Protection Sought for Connecticut's Small Airports

HARTFORD, Conn. (AFX) - A few decades ago, numerous small airports dotted Connecticut's landscape, often adjacent to pastures and sporting a few modest landing strips and hangars.

With the recent closure of the Griswold Airport in Madison, the number of such privately owned airports open to public use in Connecticut has dwindled to 12.

That has some state lawmakers seeking ways to help the rest stay in business, and to protect the sites from being transformed into strip malls, subdivisions and other development.

'We've got to act on this sooner rather than later because once we lose them, we're never going to get them back,' said state Rep. Kevin Witkos, R-Canton.

Witkos is sponsoring legislation that mirrors many recommendations in a 2006 study by the state Department of Transportation, which calls the small airstrips a vital part of the region's aviation network.

Among the ideas: guaranteeing the state first dibs to buy and run any of the 12 airports if they are in danger of closing, or buying development rights to shield the land from construction.

About 950 privately owned, public-use airports are in business nationwide, but close at the rate of about two per month as owners succumb to years of financial and operational pressures, according to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Connecticut's most recent loss was the 75-year-old Griswold Airport, which closed Dec. 31. The owner is selling the land to a developer who wants to build a 127-unit housing complex.

Before Griswold Airport's closure, about 450 small planes were based at the 13 privately owned, public-use airports in Connecticut, according to state transportation officials. That does not include planes at six state-owned airports and four municipally owned facilities.

State and federal officials say each small airport that closes creates a ripple effect as pilots seek hangars at the remaining facilities, adding to departure and landing delays.

Municipalities and the state also lose the economic benefit of businesses adjacent to the small airports such as restaurants, repair shops, charter operators, flight instructors and other enterprises.

'What's seen by the general public is the occasional airplane coming and going, but what's not seen are the very important economic factors associated with these airports,' said Richard Jaworski, head of the state Department of Transportation's bureau of aviation and ports.

'These are viable businesses supplying a significant service to the surrounding communities. They're a tremendous resource,' he said.

The small air strips also provide landing zones for emergency craft such as police and medical helicopters, and can be used as overflow landing sites during emergencies at large airports.

Many of the modest airports opened decades ago as grassy landing strips in farmers' fields, then grew into businesses where the operators rented out hangars and tie-down space, charged membership fees and sold fuel.

One provision in the proposed state legislation would let Connecticut use federal money for upgrades such as better lighting and paving runways -- in return for the owners' guarantees to continue operations for a set number of years.

The bill also proposes a new statewide zoning category for the small airports and, when appropriate, for some land adjacent to them. Advocates say that could create tax advantages that might help the operators stay in business, and resist the siren song of developers' offers.

Also, it could control the development of non-compatible projects on adjacent land such as cellular towers, tall buildings and landfills -- which draw birds, incompatible to aviation safety.

Leaders of the General Assembly's Transportation Committee plan to schedule a public hearing on the proposals in the next few weeks.

Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.