Phyllis Landry keeps her single-engine Cessna Sky Pilor 180 at the Biddeford Maine Airport. It's hard for her to even think about not having it there.
Landry and other who use the airport could in-fact see its doors close.
With the rising economic crisis and the loss of tax payers money, individuals including Paul Archambault, Chairman of Save Our Little Airport, believe the closing of Biddeford City Airport is appropriate.
Once we stated looking at the airport, we came to the conclusion that there is no financial benefit at its existing size and capacity,? said Archambault. ?It continues to be a tax burden.?
Tensions began to rise around Biddeford concerning this issue of shutting down the airport. Along with the cost to shut down the airport, residences like Landry, want to see the airport stay.
"I've been flying out of this airport for 25 years. I've seen lots of changes," said Landry. "I love this airport. If I couldn't fly out of here I'd have to go to Sanford or Portland."
There are a total of 47 planes based at the airport, and about half of them are owned by corporations, according to Airport manager.
"Maybe it's expensive to run the airport. But it's a great resource," said Landry. "I know business people who fly here all the time."
Annually, the airport takes in around $56,000 from sales of gas, property taxes and land leases, according to city manager John Bubier. The cost of running the airport in 2008, including maintenance, utilities and improvements was $60,000, according to Bubiers office records.
"Times are tough in the economy," said Roland Pelletier, a near-by resident of the airport. "We can't afford to support operations that don?t support themselves."
A few years back issues regarding the airport, began when federal safety regulations started being enforced when the airport was at risk of losing Federal Aviation Administration funding. The airport began cutting down trees near local residences and enforcing no-trespassing rules in popular spaces.
"Sure this started out as a fight about trees and public access," said Archambault. "But its not just about that any more. Now it's about money too."
Bubier said that City Council hasn't come to down on one side of the issue or the other. "I think they'd prefer to have the voters settle this one," he said.
On June 4 residence will vote on whether or not the city will authorize the Airport Authority to close the Biddeford City Airport at a cost of about $3 million, to be taken from general operation funds.
"We are trying to be positive and constructive," said Archambault. ?"Look, we're not some bomb throwing radicals; we?re just concerned taxpayers looking out for the best interests of this great city and its wonderful citizens."
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