AOPA asks New Jersey governor to intervene in hangar evictions
State's GA industry 'under threat'
With pilots and business owners facing eviction from a New Jersey airport to make way for construction of one new hangar to be reserved for the state's firefighters, AOPA urged Gov. Mikie Sherrill to intervene.
In a July 8 letter, AOPA Vice President of Airports and State Advocacy Leon Jackler raised concerns about the long-term decline in public-use airports in the state, and the potential consequences of a plan to demolish most hangars at Aeroflex/Andover Airport. The loss of those historic hangars, which house the Andover Flight Academy; a maintenance shop; and many classic, fabric-covered aircraft, would cut off the airport's revenue and put it on a path toward closure. One hangar would remain, for the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, which is the owner of the airport. "Inevitably, the loss of these hangars will result in the closure of both businesses," Jackler wrote. "Beyond the immediate loss of jobs and income, the flight school accounts for approximately 90 [percent] of airport operations and more than 80 [percent] of the airport's fuel sales, purchasing more than 2,000 gallons each month. Intentionally or not, the Fire Service's plan will only serve to diminish the airport as a public-use facility. But with your leadership, we can prevent this loss."
"As a pilot yourself, you understand the majesty of taking flight, and that it is a shame to put access to that dream further out of reach for New Jersey residents," Jackler wrote, requesting a meeting with the governor to include AOPA and members of the state GA community "to discuss these challenges and explore ways to strengthen protection for our airports, preserve their economic contributions, and ensure that they remain available to serve the needs of New Jersey residents for generations to come."
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service issued eviction notices to the tenants and posted a statement on Facebook in June about the pending hangar demotion. Jackler noted in his letter to the governor that the state had 82 public-use airports in 1950, and only 40 remain, including 23 privately-owned, public-use airfields (comprising 58 percent of the state's airport system.) Many of these airports face development threats. The GA industry generates $2.8 billion in economic activity and supports about 13,000 jobs, according to a 2016 state study. "At the same time, airports face increasing threats from incompatible land use, airspace hazards, and a lack of dedicated state funding," Jackler wrote.
To ensure that you receive AOPA advocacy alerts, please take the time to go to your AOPA membership profile (click "My Account" at the top of any page). Click “Manage Preferences,” and make sure that there is a green check mark next to “Advocacy-VOCUS Comms” at the bottom of the page.
