|
Post by jean on Jun 9, 2017 8:47:29 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 9, 2017 8:55:57 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 9, 2017 9:05:52 GMT -5
Aviation and the Economy Aviation – its Contribution to the National Economy The Aviation White Paper makes huge claims about the contribution of aviation to the economy. But most of these claims do not stand up to careful scrutiny. The Aviation White is based on a flawed study commissioned by the Government. It is so flawed that it undermines all claims the Government may make about the aviation industry contributing to employment and economic regeneration. To prepare for the Aviation White Paper, the Government commissioned a study from the normally reputable Oxford Economic Forecasting (OEF) to look at the contribution of aviation to the economy. The study, The Contribution of the Aviation Industry to the UK Economy, was published in November 1999. It emerged that over 90% of the costs of the study were paid for not by the Government, but by the aviation industry. The OEF Study found an expanding aviation industry was critical to the future health of the economy. It argued the industry contributes £10.4 billion to the Gross National Product (1.4% of the total), directly employs 180,000 people (0.8% of the total) and supported up to three times as many additional indirect jobs (all 1998 figures). It went on to argue that many of the expanding industries, such as the 'knowledge-intensive' industries of the future, are particularly dependent on air travel. It concluded that, if the number of passengers were not allowed to grow at all beyond 1998 levels,£30 billion would be lost to the economy by 2015. But the study is seriously flawed in a number of ways: • it ignored, and failed to factor in, the considerable subsidies the industry receives - the word "subsidy" does not appear once in the study. Yet the overall tax subsidy to the aviation industry is put at £9 billion per year. • it failed to include any work on the environmental and social costs imposed by aviation. Yet the costs amount to more than £10.5 billion per year across the European Union (The Myths of Flying, 1998). • it failed to recognise that if £30 billion a year was not spent on aviation it would be spent on other goods and services. If, unlike air travel, these were unsubsidized, there would be an actual increase in national welfare. This is the clear conclusion of independent report published in 2000 and commissioned from consultants Berkeley Hanover by the local authority group, SASIG (The Impacts on Future Aviation Growth in the UK, 2000). and most serious of all • it ignored its own findings that there may be no link between aviation expansion and economic performance and went on to base the whole report on the assumption that there was one! The report estimated that, for transport as a whole, every 10% increase in the provision of transport services in the UK between 1979 and 1998 increased overall productivity by 1.3%- about £800 million a year. When the report repeated this exercise for aviation, they could not rule out the possibility there was no link. Ignoring their own findings, they went on to assume a link! From this false assumption, all OEF's predictions flowed about the contribution of aviation to the economy. The OEF Study was criticised by respected economists and lobby groups. Many called for the study to be withdrawn. Instead, the Government based its Aviation White Paper on it! www.google.com/url...
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 9, 2017 10:34:28 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 9, 2017 12:26:45 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 9, 2017 13:56:29 GMT -5
I submitted the following LETTER TO THE EDITOR to the Greensburg Daily News (GDN) in hopes that they will print it. I am also posting on this thread for information for people who want to contact their county officials on this PROPOSED AIRPORT EXPANSIONS and the COUNTY"S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN where they state they support this expansion. NOTE : that the Contact information is updated below the LETTER TO THE EDITOR. Don't Forget the CITY PUBLIC HEARING will take place JUNE 29th at 6 pm in the CITY HALL GYM. MY LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE GDN QUESTIONS FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS & COUNTY COUNCIL In your recently revised draft Comprehensive Plan which is on the county website you make two statements which i would like to focus on and publicly ask questions about for all residents of Decatur County both City and County. The first statement is : "Balanced preservation of agricultural land while protecting private property rights" The 2nd statement is : "support the City's effort to Expand the Existing Greensburg Municipal Airport" docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/8e5ba9_226870e6ff3e4968b481785075cad09b.pdf It seems to me that your second statement totally negates your first statement. If this proposed airport expansion fiasco takes place it will eminent domain prime farmground and violate property rights. The elected county officials opted to get out of the airport because they did not want to eminent domain property. Having said that....the city cannot eminent domain that sits in the county, they can however annex it and then eminent domain it. Is the county plan to sit back and "allow" this to happen in hypocrisy of their claim to protect agricultural land and property rights?...or will you come to this PUBLIC HEARING on June 29th at 6 pm at the City Hall gym and make it clear you will not "allow" this to happen. What is the county's meaning of "support" in reference to this proposed unneeded expansion of our airport....is it financial support or is it just "allowing" the annexation to take place by doing nothing. As a City Resident who is also part of this county I would really like to know. I have no property being taken in this fiasco but i do know a volume of information that supports the lack of "need" of this project and i value our rights as a republic for individual rights to matter. I implore elected county officials to attend this meeting and defend the prime farm ground and the property rights of these individuals who live in the county and are under your jurisdiction. For any decatur county resident that would like to contact their county offiicals on this proposed expansion here is a contact roster link that has their phone numbers and emails: www.decaturcounty.in.gov/pdf/County%20Officials%20Roster.pdfPLEASE NOTE: that i have been informed that the County says they are under the impression this ground has already been annexed. It has not and this is necessary for the City to be able to eminent domain the land of these property owners. Stand for these property owners before you need someone to stand for you. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke respectfully , Jean Johannigman Greensburg, IN UPDATED CONTACT INFORMATION FOR COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS: MARK KOORS HAS NOW REPLACED JOHN RICHARDS AS COMMISSIONER : HIS CONTACT INFO IS: 812-525-0221 mkoors@globeasphalt.com New County Council Members: Bill Metz Contact: 812-663-2570 812-593-4320 bmetz8200@gmail.com John Westhafer Contact: 812-663-7263 jwest@etczone.com
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 13, 2017 18:58:14 GMT -5
This article came from car and driver magazine
name of the article: Hangin' Tough
Author: Matthew Jancer
QUOTE FROM ARTICLE:
"You've run out of garage space and cars are stacked three deep in your driveway. Time to get more real estate! Know where there's lots of room, often cheap? Airports. A hangar usually comes with security, heat, and electricity, making it the perfect place for your collection. Hangars near big cities can rent for less than $400 per month. Half that at smaller airports gets you 1000 square feet for automotive hootenanny.
But be careful how you go about your business. responding to a wave of people using airport hangars as personal workshops and garages, the Federal Aviation Administration rewrote the rules to shove out non-aeronautical users. The FAA wants airplanes in hangars, and anything that gets in the way of aeronautical purposes will raise a red flag as of the first of this month. Still, general aviation is in the depths of a 30-year slump. Airports need tenants. Abide by the spirit of the law, and you can still make an airport hangar your cheap garage. Here's how:" END QUOTE
article continues........
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 15, 2017 8:24:16 GMT -5
THE FOLLOWING IS DON WALL'S LETTER TO THE EDITOR WHICH IS IN THE GREENSBURG DAILY NEWS TODAY. Proposed Greensburg City Airport Expansion Dear People of Decatur County, It appears the proposed city airport expansion is raising its’ ugly head again. There will be a “public” meeting on June 29, 6:00 PM at City Hall. One would think that after 10+ years it would be a done issue; especially since there are so many other things of greater importance to our community. We need vision with common sense from those elected to represent us. And keep in mind those elected officials make the appointments to boards and commissions. Let me state that I am not anti airport or even anti expansion. We also need to be fiscally responsible. The money used for grants is from our tax dollars and should be used wisely. But the current proposal at the current location is wrong for so many reasons. If you were to ask anyone on the street if they would like to see a new and improved airport I’m sure you would get an affirmative answer. That is until they hear how it would come about. There are too many details to cover in just one letter. But let’s look at a couple of the issues. First what is the business plan for this expansion or a Return on Investment (ROI)? Has anyone seen one? After all there is several million dollars being spent. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to know what is expected from the money? By the way, the city will be responsible for about 2 million dollars as well; it will not all come from grants. If it is a genuine project for economic development, when and what is the pay back? All that is ever said is that it is necessary for the economic growth of the community. No facts have ever been offered to support this statement. No business has left or come to Greensburg because of the airport. However, there are facts to support not expanding a General Aviation Airport (GAA). You can find some of them at: www.greensburgairport.com . Understand there are several airports within a 30 minute drive from Greensburg that will easily support the aircraft that will be serviced with this expansion. In addition, the generation of small aircraft being manufactured today can use the current runway at the city airport. Honda manufactures a jet for just this purpose and has for several years. Next what about the property needed for the expansion; approximately 200 acres? The expansion will impact several folks. All of the property lies outside of the current city limits. Now, ask yourself what happens if they do not want to sell their property? They will use a process called eminent domain. This process will pay a property owner the “market value” of their property. In this case, some of the property is a custom built retirement home, an inheritance, working farm ground, and a heritage farm. As you can see, it is just not property. It has meaning to each of these folks. Ask yourself if it were you, how you would feel. And no, “market value” will not be enough money. There are things more precious than money. As I said earlier, there are many reasons for not expanding the airport. Here are some that I do not have the space to address: waste of tax dollars, why this location, the environmental impact (moving a stream, changing the topography, nesting raptors, etc.), the last comprehensive plan (shed the nuisance areas like the airport) vs. the new plan which supports the airport (at the same time claims to support private property rights and maintaining farm ground; confusing isn’t it?). Believe me there are many more facts concerning this expansion. Please plan to attend the meeting on June 29 and express your opinion and get some education on the matter. Remember this is our community and we should have a voice in things that matter. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Sincerely, Don Wall
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 21, 2017 10:23:06 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 21, 2017 11:12:04 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 23, 2017 6:33:44 GMT -5
REMINDER!! PLEASE plan to attend this PUBLIC HEARING on the proposed expansion of our Greensburg IN airport. The "NEED" of this project has never in any way been validated and yet they have planned to eminent domain and violate the property rights of our neighbors. Please mark your calendar for this PUBLIC HEARING and come defend the rights of your neighbors to farm their ground, preserve the natural habitat and the retirement home of our neighbors. PLEASE come and speak out ....if you cannot speak publically then write out your objection and put it on file at this meeting. this is the LAST chance to get through to them that minimally this is NOT the right place to expand this airport if the expansion is needed at all. If you need more information start on page one of this thread..and share it with everyone you know. here are the details: PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AIRPORT EXPANSION: WHEN: June 29th, 2017 (Thursday) Where: Greensburg City Hall Gym Time: 6 p.m. PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION! Please make an effort to attend to defend the property rights and the farm ground that is in the jeopardy of eminent domain if this project is approved. If we do not stand with others who will stand with us? This quote says it all. "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." Martin Niemöller Read more: americaspeaksout.proboards.com/thread/2092/public-hearing-on-airport?page=1#ixzz4kp9ILZ6X
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 23, 2017 7:01:59 GMT -5
Wow! just got this response from the FAA....puts a whole different light on things.....THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS NOT THEIR REQUIREMENT.....
Bobb.Beauchamp@faa.gov 7:50 AM (3 minutes ago)
to me Jean, Under FAA Orders, this project is not required to hold a public hearing, so it would not be considered an FAA requirement. In consideration of the full circumstances regarding the project, the FAA and the airport Sponsor decided that it was the best course for us to proceed with a public hearing, but it is at our discretion. However, FAA Orders would likely have required the Sponsor to give the public an opportunity to request a public hearing. The draft environmental document has not been approved by the FAA for this project. As such, it is still the Sponsor’s document, and it is up to the Sponsor to decide who may run the public hearing for them. I hope this answers your questions. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me.
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 23, 2017 14:50:48 GMT -5
it is VERY IMPORTANT THAT as many of you as can do so to come to this PUBLIC HEARING on the AIRPORT and protect our neighbors property rights.
PLEASE plan to attend.
I am working diligently to find and get an answer to the PURPOSE of this PUBLIC HEARING since the FAA has NOT approved their ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT as is required before they can receive a grant for this proposed expansion.
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 24, 2017 10:11:47 GMT -5
The City, the Airport Board and the Engineering firm for the Airport board are having a PUBLIC HEARING Thursday night June 29th, at 6 P.M. in the City Hall Gym. I received an email from Bobb Beauchamp of the FAA that stated that the Environmental Assessment for this proposed Airport Expansion has not been approved as yet by the FAA. Without that approval the FAA cannot award them a grant for the expansion project. so we are really unclear about the purpose of this PUBLIC HEARING. Would like to encourage everyone to come, there are many of our neighbors that have their farm ground at stake through eminent domain of their land for this project which has no statistics to validate the benefit of sacrificing this farm ground. Please try to attend and please tell your family and neighbors. also for the county.....the county comprehensive plan states the following which is a bit contradictory: "Balanced preservation of agricultural land while protecting private property rights" and then in another line they say: "support the City's effort to Expand the Existing Greensburg Municipal Airport" docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/8e5ba9_226870e6ff3e4968b481785075cad09b.pdfWill the County end up coming back in? they sure seem to support it in their comprehensive plan.
|
|
|
Post by jean on Jun 26, 2017 20:16:27 GMT -5
This is the VIDEO and the AGENDA of the Greensburg IN City Board of Aviation Commissioners meeting of 6-26-17. NOTE: Be sure to listen to the Public Hearing explained by Paul Shaffer of BF&S engineering. Then Be sure to Listen to Phil Goddard under the Public Comments section ask some very pointed questions about this upcoming hearing. NOTE: For those planning to attend the PUBLIC HEARING please be aware that they are going to allow you to speak only 3 minutes at a time. After everyone speaks you can get back in line and speak another 3 minutes and then get back in line again. I personally think the fact that it is called a PUBLIC HEARING and that these elected officials work for we the people and yet they are limiting us on an issue of major impact to this community is just a way to break up and control our message of opposition with the media present so the information we want to present does not get out to the community. They said well you can submit your document written but we all know it is what goes in the Newspaper and on the radio that people get their understanding of what is going on with this project. Many of us in opposition of this project really object and think there should be an unbiased mediator conducting this meeting (instead of the hired engineer for the city airport board ) and that the many of us who oppose this proposed project should be allowed to finish what we have to say. Peoples land is at stake for this project, if no one else deserves a right to their full say those people do. NOTE: REMINDER: Don't forget the Engineering firm for the Airport board and the City is conducting a PUBLIC HEARING on Thursday evening this week (6-29-17) at 6 P.M. in the GYM at CITY HALL. PLEASE try to attend. VIDEO: PART 1 OF 1 : youtu.be/RB5Q5fnE1uEAGENDA: Call to Order Roll Call Agenda Approval Minutes of 5/22/17 Financial Report OLD BUSINESS Budget 2018 Hangar Door NEW BUSINESS: Public Hearing Paul Shaffer of BF&S Approve Payment of Bills Comments from the Board and Public Meeting adjournment (next regular meeting Monday July 24, 2017)
|
|