With general aviation airports too often the victims of crippling attacks by a handful of anti-airport activists, New York State’s busiest general aviation airport, Republic Airport (FRG) at East Farmingdale, Long Island, has begun a “visioning” process that brings the potential future of the airport to literally every elected official and opinion leader in the area.
Republic, the scene of aviation activity since 1928, is owned and operated by the New York State Department of Transportation, which has retained a Long Island-based firm, DY Consultants, to collect input from all stakeholders, including the residential and aviation communities, public officials and businesses, to define a potential vision for the airport. Meetings are already underway.
Why “visioning?”
New York State DOT Regional Director Subi Chakraborti explained, “Visioning is a core component of a new effort designed to be a ‘road map’ for the airport to follow that incorporates government policies and procedures and comprehensive public involvement.”
Republic Airport Commission Chairman Frank Nocerino says, “This process is an open, comprehensive and deliberate effort where we seek to obtain the thoughts of the people and companies who either use Republic, live near it or depend upon it for their livelihoods.”
Desmond Ryan, head of a business coalition for Long Island’s 2.7 million people says, “It’s a very smart strategy. Rather than write a ‘master plan’ which can’t take into account economic cycles of general aviation, individual business decisions on the airport or what Wall Street will do, they are creating a document that provides direction from all their stakeholders. I suspect this could be a very effective model for other airports around the country.”
For more information: RepublicAirport.net
