Treeport: Writer crashed in land of fake news

I just read Bob Costigan’s “My Turn” column, “Treeport: What it is (and isn’t)” and feel compelled to respond. I’ve lived at Treeport for over 15 years and can tell you that Mr. Costigan really has his facts very wrong.

Treeport was never intended to be a commercial airport and was specifically developed as a private airpark back in 1981. It’s located in Bonner County but right on the edge of the Kootenai County line. It has a very well-manicured turf runway that is 3,000 feet long and 150 feet wide, much longer and wider than many local public airports. There are 25 homes located on both sides of the runway, some in Kootenai and some in Bonner County. It has easy approaches from both ends and even novice pilots have no trouble landing here. It is, however, a private airpark so landing is by permission only. There is approximately a ½ degree gradient to the runway, but it is exactly opposite of Mr. Costigan’s statement. It slopes downhill for landings/takeoffs to the west and uphill for landings/takeoffs to the east.

Mr. Costigan is also completely incorrect about each resident owning their 5-acre parcels plus owning a piece of the runway. The fact is, each property owner on the north side of the runway gives up approximately 2 acres of their 5-acre parcel for the runway easement enjoyed by all of the Treeport residents. Also, despite Mr. Costigan’s comments, Treeport is identified as a private airstrip on all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sectional charts with an FAA identifier of ID22. Private airstrips and many smaller county airstrips have never been identified on World Aeronautical Charts (WAC Charts) so it was never “removed” as Mr. Costigan stated. It is also identified on military navigational charts.

Mr. Costigan is also wrong about Mr. Bob and Leanne Luten, who happen to be personal friends of most of the residents on the airfield. Bob did sell his property at Treeport, but is very much alive and is living in Coeur d’Alene. The news of his death was a great surprise to him so I’m not sure how good a friend Mr. Costigan is with Bob.

Mr. Costigan, if you are truly a retired Naval Aviator, thank you very much for your service. I too am retired from the military with 30 years of service in the United States Air Force. I’ve never launched or landed on an aircraft carrier but I imagine Treeport is a piece of cake in comparison.

The facts are that Treeport is a very safe and well laid-out private airpark. There have been literally thousands of takeoffs and landings here with only one minor accident back in the early ’90s, which is far fewer accidents than many “commercial” or public/county airports.

Mr. Costigan, your comments about Treeport are very inaccurate in so many ways. All I ask is, before climbing on your soap box, please get your facts straight.

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Michael Hall is president of the Treeport Homeowners Association.