Friday, April 10, 2009

Airport 'naysayers' scolded for opposing new field

Manager says new airport would boost tourism, economy


By PAT MURPHY
Express Staff Writer

A second letter from a California physician displeased with service to and at Friedman Memorial Airport touched off recriminations Tuesday about "naysayers" opposing a replacement airport for Friedman.

The debate occurred at the monthly meeting of the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority, the governing board of the Hailey airfield.

Authority member Len Harlig claims lack of a new airport has led to fewer travelers to the Sun Valley area and points to the area as a less desirable winter destination.

Dr. Eric Johnson, of the UCLA School of Medicine, again complained of unpredictable weather at Friedman that leads to unexpected flight cancellations and diversions, compelling travelers to fly into either Boise or Twin Falls and then travel by road to the Wood River Valley.

Harlig said Dr. Johnson's letter bears "a message for people who demand Friedman stay in business. When I look at the number of emplanements over the last decade or so," Harlig continued, "we should see an increase in people who fly here." Harlig said visitors have a "number of places for them to go where they're treated better and access is better."

Said Harlig: "There isn't going to be a future" without a new airport.

Harlig, FMAA's senior board member and a former Blaine County commissioner, said he's "hard pressed to understand those people who say we want you to continue this failed business model rather than moving to a new airport that overcomes the reliability problems, overcomes the safety problems, which can attract more (air) carriers."

Some travelers have decided, he said, "Sun Valley is not the best place to go in the wintertime."

Airport Manager Rick Baird said that any of three potential sites for a new airport would double passenger travel in 15 years, plus create 460 more jobs and $10 million in new payroll. Baird also accused opponents of a new airport of having "no documentation" to claims a distant new airport would be an economic failure.

● To board member Susan McBryant's question of whether the Fly Sun Valley Alliance of business interests promoting more air service to the valley is a "another feel-good committee," Harlig, who attends the alliance meetings, said "they are serving a function." He cited, among other things, the group's ongoing contacts with air carriers aimed at increasing service and raising a "war chest" for future air service development.

●After board member Tom Bowman reported on the recommended structure of a new authority for a proposed new airport, the board postponed until the May 5 meeting a discussion on the arrangement and a vote on whether to approve it.




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