Just three
short days after Mayor Daley's sneak attack on Meigs Field airport,
AOPA has developed a comprehensive plan to restore the airport. The
12-point plan combines legal, legislative, and public-relations
tactics. The plan is designed not only to return aircraft to Meigs,
but to also shield airports everywhere from Daley-like attacks.
"The plan includes both short- and longer term initiatives, so
it won't be quick and it won't be easy," said AOPA President Phil
Boyer, "but the nation's general aviation pilots want to ensure
that Meigs will never happen again."
Immediate actions
AOPA is filing an injunction to prevent further destruction of
the airport.
The association is filing a formal complaint with FAA regarding
Daley's violation of federal regulations, specifically FAR Part 157
that requires at least a 30-day notice before closing an airport.
Further, AOPA is demanding that FAA deny federal funding for
Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports until Meigs is reopened.
AOPA is filing a formal complaint with the Illinois Department
of Transportation on Daley's violation of state regulations
requiring approval for the "alteration of an existing
airport."
AOPA's 400,000 members (many of whom own or manage businesses
or are influential in major organizations) are asked to boycott
Chicago and to urge their trade, professional, and business
associations to not hold meetings and conventions in the city. If
traveling by airline, members should avoid flights landing in
Chicago.
Short-term actions (within the week)
AOPA Legislative Affairs will lobby Congress for federal
legislation to reopen Meigs Field. Member support will be critical
in this effort; when the time is right, AOPA will ask members to
contact their congressional representatives.
The AOPA Legal Services Plan's more than 600 panel attorneys
will be pressed into service as a "brain bank" to help develop
additional legal arguments. Environmental regulations, the rights
of the owners of the stranded aircraft, the legal necessity for
coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, and other
state and local laws are being investigated.
AOPA's general counsel will meet with the Department of
Transportation's general counsel and the FAA's chief counsel to
seek remedies through those entities.
The association is offering assistance to any of the pilots
whose planes were trapped at Meigs to pursue claims against the
city of Chicago, if they or their attorneys request it.
AOPA is placing full-page advertisements in the Chicago Tribune
and the Chicago Sun-Times containing an open letter to the mayor
and city residents explaining the outrage of Americas' pilots to
Daley's unprecedented action.
Longer term actions
AOPA
will ask the Department of Homeland Security to issue an order
prohibiting restrictions or closures of public airports on the
basis of a security claim without its concurrence and a specific
threat.
AOPA will seek emergency legislation to allow the State of
Illinois to purchase Meigs from Chicago.
AOPA Legislative Affairs will oppose any attempt by the city of
Chicago to use federal or state funds for the $27-million park that
is slated to replace Meigs. "We're going show politicians around
the nation that airports are important, and general aviation pilots
will defend them," said Boyer.
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