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#11
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The city sells it's hangers and
also sells lots for building new hangers. If the airport has debt on the hangers, they could sell the hangers to the tenants and pay the debt. You're on the right track. From what I've seen of Iowa City, it's growing in directions that include all that lovely open land around the airport, and some developers are casting covetous eyes upon the space for industrial and other uses. Trashing the airport would give them a playground. But I posted recently about the clever airport manager I talk to on occasion, and another clever thing he's done, along with lots of ongoing work pacifying homeowners who are too near the airport, is work slowly and steadily to get a plot of land developed for new street and hangar space on an undeveloped side of the airport. The waiting list has been 8 years long for hangar space, and you can bet the folks who'll get the new hangars are those who'll be valuable allies in the preservation of the airport. Plus, the new buildings will include non-hangar spaces too, plumbed and wired (all with T-1 Net connections) office space for insurance agents, tax preparers...ANY business in a fast-growing metro area that will generate tax revenue and jobs. Just like a strip mall, it'll be seen as economic development and do a lot to quiet critics of the "unused" space and its aviation subsidy. There ARE solutions... |
#12
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The city could save even more money by not subsidizing roads. After all,
most of the automobiles on the roads are not even being used for business purposes. Why should the city pay for roads being used only by a bunch of hobbyists? The city needs that money for police and fire services. It should stop paying for roads and jeopardizing public safety with this huge waste of money. The city should also stop subsidizing newspapers by providing police and fire protection, utilities, and other services to them. Few intelligent people read these works of fiction anyway. Why should taxpayers jeopardize public safety in order to cater to a bunch of spoiled, whining hobbyists? Perhaps if everyone at your airport wore badges that say "I use the airport, and if the aiport is closed I will have to move away" so that every merchant in town saw just how much their businesses are dependent on people who use the airport, then maybe the newspaper might lose some advertising revenue. Another approach might be, "The newspaper wants to close my business now. Is yours next?" |
#13
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Has the airport ever been used for a medical evacuation? I appreciate that helicopters are the traditional local medevac, but every one in a while a badly injured or very sick patient has to be flown to a distant hospital. (I remember a guy flown from Aspen to Denver when he broke his back skiing, and this subject came up talking to a young doctor last night. She's on emergency room standby and ready to fly rotary or fixed-wing.) What's the nearest alternative airport if a case like that came up? all the best -- Dan Ford email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9 see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm Vietnam | Flying Tigers | Pacific War | Brewster Buffalo | Piper Cub |
#14
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Has the airport ever been used for a medical evacuation?
Actually, this is one of their biggest "businesses". University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is one of the largest transplant centers in the Midwest. It's also renowned for cancer treatment. As such, we get a fairly constant stream of aircraft in, carrying nothing but Igloo coolers. Airport critics would say "so land at Cedar Rapids", which they claim is just "20 minutes north". (Ha -- maybe in a Ferrari...), of course. -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA Pathfinder N56993 www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" |
#15
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Jay Honeck wrote: Has the airport ever been used for a medical evacuation? Actually, this is one of their biggest "businesses". University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is one of the largest transplant centers in the Midwest. It's also renowned for cancer treatment. As such, we get a fairly constant stream of aircraft in, carrying nothing but Igloo coolers. Airport critics would say "so land at Cedar Rapids", which they claim is just "20 minutes north". (Ha -- maybe in a Ferrari...), of course. Maybe you should call the transplant surgeons and ask them if the extra 20 -30 minutes makes a difference. I bet it does. Margy |
#16
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Actually, this is one of their biggest "businesses". University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is one of the largest transplant centers in the Midwest. It's also renowned for cancer treatment. Then can't you get testimonials from the parents of some beautiful child who was safely delivered / treated because of a fixed-wing flight out of the airport? Or get a photo of the guy with the Igloo cooler and run an advert with the caption: "That may be *your* heart he's carrying!" Or "This heart brought to you by Iowa City Airport". all the best -- Dan Ford email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9 see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm Vietnam | Flying Tigers | Pacific War | Brewster Buffalo | Piper Cub |
#17
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#18
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Big John wrote: If they close the airport, how will the teams of the U of I get to away games and away teams get to Iowa City to play? Seems the University should have an input in this? If Iowa is anything like the University of Tennessee, the administration likes football 'cause it brings in money. Some uneducated slobs like it as a substitute for the pro team they don't have. Some educated slobs like it 'cause the went to school there. All of the *real* intelligentsia hate it. All of the faculty hate it. From what Jay has posted, I would guess that the paper is pandering to these groups. George Patterson The optimist feels that we live in the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist is afraid that he's correct. James Branch Cavel |
#19
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If they close the airport, how will the teams of the U of I get to
away games and away teams get to Iowa City to play? Seems the University should have an input in this? They'll fly commercial out of Cedar Rapids. They do now, for many games, cuz our runways aren't long enough to accommodate a charter plane big enough to carry the whole football team. Has anyone checked the number of planes parked on airport when the football team plays? Heh -- that would be me. Every game day I write all the "N" numbers down, and send 'em a postcard -- so I know PRECISELY how many planes fly in for games. Suffice it to say, it's dozens and dozens -- as many as 50 -- depending on the caliber and proximity of the team they're playing. Has anyone gotten together a committee with representatives of all the actifities/companies that need/use the airport and flood the council meetings to show support for airport? Crap, Big John, I tried starting an "Iowa City Pilot's Association" here a few months ago. I got as far as getting the "URL" for a website, and getting the mailing list of all pilots in the area. Then I quickly ran out of time when we hit the "busy season" at the inn, and the idea was stillborn. We really, REALLY need a "retired guy" with unlimited time to devote to this endeavor, as a Pilot's Association would provide a positive voice that simply isn't being heard here. It would even up the odds, since the opposition seems to have DOZENS of "university guys" that apparently have unlimited time to devote to bending people's ears... I sometimes think all of us Iowans with common sense got out when we could. G Well, for better (and worse) Iowa City really ain't "Iowa"... At least not the way most people think of it. -- Jay Honeck Iowa City, IA Pathfinder N56993 www.AlexisParkInn.com "Your Aviation Destination" |
#20
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Airport critics would say "so land at Cedar Rapids", which they claim is just "20 minutes north". (Ha -- maybe in a Ferrari...), of course. The Cedar Rapids airport is easily within 20 minutes of the Iowa City airport. A few challenges of the Iowa City Airport: Small runways for charter planes (athletics) Development around the airport- some see an accident into the Wal-Mart/Menards just waiting to happen. Some recent crashes into the hill to the north keep this argument going (BTW, I know that there were reasons for the crashes) Approach/departure over the city Approach/Depature over Kinnick Stadium- last year during a game, a dip**** flew over just to the south of the stadium at low altitude. For good measure, he rocked the wings. 70,000 people were quiet for a few seconds. Waste of good land- Why in the world do you need three crossing runways? Proximity to Cedar Rapids- Cedar Rapids- only about 15-20 min. away Services at Cedar Rapids- Tower, security, ILS approaches, crossing large runways, pleny of room for more GA hangars, snow removal, police, fire, general maintenance, good hangars Duplication- To the layperson (in fact even to me) it seems to be close enough to each other that one would do. Iowa city would not only have no expenses, but Cedar Rapids could become stronger Liberals- Iowa City is chuck pack full of liberals that really don't care about folks rich enough to be able to fly. Dailey Syndrome. Medical flights- Most are by copter- doesn't matter Transplant stuff- 20 minutes to CID no big deal. thats the reason for the igloo's FBO's- choice of two in Cedar Rapids (Although you probably would not count PS Air) Dollars- Lots of commercial operations to pay the way. Virtually none in Iowa City. Lack of potential growth- I do not believe that any two of the three runways could ever be expanded. Opportunity costs- Current use vs. the tax base of developement. The newer hangar could have other uses if developed around. Money in rather than money out looks good. The deal about streets doesn't hold much water because virtually everybody uses the streets. Liberals- did I mention all of the liberals? Cedar Rapids Airport Commision- I think that they squashed the Marion Airport expansion a couple of years ago. It is my opinion that they will get in your shorts also (I am golfing with one of the commission members this week. I will pick his brain) Plenty of land around the Cedar Rapids Airport- Enough room for a re-located aviation themed hotel It is certainly not that I would like to see it closed, they just have plenty of reasons to close it. I personally feel that it is just a matter of time. Good luck, Jeff |
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