Action urged on Linden Airport violations

In 2017 the FAA inspected the airport—a New York City-area facility for light general aviation aircraft where many AOPA members and a flying club base aircraft—and pointed out conditions that violate the terms under which the city accepted federal airport improvement grant funds.

“The FAA asked the city to submit a corrective action plan and, to date, the city has not complied,” said AOPA Manager of Airport Policy Adam Williams. “Until the city is back in compliance, it may be ineligible for AIP grants, which would make it impossible to maintain the airport to standards.”

Williams attended the Oct. 16 meeting of the Linden City Council and urged officials to take up the issue before deteriorating conditions affect safety and operations at the city-owned airport that supports 123 jobs and $8 million in payroll, according to a 2016 study.

Working in conjunction with a community group, the Friends of Linden Airport, AOPA recommended that the city make it a priority to restore the airport’s FAA compliance, plan and support future capital projects, “and create a culture of accountability,” he said.

The airport support group believes a revitalized Linden Airport could leverage its urban location to inject millions of dollars into the local area’s economy, said Roger Levy, president of the Friends of Linden Airport.

“Linden Airport is the only truly ‘general’ GA airport within 20 miles of New York City,” he said. “Just a few years ago, the field boasted two runways and more than 100 aircraft based here. Now, due to poor planning, lax oversight and careless management, the airport has lost one runway, and has fewer than 50 aircraft on the field.”