Bye Bye MEIGS

[Dingbat]

I guess I won't be flying here anytime soon.

Police State
By Reader Submission  Date Published : 4/2/2003
Sunday March 30, Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago sent a task force to Meigs field -- the lovely airport on the lake -- and had the runway destroyed. The facility handled some 1,500 instrument flights per month and provided some relief to air traffic controllers handling the already overwhelmed O'Hare airspace. Daley, who recently won a Temporary Flight Restriction for the airspace over his city used the cover of darkness late Sunday night ... after the airports usual closing time ... brought in police escorted crews and had them rip giant X's into the main runway at Meigs for the sake of security. There will be no more business flights into Meigs, there will be no more medical emergency flight services out of Meigs. There was no prior warning -- no NOTAMs were issued in advance, because the FAA was not notified. The NOTAM was issued Monday when the light of day exposed what Daley had done.

Late in 2001, Daley had agreed with the Governor of Illinois to keep Meigs field open until 2026, although he retained the ability to have the airport closed by a vote of the General Assembly any time after 2006. The NOTAM issued Monday declared the airport closed indefinitely. Some sixteen aircraft were parked on the ramp and the FAA Tuesday sent representatives to ascertain if the taxiways could be used for departure. Those aircraft not taking to the air will be trucked out at the city's expense. AOPA's initial response, drawing on experience with similar incidents indicates that the mayor's move is not illegal ... though the FAA may yet fine the city.

An elected official chose to destroy an airport in the middle of the night, without warning that facility's patrons or businesses. One of the most beautiful and beloved airports in the nation is gone.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley may be reached at mayordaley@cityofchicago.org Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich may be reached at governor@state.il.us.

Land of the free. Home of the brave.

[CyranoAH]

I cannot express how happy I am that the mayor of Barcelona is a pilot and a member of the aeroclub where I fly

Bad times for General Aviation

Daniel

[Dingbat]

Sometimes I wonder where my freedom is going???  Stuff like this is unreal, not even a warning to businesses.  Such a low blow, and If I lived in Chicago, I'd be calling for his resignation.

[moose]

what the hell??

can he even do that??

[crowMAW]

Yes, what he did was legal.  There were special agreements regarding the Federal monies spent to maintain Meigs that were unlike agreements anywhere else in the US.

While Daily says he wants to build a park (which would cost $27 million that the city does not have), one of my Chicagoland squadmates says that he actually wants to open the space to development for a mini-Atlantic City.

Hopefully, the FAA will level a huge fine for failure to notify in advance of this action.  I'm also hopeful that any future transportation bill before Congress that has funds for Illinois will have a rider that forces Chicago to repair and re-open Meigs.

I hear that when the FBO called the Mayor's office to ask what they were supposed to do with the 16 stranded aircraft, the response was, "that's your problem."  Luckily, Meigs has a nice wide taxiway that runs the length of the 3100ft runway, and it has been approved by the FAA for departure use.

All the folks at the FBO are out of work and the tower controllers will have to be reassigned.  It also now leaves much of the lake front in uncontrolled airspace.

You can see pics of the damage on the AOPA website.  http://www.aopa.org

[john9001]

i can sympathize with meigs, in st pete fla , we have a water front airfield right in downtown. For over 30 years the developers have been trying to close it so they can build multi-million dollar condos, so far they have failed.

[Creamo]

I too think it was a money deal for development or something. When I lived in Chicago they had a fight over it although I forget all the details now and supposedly the airport won.

It’s a damn shame though. We would ride jetski’s out near the end of the runway and watch the planes on final, which was really cool. I suppose the terrorists would have won over that right as well now, we could have shot rockets into Cessna’s or something wildly ridiculous paranoid politicians might have dreamed up.

They had air cannons that went off periodically to keep the birds away which I found interesting. They may have even landed a 727 there for the Museum of Science and Industry, although someone may have been pulling my leg. If it’s true, that would have been one helluva landing.

Damn shame.

[Dingbat]

Daley's actions are cruel, uncalled for and un-necessary.  Rather than workout a strategy that would be suitable for everyone, he decided to undertake an underhanded covert operation.  It's stuff like this that makes me wonder how free we are, when politicians destroy airports at will.

[Golfer]

AOPA soon to be made a Dues-less orginazition thanks to unprecidented sum of money awarded during court case which cleaned out city government bank accounts (including Daley's pants and his favorite pair of pink polka dotted boxershorts).  Sears Tower soon to be renamed AOPA Worldwide Headquarters as well as the AOPA Stock Exchange.  Meigs to reopen with honorary slave Daley heading the labor force to increase Meigs' runway length to 10,000 feet.  Included in Daley's toolbox, a playskool shovel and sand bucket to increase the length of the island by 7000 feet as well as a unique Power Wheels steamroller for him to ride and repave and create 7000 additional feet to make Meigs approx. 10,000 feet.

Give em hell AOPA.

[Airhead]

It will make a lovely park.

[Charon]

what the hell??

can he even do that??

LOL, ROTFLMAO, hehehehe... wipes tear from eye and gets breathing under control. Da' Mayor can do whatever he wants. Frankly, as a benign, regularly elected dictator he has done pretty well for the City in the transition from potential rust belt victim to a leading tourism and commerce center, and generally great place to live.

My parents have their boat in Burnham Harbor right behind the airport. It was always cool to sit back and watch the action, particularly around the Chicago air show, and this is a sad development. However, next election he wont have to spend an additional campaign minute (on top of the 5 or 6 he allready spends) to get reelected.

Charon

BTW, I have heard the Casino or Riverboat angle myself. That probably makes the most sense, but he may just think a park would be nicer. Daley is a mix of both old school politics and a true, deep love for the city.

[Creamo]

Originally posted by Airhead
It will make a lovely park.

It will.

[Dingbat]

destroy an airport for a riverboat?  Logic?  Riverboat floats on water right?

[Tarmac]

Still, a freaking covert operation to shut it down?  Seems like the freedom-loving, democratic way to do this would be take it before the city council, have a rational debate, and then make your decision based on the opinions from a variety of interests.  Not this unilateral dictator bull****.  Too bad the taxiway is long enough to fly the planes out... I would have loved to have seen those 16 airplanes come back and bite him in the arse with their removal costs.      

This guy needs to be kicked in the nads.

[Dingbat]

I'd rather his nads be removed, well he probably doesn't have any because of the way he did things.  His momma probably dropped him to many times...