Close the Airport . . .

[NickDG 23]

In my world we are trying to keep a liitle airport open.

A letter to the editor . . .

"Capt. Eddie . . ."

Having a pier, a harbor, and an airport is a southern California rarity that elevates Oceanside. When a storm takes out the pier we will rebuild it. When the harbor entrance fills with sand we will dredge it. When the airport is under attack we will . . .

In the 1980s when the first housing development began on the northern front of the airport I went and talked to the sales agent. Saying I was interested in buying I offered up reservations about living so close to the airport. "Don’t worry," the agent told me, "they hardly use that anymore." And to put the cherry on it he continued, "and it's slated to be closed soon anyway."

No study will uncover the true value of the airport. There's no price to be put on how many careers in aviation have begun there, how many folks looked up during the annual air show to see a world larger than the one they inhabit, and never mind flying is one of human kind's better achievements and so should be celebrated. But, let's get away from the abstract. Let's talk about this airport.

Let's talk about Cub Ernie, who along with his high school chum Tim, built a Piper Cub from parts when they were both 17-years old. Twenty five years later they were still flying that plane out of Oceanside. I don't know how many people had their first taste of flight in that Cub, hundreds anyway.

Let's talk about Captain Eddie, a retired Eastern airline pilot well into his eighties (WWI Ace, Capt. Rickenbacker was his boss) who spent his last years happily in his hangar building his own aircraft. Anyone could walk in there as he worked, and many did, and Capt Eddie would just start out, "We're into a stormy Pittsburgh night in the DC-3 with an engine out and the visibility is nothing . . ." Meanwhile his hands never leave his work.

Let's talk about Old Bud, a mechanics' mechanic, always wiping his hands before tirelessly moving on to the next thing. Many a pilot with an irksome warning light are very grateful for Oceanside airport, and that on a early Sunday morning Old Bud was there to say, "Go ahead, it's all right now."

Those three people are dead now. And if you knew them you would have loved them. But, you know what? There are others, who just like them, love aviation, and they are hanging onto this airport by their fingertips. And once it's gone, it's gone forever.

I know we will never change the minds of the totally airport opposed. But, I do know there are more than "sixteen" of us. There's everyone who's ever built a model plane. There's everyone who flies on an airliner but never watches the movie because they are too busy looking out the window. There is everyone who knows it's a risk in having an airport close by, but there is so much more than that . . .

Nick DiGiovanni
San Diego, Ca

[airtwardo 7]

Give some more insight Nick~

Is the Oceanside airport shutting down?

Reasons given?

What 'else' can those of us that have used and love that place DO to stop it?

My memories of that airport are where I learned to fly a twin
without all the traffic and congestion that is common at the other Sandy Eggo area airports.
(where I finally figured out what the 'bowling pin' sitting out in that field by the "5" was really for!

Fill us in on the 'happs', I know a lotta aviators...!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[Programmer 0]

That's actually become a pretty common theme. Here's how it works:
1) developer buys vacant property near an airport - it's cheap, most folks don't want to live next to an airport
2) developer sells houses near the airport to people who mainly don't fly, they just want an affordable house
3) now that there are a lot of people who live near the airport, developer's lawyer goes to the county commision ( or whoever ) and argues that the airport should be closed because the noise is bothering all the people who live near the airport
4) airport is closed
5) land value goes up
6) profit
It would help if there was legislation that says you can't complain about airport noise if the airport was there before your house was, but most voters don't use airports.

I assume you've already contacted AOPA. Sometimes they can help with things like this. Good luck.

[Andy9o8 2]

Friends at my fave northern DZ, Crosskeys, are concerned that that's exactly what may happen to them.

[jonstark 8]

AOPA's all over it already.

Nick, You're a good man for getting involved. A few friends have already moved out to be rid of the hassles.

(When you going to get up this way so's I can show you my 180 project? It's coming along well.)

jon

[tbrown 26]

It would help if there was legislation that says you can't complain about airport noise if the airport was there before your house was, but most voters don't use airports.