But Flames -- And Airport Opponents -- Still Threaten

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 05.13.08 1435 EDT: Moments ago, Aero-News received an update on the situation at Florida's Valkaria Airport, which Monday was threatened by flames approaching from a large brush fire.

Fortunately, News-Spy Mike Whaley tells us the worst has passed... but fires to the south of X59 "look really, really nasty," in the word of Valkaria Airport manager Steve Borowski.

"Emergency crews have been staging at the airport," Whaley writes. "Yesterday, the fire burned through the wooded area by the entrance, and burned much of the grass. The trees and scrub towards the entrance burned, but Steve says the trees should live (remember, periodic wildfires are a natural and necessary part of the pine scrub ecosystem).

"There was some fairly minor damage to the airport office trailer and to the Mosquito Control facilities, but they weren't destroyed. The T-hangars and aircraft were OK."

Whaley notes the EAA Chapter 1288 meeting will go on as planned Tuesday evening. He also appealed for those concerned about the airport's future to attend a special meeting of the Valkaria Airport Advisory Board (VAAB) on May 20.

As ANN has reported, the Board's newest member is Janis Walters... a vocal and vehement opponent to the airport's very existence.

FMI: www.brevardcounty.us/valkaria_airport/