Aviation Industry Expresses Concern About Proposed Burke Lakefront Closure
AOPA, along with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS), and Signature Aviation met with staff for Senators Jon Husted (R-Ohio) and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) on March 17.
“We appreciate Senators Husted and Moreno and their staff for continuing to engage with businesses and schools at the airport, and the aviation industry at large on the future of Burke Lakefront Airport,” said AOPA Great Lakes Regional Manager Kyle Lewis.
“Airports are a finite resource, and the vast majority—including Burke Lakefront—are protected by federal law,” said Lewis. “This attempt to circumvent the law is both unprecedented and unfair, and the mayor’s claim to have universal support for closing the airport is misleading.”
A spokesperson for Husted’s office told Fox 8 News, “Senator Husted is open to considering an alternative use for the airport property. However, at this time, no alternative plan has been presented for review. This would be a significant change to the downtown landscape, and any plan would need to be widely supported by the entire Cleveland community.”
The Lakefront Airport Preservation Partnership—comprised of AOPA, as well as local businesses, aviation organizations, and schools at the airport—continues to be open to exploring alternative uses for the airport property and believes the city of Cleveland should work with the FAA to develop an Airport Master Plan.
“Master plans are in place at airports across the country and would provide an unbiased path forward that takes the needs and concerns of all parties into consideration,” said Lewis. “We believe that process will show what the LAPP has said all along—that the best outcome for Cleveland is keeping the airport open while exploring the possibility of opening compatible land for new development.”
