For the past 60 years, the sounds of air travel have hung over the city of Biddeford, Maine. Now this sound is in danger of being silenced forever.
The airport that was opened in 1951 is proving to be less of a source of income and more of an economic burden to the people. In the past three years, the cost of maintaining the airport is higher than the income it brings in.
To close the airport would cost approximately $3 million. According to records in the City Assessor’s office, the land on which the airport is built is worth approximately $1.6 million, leaving taxpayers to front the remaining amount.
The remaining balance seems to have people up in arms over the subject. Roland Pelletier, a home owner who has lived next to the airport for 25 years, says that he was fine with the airport until it began taking his money. Roland said, “The money is the biggest thing. If it was self-supporting, fine. Let it go on.”
Roland later said on the towns online poll, “NTSB (National Transportation Board) has a report of a pilot, who was also an instructor pilot, hit the trees at the end of the runway because he did not do a correct pre-flight check.”
In the past, there had been some controversy about the amount of trees needed to be cut down and cases where people have wandered onto runways. Tom Bryand, the airport manager, said that, “We have pedestrians, motorcycles, four wheelers (and) ATVs all using it (the runway). They just use is as a backyard and that’s against regulations.”
Paul Archambault, Chairman of Shut Our Little Airport (SOLA) and lives close to the airport, said that money is the key concern. Paul said, “Sure this started out as a fight about trees and public access. But it’s not just about that anymore. Now it’s about money, too.”
Mark Richman, a worker from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that he has seen other small city airports close to save money for the residents. Mark said, “While it may inconvenience the pilots and some of the passengers, more often than not people seem to be better off without the airport.”
In an attempt to validate the need of an airport, pilot Phyllis Landry said that it is still a great resource of income for the city. “I’ve been flying out of this airport for 25 years. I know business people who fly in here all the time.”
Phyllis also said that by closing the airport would cause trouble for the rest of the town’s economy. “If I couldn’t fly out of here I’d have to go to Sanford or Portland. “
Paul doesn’t necessarily think that closing the airport should mean that another business would have to move in. “Maybe put an industrial park in there. Or how about a wind farm? We could provide power to the nearby schools. That’s the kind of progress we’d like to see. We’re trying to be positive and constructive.”
Joseph Blank, a member of the National Association for Small City Airports (NASCA) said that not all cities can support one. “In my time with the association I have seen a number of airports thrive in small cities. Unfortunately, some are just not cut out for it, and I think that is what the case here is.”
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
UNH Dean of Students Speaks About Alcohol
On New Hampshire Public Radio this morning, UNH Dean of Students Anne Lawing talked about the severity of underage drinking.
Lawing said that she was concerned about the frightening level of problems related to alcohol. These problems range from missing classes to thousands of deaths nationwide.
While she admits that there is no way to put an end to drinking at colleges, she does advise caution and good judgment to students that partake in these parties. “Students have been drinking as long as there have been students,”she said jokingly.
Sheila Lambert, coordinator of an alcohol awareness program at Southern New Hampshire University, comments that the problem is not as bad as some people may think.
Lambert said, “It is a misperception that students are always drinking too much. In our survey from spring 2009, we found that the majority of students partake in drinking in low risk ways, usually having less than four drinks a week.”
If students are beginning to cut down on the amount of alcohol consumed, Lawing still sees this as a prominent problem. “We are tired of all these problems,” Lawing said, “It wastes time of both the local and on campus police.”
Lawing said that she was concerned about the frightening level of problems related to alcohol. These problems range from missing classes to thousands of deaths nationwide.
While she admits that there is no way to put an end to drinking at colleges, she does advise caution and good judgment to students that partake in these parties. “Students have been drinking as long as there have been students,”she said jokingly.
Sheila Lambert, coordinator of an alcohol awareness program at Southern New Hampshire University, comments that the problem is not as bad as some people may think.
Lambert said, “It is a misperception that students are always drinking too much. In our survey from spring 2009, we found that the majority of students partake in drinking in low risk ways, usually having less than four drinks a week.”
If students are beginning to cut down on the amount of alcohol consumed, Lawing still sees this as a prominent problem. “We are tired of all these problems,” Lawing said, “It wastes time of both the local and on campus police.”
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