Saw this on a US news site:
The mayor of Chicago ordered the runway at Meigs Field to be dug up during the middle of night resulting in aeroplanes being stuck on the ground! He didn’t even tell the FAA so no NOTAM was issued.
The reason is because he thinks the airfield (a GA field only) is a threat to national security. What!?!
There’s an outcry in the US (understandibly) – could this happen in England? I’d like to think not – but lets watch our backs guys!
This mayor sounds like a power crazed dominator. There’s a call for all GA pilots to boycot the city of Chicago!
Seagull
The press release says:
Official Statement: The City of Chicago today used surprise and shock tactics to start demolishing Meigs Field, the world-renowned airport serving downtown, ripping up runway without notice in the dark of night under police guard. “We are in shock,” said Rachel Goodstein, president of the Friends of Meigs Field. “The City of Chicago had agreed to keep Meigs Field open until 2026,” she said, citing a December 2001 agreement between Mayor Daley and Governor Ryan.
“This smacks of totalitarianism,” said Goodstein. “It is nothing but an unmitigated land grab.”
The demolition came without warning, when dozens of heavy earth-movers descended on Meigs shortly after it closed at 10:00 P.M. Sunday night. The Friends of Meigs only received warning via news media inquiries. When Friends of Meigs representatives tried to visit the airport to talk to officials about the situation, they were turned away from the area by armed police.
“We understand that the City is trying to use ‘homeland security’ as an excuse to destroy Meigs without notice,” said Goodstein. “Of all of the possible things they could do, that’s the worst possible for public security. If there is a security issue at an airport, you work with the users to resolve it in the least disruptive manner, you don’t destroy millions of dollars of taxpayer property.”
The Friends of Meigs Field have repeatedly pointed out that—not only does Meigs Field regularly handle medevac flights and air-sea rescue operations for the lakefront and downtown high rises—it also is the facility responsible for control of all air traffic over downtown Chicago. “Meigs Field is what protects us from what the Mayor fears,” said Goodstein. Meigs Field’s control tower controls all traffic within 4 1/2 miles of downtown Chicago. Also, since September 11, 2001, security has been tighter at Meigs than at any other small airport in the state.
By: FLYLADY - 8th April 2003 at 03:42
Seagull,
I’m sure yours probably made more than 10,000 he’s received. Glad you took the liberty to e-mail him.
Flylady :p
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th April 2003 at 12:47
Well, I’ve already sent my e-mail to the mayors office and would urge you all to do the same.
Funny though – he hasn’t replied yet!
I appreciate that I don’t live in Chicago, but still think it is one of his elected roles to answer correspondence about issues affecting HIS town.
Seagull
By: FLYLADY - 7th April 2003 at 04:12
Two posts/threads going on this subject, so here’s what I read today. Expensive to voice opinion by AOPA, but it’s a good thing.
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AOPA blasts Daley with full-page ads in Chicago newspapers
Apr. 6 — Chicago residents woke up this morning to find full-page ads from AOPA in their Sunday newspapers. The ads, which run today and Monday in the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times, the city’s two largest newspapers, are billed as an “open letter” to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley on the “destruction of Meigs Field.”
“We played fair with you,” begins the letter from AOPA President Phil Boyer. Recalling the decade of lobbying, legislation, and legal action to preserve Meigs, Boyer reminded the mayor he had promised to keep the airport open for at least 25 years.
“We took you at your word,” the letter continues, but “you opened fire on us by bulldozing the airport in the middle of the night. Not to protect the city from terrorist attacks. No, Mr. Mayor, you wantonly destroyed Meigs Field under cover of darkness because you knew that deception and lies could get you what free and open debate could not. And that you could get away with it.
“I would say, ‘Shame!” But it is obvious that you have none.
Now, the time for playing fair is over.”
By: FLYLADY - 6th April 2003 at 22:15
I’m sure the MAFIA had NOTHING to do with it. Right? 😎
By: Saab 2000 - 6th April 2003 at 10:07
Though is not Downtown Chicago already full of parks? Madness, I would of imagined the airport to be quite a tourist catch for Chicago?
By: flyingfemme - 6th April 2003 at 09:12
I understand Mayor Daley wants to make it a park……
By: FLYLADY - 6th April 2003 at 02:08
Probably, someone got paid real well for this mess. Looks like prime real estate property to me!
By: Steve Beebee - 5th April 2003 at 13:16
Sounds just like one of the April Fool gags in the current ‘Todays Pilot’ – but scarily is not.
Just shows that truth can sometimes be stranger than fiction…
By: KabirT - 5th April 2003 at 07:50
And they say its all from terrorism threat….BULL!
By: FLYLADY - 5th April 2003 at 06:48
… and … this is what was posted on AOPA’s site today. Whole lot more there too about subject / photos at http://www.aopa.com AND below is some important e-mail addresses to send them your thoughts. Go to it!
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Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association files formal complaints with FAA, IDOT over destruction of Meigs Field
Apr. 4 — The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the world’s largest civil aviation organization, today filed formal complaints with both the Federal Aviation Administration and the Illinois Department of Transportation alleging that the city of Chicago’s destruction of Meigs Field airport violated federal law and state regulations.
“Mayor Daley landed the first punch in the latest fight over Meigs,” said AOPA President Phil Boyer. “But it was not a knockout blow. Today’s filings are the first of many counterpunches AOPA is planning to win the airport’s reopening.”
AOPA’s complaint to the FAA claims that the city of Chicago violated both the U.S. Code and Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) and that the city plans to continue demolition once all aircraft stranded by the city’s actions are removed from the airport. The U.S. Code states that an airport or landing area not involving the expenditure of federal money may be altered substantially “only if the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration is given reasonable prior notice, so that the Administrator may provide advice on the effects” of the alteration [emphasis added]. In order for the administrator to carry out that obligation, Federal Aviation Regulations state that anyone intending to alter a runway, deactivate a runway or airport, or change the status of an airport must submit notice of that intent at least 90 days prior to taking such action.
The FARs do provide for immediate emergency action, such as in the case of national security, which Daley is claiming. However, even in the case of an emergency, if the airport has a charted instrument approach, which Meigs Field does, a minimum of 30 days’ notice must be given.
AOPA is asking FAA Administrator Marion Blakey to issue a cease and desist order to prevent further destruction of the airport, to request the U.S. attorney general begin legal proceedings for a similar injunction, and to take legal action against the city for violating Federal Aviation Regulations and the law.
AOPA is also seeking similar relief from the State of Illinois. State regulations require that anyone seeking to alter an existing airport must first receive a certificate of approval from the state department of transportation. In today’s complaint,
AOPA claims, “The City of Chicago has altered and, we understand, plans to continue to alter Meigs Field without a certificate of approval . Because of the likelihood that the City of Chicago will continue to alter Meigs Field, an emergency exists requiring that the Division of Aeronautics schedule a hearing on an emergency basis to investigate the complaint.”
AOPA is calling on the Illinois Division of Aeronautics to go to court to prevent any further destruction at Meigs.
AOPA is the world’s largest civil aviation organization, with nearly 400,000 members. The association is dedicated to advancing the interests of general aviation and preventing the closure of civil airports throughout the country. These airports are a vital and critical component of a national transportation system.
———————
State judge grants temporary restraining order to protect Meigs from destruction
Apr. 4 — A Cook County (Illinois) Circuit Court judge this afternoon issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing the city of Chicago from doing any more damage to Meigs Field airport. That action came after Friends of Meigs and other local groups filed a lawsuit this morning to stop the destruction of the airport. The TRO blocks the city until the case is tried on May 16.
———————-
AOPA members join the Chicago boycott
Apr. 4 — AOPA is already hearing from members who are planning to boycott the city of Chicago and any business located there until Merrill C. Meigs Field is reopened.
One member who is scheduled toexhibit at a convention in Chicago sent AOPA a copy of a letter he’d sent to Mayor Richard M. Daley’s office. “We had planned to bring our personnel and equipment into Meigs Field. It is too late to cancel our attendance due to booth space commitments. However, we will reduce the number of employees attending the event from eight to two. We will not attend future conferences in Chicago and will avoid commercial flights to Chicago or flights that connect in Chicago until Meigs is reopened.”
“AOPA will bring all possible pressure to bear on Mayor Daley,” said AOPA President Phil Boyer. “Pilots are letting Daley know that his destruction of this valuable airport has consequences.” Let Mayor Daley and Gov. Blagojevich know what you think of the Meigs field closure.
SEND THEM YOUR THOUGHTS!!!!!!!!
Mayor Daley’s e-mail: [email]mayordaley@cityofchicago.org[/email]
Gov. Blagojevich’s e-mail: [email]governor@state.il.us[/email]
By: FLYLADY - 5th April 2003 at 06:35
Here’s a photo to provide you with the birds eye view. When I first saw this, I truly thought and believed it was an April Fools joke. But, no joke!
By: EGNM - 4th April 2003 at 23:09
at least they got out!
By: flyingfemme - 4th April 2003 at 08:22
They escaped.
They were given special permission to take off from a taxiway.
By: EGNM - 4th April 2003 at 00:27
yea and what about those pilots who own the 16 a/c stuck on the ground there!
By: Saab 2000 - 3rd April 2003 at 20:23
Aviddriver,
Exactly what I was implying. Look at Tampa and Milan, the aircraft did hardly any damage to the buildings infrastructure with minor casualties. I think the aircraft landing at O’Hare (Chicago’s main airport) are more of a threat to security.
Looking on a commercial viewpoint here, London City Airport and Toronto City are just as close to major city buildings as Meigs and take larger aircraft and so are larger threats to security, yet we here nothing of these closing. Therefore, in my opinion, it is just a load of lies with the real reasons stemming from the Mayor’s own personal opinion and ideas for the Chicago Downtown area and Meigs.
By: aviddriver - 3rd April 2003 at 16:55
No NOTAM? No FAA notification? No permission?
The geezer wants shooting!
What possible threat can a GA aeroplane be to the city of Chicago? Just look at that kid who fleew into the building in florida in the 172 – all he achieved was killing his self – few people in the skycraper even knew it had been hit.
Aviddriver
By: Saab 2000 - 3rd April 2003 at 16:53
As I have said on ALW, this is an absolute disgrace and the security is just a bag of lies from a Mayor who has wanted to rid the city of Chicago of this airport for years pre 9/11, so it is an utter joke.
The airport would possess no threat really in terms of security as technically what damage could a Cessna do without warning compared to that of a 757 heading to Midway or O’Hare? It is just lies on the Mayor’s behalf, who I suppose must just want it for another park to place in the Downtown Chicago area!
The fact he did it at night shows a weak and cowardly man and I hope legal action is taken because he did not even warn the FAA let alone the pilots and ATC who were left stranded.
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April 3, 2003 at 3:34 pm