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.

On 2007-04-17 09:27:02 -0700, "Chris G." said:

In any event, AOPA should be involved, too!

1-800-USA-AOPA

The field has an AOPA rep that is very on top of things.

There are a couple of loudmouths at the City of Tacoma and a couple
neighbors (one who actually threatened to shoot airplanes down!) who
have been saying for nearly 30 years that the airport is about to be
closed.

That would violate a deal that was made when the airport was created.
Originally, Tacoma Narrows Airport was located in Tacoma, but Tacoma
promised that if that airport was closed for development then a new
airport (the present TIW) would be built. This is a binding contract
between Tacoma and the FAA, and Tacoma has yet to find a way to weasel
out of it. Not that they haven't tried, but even the Washington State
Supreme Court sided with the FAA.

Tacoma is going to keep on wasting taxpayers money trying to find a way
to close the airport, though, and their media clowns will keep on
badmouthing the airport. However, the airport has been designated as
essential to national security and it is an important FEMA disaster
preparedness point. Pierce County wants the airport, but Tacoma won't
turn it over to them because they know Pierce County wants a big
expansion there. All of this talk is motivated by a few politically
powerful people belonging to the Gig Harbor Merchants Association --
the same people who prevented Wal-Mart from opening in Gig Harbor,
stopped the second Tacoma Narrows Bridge from being built, and kept
Costco out of Gig Harbor. Oops. The bridge is nearly done and the
Costco is under construction. Wal-Mart is just down the highway and
they merchants lost all their business anyway. Well, half of one out of
four isn't bad. :-) The odds of TIW being closed are about the same as
that of Sea-Tac. It could happen, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor

C J Campbell wrote:
[Snip]

Hi C J,

That would violate a deal that was made when the airport was created.
Originally, Tacoma Narrows Airport was located in Tacoma, but Tacoma
promised that if that airport was closed for development then a new
airport (the present TIW) would be built. This is a binding contract
between Tacoma and the FAA, and Tacoma has yet to find a way to weasel
out of it. Not that they haven't tried, but even the Washington State
Supreme Court sided with the FAA.

I ran across an old map that shows where the old airport was located.
It shows that it was located approximately where University Place is
now. When I find the address for the chart, I'll post a link in this
thread. BTW, regarding the state supreme court, when did they side with
the FAA? I don't recall hearing about that.

Tacoma is going to keep on wasting taxpayers money trying to find a way
to close the airport, though, and their media clowns will keep on
badmouthing the airport. However, the airport has been designated as
essential to national security and it is an important FEMA disaster
preparedness point. Pierce County wants the airport, but Tacoma won't
turn it over to them because they know Pierce County wants a big
expansion there. All of this talk is motivated by a few politically
powerful people belonging to the Gig Harbor Merchants Association -- the
same people who prevented Wal-Mart from opening in Gig Harbor, stopped
the second Tacoma Narrows Bridge from being built, and kept Costco out
of Gig Harbor. Oops. The bridge is nearly done and the Costco is under
construction. Wal-Mart is just down the highway and they merchants lost
all their business anyway. Well, half of one out of four isn't bad. :-)
The odds of TIW being closed are about the same as that of Sea-Tac. It
could happen, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

I'm not a pilot, but I rent some space at Thun/KPLU. I was under the
impression, maybe wrongly, that Pierce County had no interest in TIW.
They have enough problems dealing with Thun. IMO, it would be nice to
have a second county-owned/operated airport, but I don't think that may
happen IIUYC. I don't know how busy TIW is, but it must be somewhat busy
if US Customs is available.

Regarding the Tacoma City Council media clowns, I second your comments.
All those in favor say "Aye".

Anyway, I guess that John Nance bases his King Air at TIW so I would
guess that they don't want to **** him off. After all, he could include
them in one of his future books. But I may be wrong grin.

Rick

RL Anderson writes:

BTW, regarding the state supreme court, when did they side with
the FAA? I don't recall hearing about that.

In any case, Federal entities don't need the support of State supreme courts.
Their authority is determined at the national level.

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.