Okla. airport rarely visited by planes to close despite federal funding

[alp227]

Last edited Mon Mar 18, 2013, 01:19 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: Washington Post

An airport in Oklahoma that is almost never used by planes or passengers likely will be closed after the state’s aeronautics commission pulled its support for the complex late last week.

The six-member commission voted unanimously to close the Lake Murray State Park Airport in Ardmore, Okla., even though the airport receives $150,000 a year in federal funding under a grant program established 13 years ago. The state has largely redistributed the money to other airports with more activity.

Under terms of its deal with the Federal Aviation Commission, the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission is required to keep the Lake Murray airport open through 2027 or repay the federal grant money that was spent on the airport. The airport was the subject of a Washington Post story last month about the difficulty of ending federally funded programs even as Washington wrestles with $85 million in mandatory budget cuts this year.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/okla-airport-rarely-visited-by-planes-to-close-despite-federal-funding/2013/03/17/ee2da8da-8f2e-11e2-bdea-e32ad90da239_story.html

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Story from the 2/25 Post: "In Oklahoma, tiny airport attracts federal money, but few planes"

Ardmore is halfway between Dallas and Oklahoma City.

[Earth_First]

1. Same story with a regional airport in Canandaiguia, New York...

The grants to expand the airport were touted as a way to drive the tourist economy in Central New York's wine region.

Right.

[PatrynXX]

2. another Republican road to nowhere?

general waste of money. oh but Republicans don't want to make money so this makes total sense..

Clearly from Google earth is basically on the boarder with TX. But sure has alot of cars parked there...

[jmowreader]

4. Look at it on Google Maps instead

That's the parking area for Lake Murray Golf Resort...and if you google this airport you'll find out the real reason they want to close the airport is to improve access to the golf course.

[alp227]

9. and it's halfway between Dallas and Oklahoma City, for a larger geo. perspective n/t

[James48]

3. Fine.

As a pilot, it is important to me to keep open airports.

However, as a progressive, it is more important to e to see that red state (And Senator Coburn, in particular) understand the value of airports.

Since they won't, I look forward to them repaying the last 25 years worth of airport improvement funds they took. Those of us who fly paid most of that through gas taxes, and airline ticke4t taxes. So,,,if they close the airport, the state must repay all that money.

Pony up Oklahoma. No relief for you.

[Leslie Valley]

5. As a pilot how is an airport that is almost never used by planes or passengers

important to you? Why is it worth any subsidy at all.

Please explain, I'm obviously missing something here.

[BlueCollar]

11. I'm not a pilot but I am a mechanic

If something goes wrong in flight...you can't just pull over...you need a place to land ....Right now.

[Llewlladdwr]

6. I have to agree with Leslie Valley.

Why keep open an airport that no one flies to?

[Snarkoleptic]

7. Closing it won't deter Jim Inhofe.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/10/closed-runways-cant-stop-pilot.html

As Inhofe was getting ready to land, he noticed huge (60 feet long by 10 feet wide) yellow X's on the main runway, which were not there to mark the landing spot. The big signs were laid out to indicate that the runway was closed while workmen were doing general maintenance.

Inhofe, who was traveling with three passengers, told us Tuesday that he was "getting ready to land, then I saw a big X," the workers and the equipment. So he flew the six-seater over the workers and landed "well off to the side," he said.

In addition to the X markings, airports also use markers with reflectors or lights to alert a closed runway. Also, runway closures and other important information are highlighted in what's called a Notice to Airmen, or NOTAM, which all pilots are supposed to read before take-off. Inhofe said he "didn't have a NOTAM."

[1KansasDem]

8. To me this is a good thing.

According to the original article there are probably hundreds of this type of airport grant, where the money is neither needed nor spent on the intended airport.
Officials in Oklahoma have decided even if they have to repay the $150,000 actually spent at the intended airport (out of nearly 2 million received in the grant) it should be closed.
Let's do that times a hundred.

[jonthebru]

10. On Google Earth: there were no aircraft

but several cars, turns out there is a golf course that uses the same parking lot.