Make Way For The Casinos

Aero-News has learned that New Jersey's Bader Field will soon be closing its doors, and its runways... after receiving word from the FAA that its fate is sealed after the airport's current funding dries up in September.

Despite efforts from such entities as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association...in the end, it was lack of community interest that doomed Bader, a 143-acre facility within a stone's throw of casinos on the Atlantic City boardwalk.

As AOPA President Phil Boyer says, in the end "the gambling interests were stronger than the aviation interests"... a matter not helped by the fact the former head of the New Jersey Aviation Association, Tom Carver, is now executive director of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority... which is offering to pay for studies and consultants to the city to turn the airport into something else.

Carver told the New Jersey Courier-Post there was "no desire" from the community to keep Bader Field open... a lack of interest confirmed by AOPA, who reports that as of 2001, only 10 aircraft were based at the airport.

It isn't hard to see why, as neglect on the part of community, and city leaders, doomed the airport to a state of disrepair... even to the point the city was cited by the FAA for poor repairs to Bader's runways, driving away business from the airport.

As pilots and businesses fled, says Boyer... so to went any political clout Bader Field had.

"All politics are local," said Boyer. "A national organization like AOPA can have some influence on local politicians, but ultimately they respond to the loudest and most influential voices among their voters."

It's worth noting that pilots elsewhere can help ensure that their own airport doesn't go the way of Bader. Boyer says that by becoming involved in the local community, and by being an advocate for your airport, pilots may push local authorities to apply for federal grants to maintain and improve the airport.

"Spending $10 to get $90 should look mighty good to local taxpayers, if they know about it," said Boyer. Federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants are a 90-10 match; the federal government will pay 90 percent of the project cost if the local entity pays 10 percent.

"But there is a string tied to a federal airport grant," Boyer adds, "a contractual obligation to operate the airport for 20 years, or in perpetuity if the grant is used to buy land."

FMI: www.aopa.org