Biddeford Airport in Danger of Closing

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.”