Future of Runway at Willow Grove?

[buzzard86]

I just read in this morning's paper that the Governor has withdrawn his plan to convert the Willow Grove NAS (NXX) to a Homeland Defense installation, which would have preserved all of the runway infrastructure. In short, the article said that the future of the land and runway will now be in the hands of the Base Realignment and Closure committee, which is primarily a local group. As we know, the locals seem to pretty much hate the airfield, despite having knowingly purchased homes beneath a flight path.

Does anybody know what this decision means for the future of the runway? I lost hope long ago of ever being able to land their freely... but it will sure hurt to see another local runway torn up for McMansions.

Jim

 

[flyersfan31]

There is a chance that the govt will still set up these 6 proposed Homeland Security bases around the country, of which KNXX would be one. That's going nowhere right now. I agree with Rendell on this - why **** money down this well while things are so tight in PA? If the Feds won't help, and the neighbors won't cooperate, well, there are other things that require attention. The neighbors absolutely positively do not want a civilian airport there.

I think KNXX will be closed for good after the A10s leave next year.

 

[Nav8tor]

Good bye T-34 , I hardly new ya.

 

[buzzard86]

I think KNXX will be closed for good after the A10s leave next year.

I agree that this is probably the fate. Obviously, as a pilot, I am biased against a runway closure. But in the bigger picture, I also see that we'll be losing a community resource if the runway at NXX closes, not to mention the local jobs that will go with it.

I grew up next to the old Johnsville base (NADC) which was in a similar situation about 10 years ago. Sadly, I have watched what became of that once great 8000' runway and facility. Despite effots to save them, the historic tower and hangars were torn down and most of the runway bulldozed to make way for an enormous senior citizen community that is now bankrupt. The adjacent Navy housing complex has fallen into disrepair and will likely be sold to an organization that will provide subsidized housing. And the township seems to be finally starting to maintain the remaining land that they were given, which includes the remaining portion of the original runway. Thankfully somebody had the vision and finances to preserve the old centrifuge that was used to train the early astronauts.

http://www.nadcmuseum.org/

 

[Nav8tor]

I'll be very surprised if it remains an airport of any kind after next December. There simply is no champion with any significant clout on the side of keepig it open and lots of pressure to close it an develop it for other purposes.

 

[buzzard86]

I'll be very surprised if it remains an airport of any kind after next December. There simply is no champion with any significant clout on the side of keepig it open and lots of pressure to close it an develop it for other purposes.

Yeah, I think it's fate may be sealed. It's a shame because I think that with proper planning it could be preserved as an airport without adding significantly more air traffic. The locals don't wany ANY air traffic and, at least in the commentaries that I've read, have seemed to spread a pretty dire picture. I don't remember where I read it, but there was a comment about the noise from "regular Airbus traffic." At least some seem to envision it as becoming another PHL, which it clearly would never be.

In any case, as the Johnsville example how shown, preserving the runway might not be the most property-devaluing option for an ex-airbase. The same neighbors who adamantly fought to have Johnsville's runway closed are now facing the very real potential of having a housing project in their back yard.

 

[AdamZ]

The only bright side is ya won't have to worry about busting the delta on departure from 6 at Wings. Be nice if they kept the TCAN and they could create a VOR approach to 24 at LOM.

All in all I rather have the grove there. I'll miss the Blue Angles and T-Birds etc.