The U.S. Supreme Court Monday declined to hear an appeal on the closure of Richards-Gebaur Memorial Airport in Kansas City, Missouri.
"We're disappointed that the Supreme Court decided not to consider our arguments," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "We still think the FAA acted outside the scope of law in allowing this airport to close. But this shows the tenacity of AOPA and local support groups like Friends of Richards-Gebaur in fighting to keep GA airports open. We lose some, but we win more."
AOPA had sued the FAA, contending that the agency had abused its discretion when it released Kansas City from its obligation to maintain the airport under the Surplus Property Act. The city closed the former Air Force base to use the runway for a truck-rail freight facility. The Friends of Richards-Gebaur also sued, arguing that environmental regulations hadn't been followed.
Both suits were combined and heard by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. When that court ruled in favor of the FAA and the city, Friends of Richards-Gebaur and AOPA joined in an appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court's decision is the end of the legal road for Richards-Gebaur, but Friends of Richards Gebaur vowed to keep working on the political level to reopen the airport.
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