Anyone else catch this on the face books? It appears that the city is hosting a meeting and paying an outside consulting company to explore the land use of the Glenwood Springs airport. Those uses include non-aviation ises of the land (sounds like airport closure to me). Anyone attending the meeting? It happens tomorrow night at 6pm at Sopris Elementary school.

There has been talk of closing the airport for many years. I built a house on the east side back in 2001, I was told by the developer of the subdivision that the airport would be closed before I finished my house. Before I finished my house they were building hangars right behind it.
I don't think it will really close, but the city wants the land to build slums, sorry, affordable housing. And, as we all know, anyone that owns an airplane is rich, so we are an easy target.

Update from the meeting.

https://www.postindependent.com/news/co ... s-airport/

That's a great airport. Great place for folks renting airplanes to practice fairly tight approaches too (since its paved and public).

I've flown in, spent money in town, at the hotels, and the springs. Will continue to do so should the airport exist. Anyone know the best person to email with such information?

silflexer wrote:Update from the meeting.

https://www.postindependent.com/news/co ... s-airport/

A fantastic airport and aviation community for backcountry pilots, it would be a tragic loss if it were to get redeveloped. The other airports in the area cater primary to jets and turbo props (Aspen, Eagle, and Rifle), the impact of losing GWS would be felt strongly by the GA community.

There is a poll in the article above (right side). If you get a few seconds, please vote in favor of keeping and expanding the airport.

I was at the meeting.

It seemed to me that the City people have made a decision as to what they want and that is closing the airport. It also seemed pretty clear to me that they were unhappy about the resistance they encountered. The ring leader specifically asked to hear from people opposed to the airport, others suggested that it was a hostile environment for anyone against the airport. No one at the meeting was out of line or belligerent, everyone was respectful and for the most part, well spoken.
I do not have the contact information for the people at the city, but I will see if I can find it and post it. It is important for them to hear from as many people as possible.

Even their "scenario #1" (best case for us) resulted in 10 of the 60 acres being used as something other than aviation. They also proclaimed that the airport and its structures are dilapidated. DUH, because the city will not allow anyone to improve or replace anything!

I still do not think the airport will close in the near future. But, that does not mean that they do not need to hear from us.

It'll happen. It's a nice place, and still the only good option for ski flying in the area. Sunlight ski area is just up the road, or if you are feeling flush, Aspen.

The Aspen airport is publicly funded for use by the bajillionaire class only. The rest of us need sphincter specula for what they charge to stop there, and they make it clear they don't want my kind there anyway.

So it will be a shame when Glenwood gets sold for starter mansions at some point.

Apparently, the council closed the airport "temporarily" last month because of COVID. Here's a petition to sign:

---------- Original Message ----------
From: "Pruzek, Josh"
Date: April 28, 2020 at 11:00 AM
Subject: Glenwood Springs Airport Closure - Online Petition

Hello Colorado ASN’s,

Our Airport Support Network Volunteer at Glenwood Springs is leading an effort to get the Glenwood Springs airport re-opened, which has been closed for over a month due to COVID-19. At this time it is the only airport in the State that is closed due to the virus, and one of only a handful closed across the country, nearly all which have underlying circumstances, such as being co-located within a State or National Park. While the Mayor has privately stated that this is not an attempt to close the airport permanently – which the City has been exploring - we want to show the City Leaders that their airport is a tremendous community asset, and even a temporary closure will bring local, state and national media attention.

Would you consider sending this link out to your local pilots, and encourage them to sign if they agree? Signing is free, can be done anomalously, and is timely considering the City is having a meeting on the 30th to consider what to do next.

https://bit.ly/3d1y3C1



Thanks all!

JOSH PRUZEK
Northwest Mountain Regional Manager
Government Affairs
http://www.aopa.org

Has this airport EVER accepted federal funds? If so, closing can get painful for the operator.

MTV

Quite a few Colorado Airports have never received FAA funding.
Please sign the petition linked in above post. I have.
Tom

mtv wrote:Has this airport EVER accepted federal funds? If so, closing can get painful for the operator.

MTV

Mayor Daily in Chicago just carved x's in the runway with an excavator. Didn't that airport get plenty of federal funds.

I signed and I have flown in there before. If we don’t start flying more frequently and landing at these airports more often we will continue to lose airports until there is no recreational flying left.

Starting to be getting an over abundance of fun police out there.

David K wrote:Starting to be getting an over abundance of fun police out there.

Constant battle to preserve our airports. And the bad actors don't seem to be bothered by the law.

qmdv wrote:

mtv wrote:Has this airport EVER accepted federal funds? If so, closing can get painful for the operator.

MTV

Mayor Daily in Chicago just carved x's in the runway with an excavator. Didn't that airport get plenty of federal funds.

Yes, he actually used airport improvement funds to pay for the bulldozers to carve the X’s. Taxpayers in Chicago ended up paying heavily for that abuse of his power. They were also fined by the FAA for closing a published instrument approach without proper notice.

Keyword there is taxpayers and not Daley. He can't croak soon enough imo...

Signed! Thanks for bringing this to our attention Ace007.

I just signed the petition- number 998 of a 1000 signature goal, surely we can get a couple more!

I remember reading about GWS in an AOPA email when they got a new airport manager (I believe). Started looking around and learning about Glenwood Springs, and would REALLY love to take a family trip there one of these days.

#1014 so past the target. Keep it going.

Signed it .Flew In there Last summer with the Family . The guy who was taking care of the place saw us unloading and said he would mow the grass behind where we tied down so we could sent up camp. I thought that was pretty cool . Would be a shame to see it disappear.