How is this possible?

This data, from the FAA website, seems to fly in the face of the
oft-quoted statistic that "we're losing 2 airports a month in the U.S.:

(In case the formatting gets screwed up, the data is showing a net GAIN
of 243 airports from 2002 to 2004!)
************************************************** *****************
Number of U.S. Airports =B9
(As of December 31)
2004 2003 2002
Total Airports................................ 19,815 19,581 19,572
Public Use Airports.................... 5,288 5,286 5,286
# with Paved Runways....... 3,941 3,938 3,940
# with Unpaved Runways.... 1,347 1,348 1,346
# with Lighted Runways....... 4,037 4,026 4,024
# with Unlighted Runways... 1,251 1,260 1,262
Private Use Airports.................. 14,532 14,295r 14,286
# with Paved Runways........ 4,771 4,678 4,632
# with Unpaved Runways... 9,761 9,617 9,654
# with Lighted Runways...... 1,301 1,223 1,183
# with Unlighted Runways.. 13,231 13,072 13,103
Public use airports abandoned... 10 19 16
Private use airports abandoned. 117 214 121
Certificated Airports*.................. 599 628 633
Civil .................................... 542 555 558
Military ................................ 57 73 75
Source: AAS-330
As of: 12/31/04 (202) 267-8752
=B9 Includes civil and joint-use civil-military airports, heliports,
STOLports, and seaplane bases in the U.S. and its territories.
* Certificated airports serve Air Carrier Operations with aircraft
seating more than 9 passengers seats. (FAR Part 139).
************************************************** *********
Heck, even the number of public use airports appears to have risen.
Why is AOPA saying otherwise?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"