Usually the creation of a master plan is thought of as a tool to help protect an airport.
But as airport officials at Blaine Municipal Airport/Dierks Field (4W6) in Blaine, Wash., have learned, a master plan — or rather a lack of federal funding for one — can lead to an airport closing.
"The issue started a few years ago with trees in the approach to runway 32," said Doug Fenton, chairman of the Blaine Airport Commission, which oversees the airport, situated on 34 acres about a mile outside Blaine, which is close to the Canadian border.
Established in 1947 as a private grass strip, the airport eventually grew into a municipal facility with the city of Blaine as its sponsor. There is no FBO at the airport, but there is a handful of aviation businesses. Approximately 30 aircraft are based at Blaine, which has about 5,000 operations annually. The asphalt runway, 14/32, measures 2,490 feet. The end of 32 is displaced 300 feet because of trees.
To get federal money to repay the loan for the property acquisition and tree cutting, the airport needed an updated master plan.
That's a fair assessment, says Meredith Riley, finance director for the City of Blaine.
FAA officials could not be reached by press time.
The ordinance — which narrowly passed by a 4-3 vote — mandates that the council develop a plan that will shut down the field within two years. According to Riley, there are no outstanding federal grants but there may be some state obligations that will have to be paid.
Fenton noted that the decision to close the airport was not unexpected, but obviously not welcomed by airport tenants.
"I know of one person who is meeting with an attorney to bring action because of this," he said, adding that more lawsuits are likely to follow. "By the time they pay off old state grants and settle with lease holders who are being ejected prematurely, I am sure that the price of closing the airport will equal or exceed what they get for the land," he said.
Fenton hopes other small airports will use what happened to Blaine Municipal as a cautionary tale.
It's sad to see the airport closed now.
It's funny that someone actually thought it had "strategic value"?????