, safety, and property values are their real concerns.
Unless you fly a hot-air balloon, helicopter, or seaplane, no one has figured out a better place to set down a general aviation airplane than on an airport. But does the county, city, or authority that owns and manages your airport have a full understanding of its real value? Do they know how airports affect the local and regional economy? Do they know that their airport plays a role in the national transportation system? Do they know that general aviation's annual impact on the national economy is more than $42 billion each year, with employment of more than 542,000 people? In most cases, the answer to all these questions is a resounding "no." Often the elected officials who govern the airport actually view the facility as a liability rather than an asset.
AOPA for years has maintained an airports department within its Government and Technical Affairs Division. Within the past two years, we've added to the staff in this area. In addition, we trained our aviation specialists, those who most likely answer your 800-number telephone calls, in basic answers to the most commonly asked questions. It's a fact, but not one we like to be reminded of, that almost weekly, another airport is closed. Unfortunately, most of these are privately owned, and federal financial aid is not available. In these cases, AOPA can do little to save the airport.
Why are these valuable community resources placed under pressure to close? Because the community just isn't aware of the real value of airports. Fallacies and misinformation are disseminated; rarely does the true importance of an airport get conveyed to the non-flying community and elected decision makers. As pilots, we know the value of an airport, but if we do not convince the citizens and elected local officials, our local airport may not only come under attack, but it may close. As your national organization, we stand ready to help in these local battles in any way we can, but the resolution to these threats must be at the local level by making effective use of the political process.
The current Administration has made deep cuts in the FAA operating budget, staffing levels, and grant programs. In many cases, this "reinventing of government" is much needed reform, but such is not the case when these reductions are applied to airports. FAA regional offices are being collapsed, and airports district offices are being closed or consolidated. Federal money for airport improvements is getting tighter, placing additional pressure on our national system of airports. The FAA's Airport Improvement Program budget for fiscal year 1994-1995 has already been cut by more than $300 million. Money set aside by the FAA to fund improvements at reliever airports across the United States has been cut while funding levels for some major metropolitan air-carrier airports have increased.
Unfortunately, we can no longer completely rely on the FAA to defend and protect our public-use airports. The bottom line in all of this is that we face ever increasing challenges in keeping our public-use airports alive, and we must rise to the occasion right now.
Will your airport be next? The time to begin supporting your local airport is before there is pressure to restrict or close it. Garnering support isn't easy, but it's important, especially if the future of your airport is to be guaranteed. These efforts will require a personal commitment on your part to become active in not only local airport issues, but local politics as well, by monitoring and speaking out at meetings. Your active role in advocacy efforts for the airport can make a difference.
For the past year, your association's airport staff has worked to develop a comprehensive guide, a complete how-to book: Obtaining Community Support for Your Local Airport. From forming an airport support group to public relations campaigns, the book provides a step-by-step approach to protecting your airport. This resource can guide you through the steps to change the image of your airport from a liability to an asset. If you don't have a local airport support group, form one now. Begin planning public awareness campaigns and open houses and attend local meetings of your elected officials and the planning commission. But most important, get the community at large involved in the airport. Show them what the airport means to them, or, better yet, what it would mean to lose the airport. AOPA's new 200-page airport book will help you achieve these goals. It's filled with statistical information on economic impact by state and lists other sources to assist you with your local effort. There are some excellent examples of projects that groups around the country have already undertaken, with great success.
Although AOPA personnel from headquarters stand ready to assist you in airport matters, the reality of the matter is that your voice is what really counts in the community. You and your fellow pilots elect the public officials who govern the airport. Your personal commitment to form a local airport support group, to work with the community, local politicians, and airport management, can make a difference. Twenty-five years ago, Disneyland was the major attraction in Orange County. Now there is a vibrant economic community that includes a major convention center and Anaheim Stadium. With this dramatic growth, just ask the pilots and the citizens of the communities surrounding Fullerton Municipal how important this vital transportation link is to their area.
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