Organization Enters The Fray Over St. Pete Airport

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is intensifying its support of groups aiming to keep historic Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg (FL) open and operating, as voters in that city decide on crucial questions regarding the facility on November 4.

The citywide referendum asks voters three specific questions: Whether the airport should remain open; whether St. Petersburg should accept airport improvement grants from the state and federal government; and whether the city should use half of the airport property as a park, thereby effectively closing the airport.  EAA Chapters and members in the St. Petersburg area have been extremely active in supporting the airport's continued operation as a primary general-aviation reliever for the Tampa/St. Petersburg metropolitan area.

"Albert Whitted Airport is an outstanding aviation facility in St. Petersburg and deserves the city's support, which is why we're backing EAA members and Chapters in that area fighting to keep the airport open," said Earl Lawrence, EAA Vice President of Industry and Regulatory Programs. 

"It makes no sense to close the airport for several reasons, primarily that it would cost many times more to create a park and other developments than it would to continue the economic benefit for an active airport in the heart of the community."

St. Petersburg's own studies show that the least expensive option would be to keep Albert Whitted Airport operating.  Upgrades to the facility would cost the city about $1.2 million, with more than $4 million of additional funds coming from state and federal grants.  Creating a park would cost at least $27 million with hundreds of thousands of dollars of annual maintenance costs.  In addition, St. Petersburg would then be liable to repay millions of dollars of federal grants received for the airport, even though repayment of those grants do not allow the city to close the facility under law.

EAA Chapters and other members are working with other airport groups and supporters to defeat a well-financed effort by developers who last year asked that the airport be closed to develop condominiums on the property, but this year are backing park development on half of the land with unspecified uses for the rest of the land.  Public-opinion polls indicate a large majority of St. Petersburg residents support the airport's operations, but airport supporters are urging to voters to choose "yes" on Question #1 (keeping the airport open); "yes" on Question #2 (accepting grants for airport improvements); and "no" on Question #3 (developing a park on the airport property).

EAA Headquarters has issued e-mail and other news alerts to Tampa Bay-area aviation enthusiasts urging them to support groups backing the airport and, if they are eligible to vote in St. Petersburg, to cast ballots November 4 in support of the airport's future.

"Although we've seen that city officials sometimes do not respect the will of the people, as with the closure of Chicago's Meigs Field, it's important that these officials understand the legal and political ramifications their decisions bring," Lawrence said.  "That's why we fully support the aviation enthusiasts in St. Petersburg fighting to keep Albert Whitted Airport open for years to come.  It's important for voters to indicate a large mandate in favor of Albert Whitted Airport."

FMI: www.eaa.org