Tacoma, WA - Narrows airport might be closing

In any event, AOPA should be involved, too!

1-800-USA-AOPA

Chris G.

C J Campbell wrote:
On 2007-04-16 19:28:47 -0700, "steve" said:

I just heard that they are considering closing down the Tacoma Narrows
Airport (KTIW) due to zoning and funding issues. This airport has been
there
for a long time and it is a beautiful place to fly to. It would be a
shame
to see it shut down. The other nearest airports to the Tacoma/ Gig Harbor
area are not options to use, Olympia, WA and Hoquiem, WA. both about 45
minutes to 2 hours away.

Is there anything we can do to prevent this?

There have been people trying to close TIW ever since it opened. It is
not going anywhere. The FAA simply does not want it to be closed because
it is an important reliever for business jet traffic and it gets
considerable use as a flight training field.

The total funding deficit for the field is only about $50,000 per year,
which ought to put things in perspective. Tacoma says it is more than
$500,000 per year, but that is only if you include the cash expenditure
for a bunch of hangars that Tacoma purchased with money that they lent
to themselves.

TIW's runway needs a new overrun, which will be installed by putting a
lid over Stone Way. The FAA is funding that. The FAA also funds the
control tower, the runway maintenance, and many improvements. The
airport has, in fact, received more than $7 million in FAA funding.

Tacoma has tried to sell the airport to a private developer in the past.
That failed. The FAA will not let them do it and it was found
unconstitutional as well. So now they have found another developer and
they are going to 'lease' the airport to him, with an option to buy. Of
course, the FAA will not allow that, either, but these guys have big
mouths and small brains to match.