President's Perspective

Protecting An Endangered Species

In case you're not aware of it, public-use airports are becoming an endangered species.

In 1981, there were 5,846 public-use airports in the United States. Today, that number is 5,041 and still falling. The only good news is that the rate of general aviation airport loss has slowed substantially in the last few years, thanks in part to AOPA's aggressive defense of those landing areas. These days, we're only losing about one or two a month; in the bad old days, it was as many as one a week. Could your airport be next?

AOPA has five full-time staff members dedicated to preserving local airports - maybe even yours. Dozens of other AOPA employees spend significant amounts of time supporting the effort. Since residential encroachment often endangers airports, AOPA works nationally for better zoning, requirements that prospective home purchasers be notified about airport proximity, and other measures to protect general aviation airports.

Yet much of our success in stemming the loss of GA airports is thanks to nearly 1,000 designated AOPA Airport Support Network (ASN) volunteers. These AOPA members watch over their local airports and help to build community support; when the airport is threatened, it's often the AOPA ASN volunteer on the front lines with AOPA staff supplying ammunition.

AOPA has found that most of the commotion about noise and safety comes from just a few residents. The majority of airport neighbors are usually unconcerned, but they can be swayed into signing - or not signing - an anti-airport petition.

Media coverage of anti-airport pro-tests naturally concentrates on the loudest and most strident voices, and politicians can be easily deceived into thinking there is political hay to be made by joining the attack. For those citizen activists and the politicians who pander for their votes, I have a caution: "Be careful what you ask for, because you might get it."

Take the venerable Van Nuys Airport in Southern California, for example. The airport opened in 1928, but for the last 30-some years, it has been locked in a battle with a small but vocal group of its neighbors. Details are related in an excellent op-ed piece that ran in the Sunday, April 15, edition of the Los Angeles Times. It was written by George Jerome, past chair of the Van Nuys Airport Citizens Advisory Council. I quote excerpts from it with Mr. Jerome's permission.

"In 1979 there were about 1,300 piston aircraft at Van Nuys Airport... [and] fewer than 20 jet aircraft. At that time, one homeowner complained constantly about 'those pesky puddle jumpers.' Today, the piston population is down to well under 400; the homeowner got his wish. In return, however, Van Nuys Airport has become the business aviation center of the West Coast, home to more than 100 jet aircraft. I suspect that same homeowner would welcome back those pesky aircraft - if only the jets would go away.

"What brought on this transition? Homeowners complained, and politicians pandered to what they perceived to be a large voter pool. The City of Los Angeles, the airport landlord, constantly raised land rent rates, chasing away the puddle jumpers and sucking in an ever-growing fleet of jet aircraft. Clearly, the City of Los Angeles discovered that it can make far more money at Van Nuys from jet operators instead of the piston aircraft.

"Thank you, homeowner activists seeking a cause. You helped give the city a reason to price piston airplanes out of Van Nuys. Thank you, City of Los Angeles, for renting Van Nuys Airport property at many times what you charge for comparable land on golf courses and for park and recreation land, driving out the small aircraft and sucking in one of the largest fleets of private jets in the United States. Thank you, jet operators, for not only helping save Van Nuys Airport, but helping yourselves to nearly all of it. Finally, thank you, piston airplane owners and operators, for giving up the fight and allowing the airport to be turned into a jetport unfriendly to those of us who populated it for 50 years."

AOPA will continue to fight for GA airports, but local involvement - your involvement - is critical. If you're lucky enough to fly from an airport that is not currently under attack, now is the time to start building community support.

There may already be an AOPA ASN volunteer at your airport. If so, he or she would undoubtedly welcome your help in showing the community the value of your airport. If there is no ASN volunteer, please consider becoming one. For more information, visit the Web site ( www.aopa.org/asn/). The airport you save may be your own.