Y47 News

Pilots Meeting 5/2/2007

Status Airport Improvements

Outreach For Support

Upcoming Events

Y47 News

April Action:

4/7 Condition of airport documented - as discussed in April pilots meeting

4/12, 4/16 Distributed document to Ms. Myers, Messrs. Randall and Zapata to support upcoming meeting in Lansing

4/23 Airport action meeting in Lansing

4/24 Messrs. Randall and Zapata phone me to announce that improvements will happen “soon”, however funding very tight.

4/26 County commissioners Messrs. Potter and Bullard are getting involved through Mr. Fowkes, I request support with a written letter for funding

Y47 News

Phone call from Mr. Jeff Potter 5/2/2007, 5:30PMMr. Randall informed him that:

•$ 90,000 for surface improvements up for bid•Work to be scheduled in June•Future capital plans are for electrical refurbishments (lighting wires, new beacon etc)•Long term plans depend to a degree on ring road plans•(more on that later)

This is excellent news!

Y47 News

Thank you for helping your airport with your support:

•Mailing list for Y47 Pilots

•Web based e-mail distribution database

•Letters, letters, letters

•Connections to the governing body

What more is needed in our fight for a better airport?

•Spread the word about a good thing: we need Positive Publicity

•Open House (June 9) – invitations to VIP’s, invitations to the public

•Web based advertising ?

Y47 News

Q: Why is it of relevance, that the airport is used commercially?

A: The needed funds for improvement come from taxes and user fees. By definition, the “profits” of a governing body must be disbursed on its constituents, i.e. through programs which create further jobs, serve the businesses, and benefit the community. The more commercial interests Y 47 is serving, the more easily it can be justified to be a communal

necessity to invest into the facility.

Q: Is there a hidden agenda to squeeze us out?

A: Chances are that it is more difficult to close the airport, if it is seen as a social and economic center for the surrounding communities, and the airport is not seen as “nuisance”. This requires constant and active advertising.

Y47 News

Q: Why is it taking so long to get repairs underway ?

A: The funding comes from local, state and federal monies, the state and federal portion is coupled to certain prerequisites / conditions in order to be granted. One of those is the airport master plan, which may take several years to be created.

In the airport master plan, certain distances and safety zones / clearances are defined, which can be met only through land acquisition and relocation of runways and taxiways.

At this time, the beginning of long term improvements would begin within the next one or two years. All in all, it will take approximately 10 to 12 years to upgrade an airport to acceptable standards.

Once state and federal grants were accepted, the airport cannot be closed by local authorities easily without paying back the grants.

Q: Does the ring road affect these plans?

A: Not sure at this time

Y47 News

Upcoming Events:

•Student Pilot Meeting (Cal Locklin)•Open House, June 9 (Oakland Flight Services) 10AM-4PM

–Games and prizes for all ages–Barbeque Lunch–$10 Airplane rides–And much more!

•Meeting with the Commissioners (not scheduled)•August Meeting- Cookout at the field.