SkyHog
Touchdown! Greaser!
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2005
- Messages
- 18,431
- Location
- Castle Rock, CO
- Display Name
Display name:
Everything Offends Me
Back story:
Coronado Airport (4AC) was a quaint little airport, just north of the Albuquerque Class C airspace. It was very popular, and at one time sported 2 active runways. It was open from 1961 until 2001, when the Pueblo of Sandia tricked their way into owning the property.
In 1994, a company called the "Sandia Business Development Corporation" bought the land and the airport from its original private owner. The owner held out, because he knew that the Pueblo of Sandia wanted to close the airport should it get its hands on the property. When SBDC propositioned him, they stated that they have no connections to the Pueblo of Sandia.
After the land was purchased, SBDC revealed that they had one Shareholder, and that shareholder was the Pueblo of Sandia. From 1994 until 2001, they continually tried to shut down the airport. At that time, the Pueblo of Sandia had a casino, but it was just a tent in the middle of the Pueblo.
Their idea was to build a casino across the road from the airport, in such a way that would completely obstruct the approach end of runway 17. Since the airport was open, they were unable to build it right there. The Pueblo of Sandia claimed that a drainage ditch was causing safety concerns for the airport, and that it would eventually consume the runway.
Notice how small the ditch is.
The FAA worked with Sandia, giving suggestions to them to avoid closure, including running a pipe under the end of runway 35, and even shortening the runway by about 1500 feet. Instead, the Pueblo of Sandia issued the following public statement.
And then, to make sure nothing could change their decision, immediately after November 30th, the Pueblo expanded a small ditch to the south of the airport, to make it immense, and right through the end of the runway.
The pueblo built their grand Casino now, but they built it in such a way as to not obstruct either runway's approaches.
The Plan
I want to find a way to convince the Pueblo of Sandia that reopening the airport would be good for their business. The airport is within walking distance (or shuttle distance, if one started) from their casino. By reopening the airport, and marketing it as a possible retreat for pilots, I think they could make some serious money. Of course, not right away, but in time.
Albuquerque is sorely in need of another airport, as the traffic at Double Eagle gets so intense sometimes, its impossible to get on the Unicom frequency.
What suggestions can anyone give me to show them the opportunity they are missing out on? Michael suggested stats from Jean, NV (which I guess is a casino based airport). Does anyone have anything else? I've never approached a big mean corporation before with suggestions, so I don't know exactly how to begin.
Thank you for your time.
Coronado Airport (4AC) was a quaint little airport, just north of the Albuquerque Class C airspace. It was very popular, and at one time sported 2 active runways. It was open from 1961 until 2001, when the Pueblo of Sandia tricked their way into owning the property.
In 1994, a company called the "Sandia Business Development Corporation" bought the land and the airport from its original private owner. The owner held out, because he knew that the Pueblo of Sandia wanted to close the airport should it get its hands on the property. When SBDC propositioned him, they stated that they have no connections to the Pueblo of Sandia.
After the land was purchased, SBDC revealed that they had one Shareholder, and that shareholder was the Pueblo of Sandia. From 1994 until 2001, they continually tried to shut down the airport. At that time, the Pueblo of Sandia had a casino, but it was just a tent in the middle of the Pueblo.
Their idea was to build a casino across the road from the airport, in such a way that would completely obstruct the approach end of runway 17. Since the airport was open, they were unable to build it right there. The Pueblo of Sandia claimed that a drainage ditch was causing safety concerns for the airport, and that it would eventually consume the runway.
Notice how small the ditch is.
The FAA worked with Sandia, giving suggestions to them to avoid closure, including running a pipe under the end of runway 35, and even shortening the runway by about 1500 feet. Instead, the Pueblo of Sandia issued the following public statement.
Pueblo of Sandia said:Sandia Business Development Corporation (SBDC), a federally chartered corporation whose sole shareholder is the Pueblo of Sandia, has decided to end flight operations at the Coronado Airport in north Albuquerque.
The SBDC purchased the Coronado Airport as an investment in 1994, with plans to eventually redevelop the property. "We have always known that the flight operations would have to cease someday, but in the end, safety concerns forced the decision," said Frank Chaves, President of SBDC. In July, SBDC entered into an agreement with AMAFCA and Mesa Development Corporation to channelize the La Cueva and El Camino Arroyos and remove portions of the airport property from the floodplain. The project requires the construction of a 50-foot wide drainage channel across the Coronado Airport runway to tie into AMAFCA's box culverts at I-25. "At first, our conversations with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Airport Fixed Based Operator indicated that the channel could cross the runway 400 feet north of the southern property line with little impact on flight operations. Then, some of the pilots and the State Aviation Division raised serious safety concerns. "The public's safety is our priority," says Chaves.
Recognizing that local pilots have a great interest in continued flight operations at Coronado Airport, the SBDC explored possible options, including cost sharing with State Aviation to repair the runway and construct a crossing structure over the drainage channel. None of the options explored are economically viable, given the airport's physical limitations. The airport runway simply cannot be extended nor its activities expanded because it is landlocked by a cemetery on the south and Tramway Road on the north and is constrained by adjacent residential growth. The facilities have deteriorated over the years, and would require a significant capital investment to continue operations at the current level. "Given the economic realities and the safety concerns, we could not justify continued flight operations," says Chaves.
The Coronado Airport will close on November 30, 2001.
And then, to make sure nothing could change their decision, immediately after November 30th, the Pueblo expanded a small ditch to the south of the airport, to make it immense, and right through the end of the runway.
The pueblo built their grand Casino now, but they built it in such a way as to not obstruct either runway's approaches.
The Plan
I want to find a way to convince the Pueblo of Sandia that reopening the airport would be good for their business. The airport is within walking distance (or shuttle distance, if one started) from their casino. By reopening the airport, and marketing it as a possible retreat for pilots, I think they could make some serious money. Of course, not right away, but in time.
Albuquerque is sorely in need of another airport, as the traffic at Double Eagle gets so intense sometimes, its impossible to get on the Unicom frequency.
What suggestions can anyone give me to show them the opportunity they are missing out on? Michael suggested stats from Jean, NV (which I guess is a casino based airport). Does anyone have anything else? I've never approached a big mean corporation before with suggestions, so I don't know exactly how to begin.
Thank you for your time.