Bob Collins
The Star Tribune story today on small airports and the challenges from the encroachment of neighbors is one that’s being played out all across the country.
Many airports, as the Associated Press reported a couple of weeks ago, are being closed to turn them into more housing developments and industrial parks.
Others, like South St. Paul’s Fleming Field, have somewhat warmer relations with their community, provide jobs in their territory, and are deeded to the city (as the Navy did for South St. Paul many years ago) requiring them to remain an airport.
A small airport and neighborhoods can coexist. At Fleming Field, two homes are being torn down (the owner of at least one was more than happy to sell), and some trees on the other end of the neighborhood are being cut down.
Will it make a big difference? Probably not. But the FAA has its rules and the FAA rules.
I videotaped a flight around the airport today to provide an additional perspective on today’s article.
Sit back and enjoy your flight.
