I was reading  the PDA Board ( International Tradeport) minutes last night. This will be interesting  to  see how many visitors  click on the minutes link.

Reading.

Hope you love golf  because the minutes  are awash with  golf course chat. They even discuss the new menu at the Clubhouse . In between  they are discussing chopping down trees at the end of one of the longest runways  in the USA

“You can see it from Space!” Any  time one mentions that runway in an article the space view gets a mention.

The tree’s are located  in a historic section of Newington.Oh the PDA won’t be using their money of which they have little, they will  have the Air Force do the heavy lifting, money and  study, and be the pressure point .  It’s really a case of “let’s do something, cut some trees, something”. There is no need to cut down the trees, there is plenty of room to land safely.

The PDA authority  when  originally formed allows far too much heavy handed behavior regarding the environment, and notification of abutters.

Ich bin ein Newingtoner

From the  PDA  Board minutes. 1/20/11

“PDA had 10,326 enplanements as of December 31, 2010. Enplanements included troop flights,sports team charters, and Boy Scout discovery flights. FAA requires 10,000 enplanements annually to secure an annual entitlement of $1 million dollars. Director Allard commended Mr. Mullen for his efforts in securing the Boy Scout discovery flights. Mr. Hopper reported that air show planning for 2011 has begun.”

Boy Scout Discovery  Flights? The newspaper  reported that Bill Hopper(airport manager)  characterized the Boy Scout flights as a “handful”

Not a reflection on the deportment of the  passengers, but in my opinion meant to minimize and mask this last ditch effort to make the numbers.

Shading.

Boy Scout Discovery  Flights are usually  conducted by  private pilots in little  planes so the kid can get a feel for flying, not  sitting  with 170  scouts and family members in a 737 for one hour free scenic trips. The flyer announcing the last minute  gambit which  you can read here ,clearly states they need 400 takers, they got 500. Were camera’s discouraged? Where is the picture  of all the kids on the runway? I tried to find one and came up empty. Without pulling this stunt, no million bucks. The FAA paid a  million in taxpayer funds  to facilitate  the ruse of Pease as a functioning , necessary and profitable airport.

Just wait  till the Air Force dumps the Air Bridge.

Imminent.

The last 5  PDA Board meetings had no  Press or Public attendees.

If you want  to comment on the Exeter Town Crier in the future you will have to identify yourself.

Mike