On 2007-04-17 09:27:02 -0700, "Chris G." said:

In any event, AOPA should be involved, too!

1-800-USA-AOPA

The field has an AOPA rep that is very on top of things.

There are a couple of loudmouths at the City of Tacoma and a couple
neighbors (one who actually threatened to shoot airplanes down!) who
have been saying for nearly 30 years that the airport is about to be
closed.

That would violate a deal that was made when the airport was created.
Originally, Tacoma Narrows Airport was located in Tacoma, but Tacoma
promised that if that airport was closed for development then a new
airport (the present TIW) would be built. This is a binding contract
between Tacoma and the FAA, and Tacoma has yet to find a way to weasel
out of it. Not that they haven't tried, but even the Washington State
Supreme Court sided with the FAA.

Tacoma is going to keep on wasting taxpayers money trying to find a way
to close the airport, though, and their media clowns will keep on
badmouthing the airport. However, the airport has been designated as
essential to national security and it is an important FEMA disaster
preparedness point. Pierce County wants the airport, but Tacoma won't
turn it over to them because they know Pierce County wants a big
expansion there. All of this talk is motivated by a few politically
powerful people belonging to the Gig Harbor Merchants Association --
the same people who prevented Wal-Mart from opening in Gig Harbor,
stopped the second Tacoma Narrows Bridge from being built, and kept
Costco out of Gig Harbor. Oops. The bridge is nearly done and the
Costco is under construction. Wal-Mart is just down the highway and
they merchants lost all their business anyway. Well, half of one out of
four isn't bad. :-) The odds of TIW being closed are about the same as
that of Sea-Tac. It could happen, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor