AIRPORT: Impacts Post Falls, too

I am a resident of Post Falls and have been for several years. What I have been hearing and reading about the airport expansion concerns me very much.

I grew up and spent a good portion of my life living near airports. I was involved on a daily basis with aviation during my 25-year career as a pilot and administrator. What concerns me most about this airport expansion is the noise impact these large jet aircraft will have in the Post Falls, Hayden, Coeur d’Alene area. It will also have a negative impact on the value of homes. That’s why nearby airports have to be disclosed during real estate transactions.

Noise complaints took up a considerable amount of my time and there is no way to get around it, aircraft make a lot of noise. Articles I’ve been reading in The Press keep talking about the economic benefit and the taxes that will be collected. Are we really that greedy that we would ruin a beautiful, quiet area to live in and put up with increased air traffic from large jet transports. We have a commercial airport within 30 miles of our city to accommodate large commercial jets. Our local airport was never intended as a commercial aircraft hub.

I fully agree with the County Commissioners on removing the airport manager as he apparently had a different agenda and wanted to do his things differently from the commissioners. We saw how this works in our Federal Government as President Obama removed Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel for similar reasons.

Please, let’s keep this area as serene as possible.

JIM OLMORE

Post Falls