Waller/closing the airportHello and thank you in advance for your attention.
I have heard that there is a move underway by a group called "quiet
skies" to CLOSE the Kalispell downtown city airport. I would like to
voice my strong objection to this proposal and point out some of the
ramifications to the community should this occur. I have freinds in the
area and have been a frequent visitor to that airport for a number of
years. Having a "general aviation" only airport with that proximity to
hotels, downtown, restaurants, businesses is quite appreciated. The
naysayers will say that it is only a few minutes farther to fly to
Glacier Internatianal, but it is precisely the "convenience factor"
that motivates most private pilots to fly where they do! It is
impossible to measure or quantitate the amount of tourism and business
that will be lost due to that convenience factor. I know that I will
not be visiting the area nearly as frequently, if at all, if the airport
is shut down. A properly run "city" airport can have proper traffic
patterns and noise abatement standards that will keep "quiet skies" for
Kalispell, while still bringing tourism and business DIRECTLY to the
area. Please consider this carefully when you approach this issue.
Thank you very much for your time.
William Waller
1310 Apollo Circle
Rapid City,SD 57701
member Idaho and Utah pilot's ass.