It has been almost three years since your Taxpayers’ Association last weighed in on Witham Field. This was in 2003 when there was considerable agitation by some citizens groups for moving the airport to Western Martin County. Our position at the time was that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would not allow Witham to close and “plans” being advocated for exchanging Witham Field for an airport out West of were not feasible due to a number of fundamental legal and technical problems. While most of those problems could possibly be overcome, in their totality they made the move completely impractical and grossly expensive. Our estimates at the time were at least 10-15 years and a minimum of $115 million dollars IF the County could get the FAA to approve the plan. Our recommendations were to continue the noise and economic studies then underway, concentrate on mitigation of the noise problems, and limit growth. Nothing has occurred to cause us to change those basic recommendations.

Essentially those actions are exactly what have happened. The Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 150 study was completed and approved. The economic impact of Witham Field on Martin County was quantified. Money to buy or insulate homes severely affected by noise was sought and grants have been approved and accepted by the County. Voluntary noise abatement procedures have been enhanced. Standard instrument departures that will direct jet takeoff traffic (by far the noisiest airport activity) away from populated areas are in the approval process and efforts to institute scheduled commercial service at Witham have been denied.

Unfortunately, progress has been slow, noise abatement procedures remain voluntary and emotions have overtaken logic in dealing with the issues. The result is actions that have the potential to severely impact Martin County taxpayers. There are lawsuits looming concerning the buy-out of homes northwest of the airfield. More money has been spent on consultants, which have basically been used to reevaluate previous decisions or restate the obvious. The recommendations of the consultants, which were preordained given the directions of the study contract and FAA guidance, have only refocused the arguments toward the hot button issues of extending the existing runway length and positioning it where it will generate more political opposition.

The differing priorities within the Airport Noise Advisory Committee have effectively precluded the consciences needed to produce useful recommendations. While we do not presume to have all the answers we do offer our thoughts to those who actually have to make the hard decisions. Keep it simple!

• Do not lengthen or move the existing runway. Moving the runway 460 feet (11/2 football fields) one way or another will not make a significant difference in anything. Do what makes economic sense and leave the runway placement where it is. It will cost 2.5 million dollars, $5,500 per foot or $18.50 for every man woman and child in Martin County to move it.
• Keep the physical length of the runway as it currently exists. If the FAA approves a decision to shorten the runway it should be done by reallocation/remarking of the existing paved surface. A shortened “legally approved” length is as effective as tearing up pavement without significant cost or downside on safety issues.
• Continue the efforts with the FAA to establish mandatory standard instrument departures (SIDs) for jet aircraft that avoid over flight of populated areas.
• Use grant and matching funds to buy out the housing indicated as eligible in the FAR Part 150 study. Pay the current owners a fair price, allow them to transport their homestead exemption, if possible to do so, and turn these areas into a cleared preserve requiring little or no maintenance.
• Offer noise insulation to those structures identified in the 150 studies as eligible.
• Review all of the leases/utilization of airport property. There are unused/underutilized areas that can provide additional funds for the airport and/or provide facilities required by other Martin County Administrative or Constitutional Offices.
• Work for a mandatory curfew similar to what Washington, DC has instituted at Reagan National, if its good for them; it ought to work for us too.

In essence, stick with our original recommendations and help Witham Field become a better neighbor and limit its growth. Use the publicly owned land around the field instead of buying up private lands for public buildings. Do not let the airport become a fiscal drain on the County by trying to make it acceptable to everyone, which is impossible.