Posted on 09/27/2009 7:36:58 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
Two Central New York businessmen are in line to get $10.8 million in federal money to build a small airstrip in the Oswego County town of Hastings.
The Hastings airport is eight miles from a former small, taxpayer-built airport — Michael Airfield in Cicero — that the same businessmen have bought and shut down. Essentially they’ll be spending nearly $11 million in federal money to replace one generally unused airport with another airstrip....
The Federal Aviation Administration has already spent $2.8 million on the project for which there is no demonstrated need, which doesn’t meet the FAA’s minimum quota for air traffic, which could hurt nearby airports, and which has been opposed by local planners and the airstrip’s neighbors in Hastings. The FAA expects to spend another $8 million on the project.
The money comes from a fund set up to relieve air traffic congestion at major airports, a $200 million-a-year pot of money fed through taxes on tickets and aviation fuel paid by anyone who flies or sends a package via air.
The new airstrip, named Syracuse Suburban Airport, is 11 miles from Hancock International Airport, which runs at 50 percent of its air traffic capacity and needs no relief.
The Hastings airfield is also minutes away by air from Oswego County Airport in Volney, which, like Hancock, has been helped by taxpayers for decades and has no air traffic congestion.....
[Developers] enlisted the help of U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York City Democrat. Both wrote letters to the FAA, encouraging approval and a waiver of federal standards.
“This opportunity could be a tremendous shot in the arm for Central New York aviation,” Schumer wrote in 2001....
At best, the new Hastings airport will serve a handful of private pilots.
(Excerpt) Read more at syracuse.com ...
[Developers] enlisted the help of U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a New York City Democrat.
Both of whom are guilty of getting kickbacks from tax payer funded pork projects.
I’ve been to the Oswego County Airstrip in NY several times.
They could replace it for half the amount. It is not economically sound to put any money at all there. It would benefit 3 or 4 businesses at most (one being IBM) and probably wouldn’t bring a dime into the community besides the make-work union workers hired for the renovation. The average Burger King is bigger than this airport.
That is a million dollars for the runway design. Seven million to set up the TSA office there, and two million sent to ACORN to recruit and hire TSA agents.
Well that should get them through the first six months and then they can begin the runway. While standing on the runway they will notice that they don’t have a taxi way, landing lights, a control tower, passenger terminal or any money left to operate the airport or pay the TSA agents.
Oh!! We have one of these!! It’s called Mid America Airport in Mascoutah, IL. Beautiful terminal, nice runways, NOT ONE FREAKING AIRLINE!!! Thanks taxpayers, I’m sure the management that staff this empty whale are happy that you pay their salaries to do nothing :)
Two Central New York businessmen = Democrat doners/Mafia
The trick to pulling off these scams down here , the mantra of "job creation".
Even if the lie were true , how many jobs and how long would it take from the taxes from those imaginary jobs to return $750,000,000?
I just don't see how the math escapes even dullards.
What am I missing?
shouldn’t this be privately funded
maybe they can give back the pork to help their country...the seem so ready to cut services to the american people
Central New York ALREADY has a currently ready airport here in Oneida County, 50 miles from Hancock, the former Griffis Air Force Base.
The “B-52” runway has been kept up as a back-up for military use and is also said to be available for use by the shuttle in an emergency. Now known as the Oneida County Airport, it currently has a huge AC refurbishment company there, along with a terminal and private airplane service.
Oneida County has been seeking to have the Air Force Reserve fighter unit at Hancock move here and is “shovel ready” (heh) to receive any and all cargo that Hancock handles.
Yet we just can't seem to get support to have that happen. Must be that conservative leaning problem we have in this county.
Takotna to get $21 million airport ($500,000.00 per resident of small town)
“Two Central New York businessmen = Democrat doners/Mafia”
Yes, That’s right. Any that disagree please prove it isn’t correct. Restore my faith.
Cicero Airfield is unusable to all but the smallest aircraft because of its 2500 foot runway, which cannot be extended because of surrounding trees, a pipeline, a golf course, and selfish neighbors who move-in and then try to close the airport. A nearby, bigger field would be a boost to the economy and to general aviation.
How’s that Hope and Change working out for you?
Well if you’re a big lib with big Washington friends, excellently. :)
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