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 Viewpoints
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A NEW AIRPORT IN WEAVERVILLE? NOT IN MY BACKYARD You have heard it, so have I, particularly for airport infrastructure- noisy, smelly, an eyesore! Do you know that it costs millions and takes several years to get an airport even if you wanted one? Did you know that more than 96% of the money to establish and build an airport is available at no cost to the local residents? Did you know that the existing Weaverville Airport is substandard and could be closed if a new one is not built? The county has taken action but we need your support. Most experienced and local pilots love the existing airport, the severe uphill runway shortens landing and promotes takeoffs. It is good enough for larger transport aircraft and we have seen a twin engine DC-3 land there recently. However, some pilots have broken airplanes and been killed, along with passengers, when executing a go-around or taking off to the north. This is because pilots unfamiliar with the airport assume a standard level runway; with that mistaken perspective, the trees and rising terrain to the north do not appear to be much of a problem. The reality is that the terrain rises steeper than the climb rate of most loaded aircraft, its like flying into a lethal spiders web. The Weaverville Airport has been used less and less over the past few years; this is partially due to loss of the fixed based operator and fueling systems, but also to some degree due to the notorious reputation and lack of night operations (even though the lights are available at night for emergencies). So why not just close it because of these factors, the risk involved to the county and the cost of insurance? Well it turns out the airport is valuable for a variety of reasons which will be addressed in subsequent articles- but also the state and federal governments are willing to pay for the insurance and most other maintenance with no local match funds required in the amount of $10,000 minimum per year. So what do they know that we as citizens don't know? First and foremost, a new airport built to current standards may actually cost less in the long run than potential lawsuits, but mostly, there is lots of air traffic and commerce in our area between the Sacramento Valley and the coast, the Weaverville airport is the only flat spot for emergency landings in a very large area. Simply put, there is value to the integrated National Airport System. Of course there is also value to the local community and businesses and this will increase as our area grows. Did you know that Bill Gates( Microsoft/richest man in the world) landed his private jet at Weaverville? Had we had an airport with 22 acres of level developable land as is proposed for the relocated airport we just might have gotten a major business satellite right here in Weaver City. The point is that the airport is necessary infrastructure to normal growth-with no growth there is only atrophy and death; same for small towns. We have a chance of a lifetime to support getting a new $21million airport; it can actually be accomplished; plans are in place, sites have been evaluated, the land at a new location is on option, the Environmental Impact Report is about to be released after 3 years of study- this project can happen but only with the support of the people of Weaverville and the whole county. This project is immense by local standards; it could take 2 to 3 years for the construction phase. This activity will bring new people to our area and lots of the project dollars will be spent here giving a real boost to the local economy. It may even be possible to locate the new hospital up on the hill north of town overlooking the Weaver Valley, wouldn't that be special! We are not proposing scheduled airline service or increasing operations that could be an annoying disruption of our daily private lives; we are talking about 7000 operations a year for many years to come. That's 20 take-offs or landings a day average with the takeoff the only noisy operation. Further, the new airport would be at a higher elevation, which is quieter, and with a two-way runway farther from downtown, there would be less take-offs over town. Ten operations a day is small and most aircraft using the airport like the sheriff's Cessna 172 are neither noisy nor smelly. Sometimes you will love the noise, as the planned runway is long enough for some fire fighting and most emergency evacuation aircraft! The citizens of Weaverville deserve a safe, efficient up to standard airport near town to serve a growing population and the County seat. Compare a typical flight to Redding of 10 or 12 minutes verses an hour by car; Ruth is maybe 20 minutes by air but 4 to 5 hours by car. We need fast dependable connections to the outside world to make our local world better; the airport is a key part of that connection and it gives an alternate to the highway. This is a onetime opportunity that has been made available by many dedicated people. Seize the moment, forget about personal differences or the fact that you are not directly benefited, think about our grandchildren and those who come after them- let them be able to experience the freedom of flight and be able to visit or commute easily via airplane; please support your local airport. George A Loegering, Volunteer
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