Wed, Sep 14, 2011
TTF Fees Jump 900%, Runway Access Blocked By Tractor
What's it worth to have access to a municipal airport runway for
tenants of your private hangar? There appears to be a considerable
difference of opinion on that question between a private hangar
business called the Taildragger Inn, and the landlord, the town
council which administers the Hammonton Airport in New Jersey. A
dramatic escalation in the gate fee has the hangar owner balking,
so on September 3, the town blocked his runway access with a parked
tractor.
The Press of Atlantic City reports the tenants say the
city charged $100 per month for runway access going back to at
least 1992, but is now suddenly demanding $1,000 a month. The city
also got the FAA to close the aerobatic practice box over the
airport on August 22, following a mid-air collision which produced
one fatality.
Airport officials tell The Press the stunt pilots who use the
aerobatic box have become a liability as the facility grows and
tries to attract commercial flights. Joseph Flood, who operates an
airplane restoration shop housed in the Taildragger Inn, is puzzled
by that claim, noting the number of aircraft based at the airport
has dropped from 50 to 14 over the last decade.
Barry Straga, who owns the private hangar, says he's confident
the problems can be ironed out in the next week. Flood certainly
hopes so. He says of the blockage by the tractor, "I’m out of
business. How can I operate if I can’t get airplanes in and
out?"
More News
From 2023 (YouTube Version): Legacy of a Titan Robert (Bob) Anderson Hoover was a fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and air show superstar. More so, Bob Hoover was an i>[...]
Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]
Aero Linx: B-52H Stratofortress The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic spee>[...]
Altimeter Setting The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).>[...]
"Knowing that we play an active part in bettering people's lives is extremely rewarding. My team and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to help in any way we ca>[...]