|
United States Pilots Association |
NMPA President Bob Worthington joins in the criticism of an AOPA article, as follows:
NMPA Members:
On page 11 of the June 2008 issue of AMERICA'S FLYWAYS is a Press Release from AOPA. It is an article about how hard AOPA is fighting to save valuable airports in NM because the state is on a mission of closing its airports. What the PR does not say is that the airport is in need of $3 million in repairs and no one wants the airport. It serves no one at the present time. This is the second time that AOPA has taken upon itself to go public and try to look good at the expense of New Mexico. Here is my letter to the Editor of AMERICA'S FLYWAYS.
Dear Editor: As president of the New Mexico Pilots Association I am offended by the AOPA Pilot Briefing Press Release regarding the airport near Tatum, NM, on page 11 of the June 2008 issue of America's Flyways. It appears that in an effort to promote that AOPA is working hard to save airports, honesty and integrity take a backseat to self-promotions that makes AOPA look good. AOPA states that it is working hard to keep airports open, even if they no longer serve any aviation needs.
Here is the truth about the airport near Tatum. It will take over $3 million to make it safe. There are no planes based there. It is not a desired airport. No one wants it. Many years ago its original owner, Lea County, wanted to get rid of it (a full service, all weather airport is 19 miles away) and persuaded the State Aviation Division to take it over. The state this year asked both Lea County and the town of Tatum if they would take over the airport, and both said no. It was advertised for private management by any business people. There were no takers. No one wants the airport. So the state Aviation Division asked the FAA if the airport could be closed.
New Mexico is not a rich state. While we are the fifth largest state in the union, only 43% is privately owned; the other 57% is government owned. Our population is 1.9 million people. The state requires a balanced budget on a limited tax base. Aviation often is the best way to traverse the state, so airports are a necessity to our air travel. To spend $3 plus million to retain an airport not used is fiscal irresponsibility. We need to spend our aviation funds on airports that are used, not airports that are useless. In the original letter from AOPA complaining to the FAA, AOPA accused New Mexico of starting a trend of closing needed airports in the state. Yes, one airport that was not used has been closed. What AOPA did not mention is that the state at the same time also built a new airport in Vaughn which was needed and opened last year. As far as the AIP funding goes, the Aviation Division has agreed to reimburse the FAA for the $35,000 debt. The State Aviation Division does not own the land the airport is on, but has to lease this land from another part of the state
Now AOPA knows all of this. But a full page, full color PR claiming how hard AOPA is working to save valuable and necessary airports will be read by tens of thousands of pilots who will believe that AOPA is the only aviation organization to belong to. I believe this is an uncalled for means of gaining national attention at the expense of aviation in the state of New Mexico. AOPA is a large, rich, powerful, private corporation. It should be working with state and local aviation organizations to better aviation, not ridicule what is being done financially to best use limited funds to make aviation safer in New Mexico.
I should mention that I have been an AOPA member for over 30 years and applaud most of what AOPA does. In this case I feel what AOPA has done is a cheap PR ploy at the expense of aviation in my state.
Bob Worthington, PhD
President, New Mexico Pilots Association
Vice President, United States Pilots Association
Member, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
FAASTeam Representative/Aviation Safety Seminar Instructor
Jan Hoynacki, Executive Director
USPA