Privately owned New Jersey airport fights for its future
A New Jersey superior court judge has delayed until March 2, 2007, a decision about whether Readington Township can condemn and then acquire 625 acres of land around Solberg-Hunterdon Airport. The judge questioned the town's motive for wanting control of the land around the privately owned public-use airport. Solberg Airport owners have fought the town's efforts to take the property, claiming that the town wants to restrict and ultimately close the airport. "Saving privately owned airports raises significant challenges because, unlike most publicly owned airports, there are no binding obligations like federal grant assurances to keep the airport open and operating," said Andy Cebula, AOPA executive vice president of government affairs. "That is why we want the state of New Jersey to enact important protections against using condemnation to take an airport from its owner."
November 17, 2006
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