AIRPORT JUNK

What I find interesting is that it appears that a local news publication printed in the paper version, the comments from Rick Childers in order to draw particular attention to those certain comments, and what seems to be a misunderstanding by Mr. Childers of the FAA regulations.   (See the revenue diversion post.)

According to the local publication, the equipment was being used to maintain the airport.  Some of the equipment might have been used in the past in 2006, but not in 2010 when the junk was stored in the hangar.  Before 2010 the hangar was empty except for a brief period when it was rented to a private individual for personal aircraft storage.    Another comment by Mr. Childers about the pump motors also appears to be a justification for the storage of the rest of the junk.  The maintenance equipment does not appear to be functional, and does not look familiar to any of the equipment used in previous years, except for the mower.  The airport records show a receipt for a new mower back in July of 05 for $1500.   The mower is airport equipment.   If the equipment in the hangar is as reported to be airport equipment, then it would also make sense that the proceeds from the auction of these items would also go to the airport. 

The city will eventually have to face the reality that it is the responsibility of the city to operate the airport for the benefit of the aviation public, any action  or just as important, any inaction  by the city that does not produce a benefit to the aviation public, is a violation.   The inaction is just as important as any direct action.  The city is required to develop or to allow development on the airport for aeronautical use, as outlined by the Directive.  To justify action like the maintenance hangar crap as being carried out according to the wishes of the citizens of St. Clair is insulting, and it is not believable that it was put in the hangar because there is nowhere else to store it.  This appears to have been done to force tenants off of the airport.