Residents Suggest Bruce Willis, Other Sun Valley Vacationers Pay For Move

Yet another municipality which has taken federal funding to buy land for an airport, then promoted close-by residential development, is wringing its hands over the resulting conflict. But in this case, the protest by NIMBYs has an added dimension - the risk of a loss of airline service to the community.

Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, Idaho has a single runway 7,550' long, which in addition to serving about 40,000 GA operations a year also enjoys scheduled regional airline service from SkyWest and Horizon. Airport Manager Rick Baird warned the Bellevue, Idaho City Council last week that unless improvements are made to the facility, the airport could lose that commercial service, its economic benefits, and $1.4 million in federal funding. He notes the control tower on the field would likely be closed, and firefighting and snow removal crews would have to be cut.

At issue is a group of NIMBYs in Bellevue, who are blaming the airport for everything from noise pollution to leukemia cases. They want improvements stopped, and a new airport built in an alternate location farther from their homes. At least two possible new locations have been identified, but there are issues with uprooting a protected species, and costs could reach $300 million, including a $100 million portion required to be paid through a local bond issue.

A group of 130 residents aligned against the airport remain adamant that the move needs to happen, and have offered suggestions including levying fees on wealthy vacationers who frequent resorts served by the airport. The Idaho Mountain Express reports resident Kate Woods suggested to the city council that owners of second homes in the valley come up with the $100 million. Bellevue resident Guy Pere asked the airport board, "Have you talked to Bruce Willis?"

Baird is hoping for incremental improvements to the current airport, noting that lowering the minimum approach ceilings to 1,000 feet could cut diversions by 50 percent. Most of those diversions currently go to Twin Falls.

The Mountain Express reports resident Darsi Cordingley chided the council, "If someone was to put an airport in your backyard, I would hope every one of you would be right where I am, fighting against it with all you have. I will not live in a community that does not care about the members that sustain it." But Friedman Memorial Airport has been on its current location since the 1930s, suggesting Cordingly probably put her home in the airport's backyard, not the other way around.

FMI: www.flyfma.com