Boise Idaho - Residents of the Wood River Valley have known since the mid-90s that their airport would soon be too small for their growing communities. But what to do about that has been a sticky issue there just as long. Progress toward a replacement airport encountered some turbulence last month. Community members now are coming together to talk about what to do next.
John Strauss moved to Hailey three years ago. He runs a small flight school called Glass Cockpit Aviation. Strauss says he found himself in the middle of a long debate. It’s about building a new airport.
John Strauss “It is perhaps the most divisive topic that I have dealt with here in the Sun Valley region. It seems to kind of split people right down the dividing line between those that want and those that say we cannot afford it and it is at often times terse words to say it politely.”
The main issues are where to put a new airport and how to pay for it. Building a new airport would cost more than 300 million dollars. The Federal Aviation Administration was conducting an environmental impact study on a proposed site but they put the brakes on it. They cited concerns in the community over cost and suggested residents reassess their options. So Hailey’s city council is holding a series of public meetings. The meetings started Wednesday in Hailey and continue Thursday, Friday and Monday. Flight instructor John Strauss thinks public meetings will help the situation.
John Strauss “The more thy get out into the public and the more they solicit the input from the public the better off I think their ultimate outcome will be.”
Strauss says the best solution for his business would be two airports. He wants to keep the current airport close to Hailey for smaller private planes. And build a new one for commercial flights. But he thinks that is not likely to happen.