The problem with this airport is that is nothing more than a locals "stamp" airport. We transit to Whidbey Island from California and this airport isn't even a consideration. No services for true transient operations. Their local bus is the recommended form of transportation. It is currently a better experience and arguably faster to fly into Skagit and drive to Whidbey.
As soon as I heard him say he is “an equatorial and polar circumnavigator” I suspected the worst. It was confirmed when he publicly criticized the airport as a “dark place” and started to complain that people disagreed with his plans. And why is AOPA supporting landing fees anyway?
I thought AOPA was fighting for no/reduced landing fees but then uploads this with a $20 landing fee? If he wanted contributions to your tax credit, you shouldn’t have bought an airport because it “maybe sounded like fun.” What. A. Joke.
While visiting family on the island, I stopped by to see what the airport was like. I got a nice tour of the current setup and future projects, and was very impressed. The owner seemed very down-to-earth, and legitimately excited about the project. I wish him and the airport the best.
AOPA what happened? Anyone paying attention knows the transformation of Eisenberg/Oak Harbor hasn’t been good for the local pilots or transient aviators but has instead removed OKH from flight plans for many. I’ve been an AOPA member for 30 years and know there are good stories to be told about airport restoration, like the one you ran recently on L88 New Cayuma. Had you done a little more research, you would know this is not one of those stories. Please reconsider spending your members dues on promoting developments like this.
What was a fun little airport has become a monument to this guy’s ego. Look up the history of the sale of the airport. It could have been publicly owned with no landing fee. Luckily, there are lots of examples of just that in the area.
If it came down to a choice between closing an airport for good and this model, I think we would all take this model any day. But thats not what happened here. Neglect occurred in the hands of a previous private owner, and when the community attemped to put this facility into public ownership to rehabilitate it, it is true - this guy sued to block the effort by the public. Sure, he has put his owm money into it, and it is better now than it was, no question about it. But is it better than it could have been? Did this guy really do a service to the community? What happens when he gets bored or runs out of money or worse? At the end of the day, I'll give credit where credit is due...he put up his own money and hasn't neglected it like the last owner, and I respect his right as a private owner to charge whatever he wants or feels he needs to charge to keep the place operating. But lets be honest about the situation here - there was a public option to ensure community benefit forever, to allow aviators who pay fuel tax and businesses who benefit from aviation to enjoy use of those funds, and this guy blocked it.
It is my dream to have my own small airport near my home. And I don't stop achieving my dreams. Excellent presentation and camera work from the drone. My support to your channel and full respect
I fly in the Seattle area out of one of the many private owned, public use airports that help make the PNW one of the most interesting areas to fly in. None of them that I know of charge landing fees and overnight parking fees are rarely more than $20, and even the private owned, private use runways that need prior permission to use typically don't charge anything. By charging a landing fee what he's doing is basically saying "this airport is for me to show off my toys in "a museum" and write off on my taxes and for my friends and I and other desirable people who are significantly well off that a $20 fee doesn't bother them to use" while at the same time claiming it's for the community. For those of us who don't have unlimited aviation budgets and are dealing with some of the highest avgas and maintenance prices in the country to start with, paying $20 to land at an airport with no services surrounded by other airports with better runways and locations without landing fees is basically a non-starter. And I kind of think that's his intent. I've been to one airport that charged a landing fee. It was a dual use commercial / GA airport and they had a "follow me" truck to get me to a tucked away parking space, the driver / line guy helped me tie down and unload, dove me to the FBO and dropped me off at the courtesy car which they had ready for me, and when I left later in the day the process was reversed. The airport and FBO split the $30 fee and I didn't mind paying that for that level of service. I also find it interesting that the airport is owned by "DFF LLC" out of San Diego, not locally.
I am sorry but I don't think anybody need to have an unlimited budget in order to pay $20 landing fee for an airport you may be flying to once or twice a year! I don't want to sound like a snob and I am definitely not one of those people with "unlimited aviation budget" or any other type of unlimited budget actually... I fly a 1946 Ercoupe which I've purchased for $35,000 in February 2024 and I don't mind to pay $20 landing fee in order to visit a private airport I may be flying once or twice in my lifetime. If I find myself in a situation that I can't afford even once in a great while an unexpected $20 expense, that will be the day I'll put a For Sale sign on my plane and place an ad into Barnstormers!
@@CaptJimDavis now what if more, and then most, and then every small rural/GA/etc. airstrip had this $20+ fee, and it wasn't just 'only once or twice a year'; would you still be okay with that....? genuine question.
@@KuostA Well that is not the case in here isn't it now? If a privately owned airport is charging $20 landing fee then don't fly/land there. It's that simple... Instead of discussing imaginary issues let's talk about the actual issue here.
@@CaptJimDavis my point is that, if you're okay with an airport being privatized like this and a high landing fee being assessed, more and more airports may continue to go down this pathway, and you'll potentially see more and more airports you're forced to pay this fee at out of necessity, and will you be happy with that?
@@KuostA I understand your point but we are talking about an airport in the middle of nowhere which was purchased by someone and after some work its was turned into something you don't like. Ok so, skip that one... It's that simple. Plus $20 is not a high landing fee at a place that you won't be going on a daily basis. That's my point! If every small town airport turns into something like this one then we can discuss that issue. But USA has 19,700 airports and few of them has landing fees. So, simply skip them... That's my point! Well at least at the moment...
Nice little airport we have been to many times in the past in our Ercoupe. There is a short walk south down to the water which is nice. I remember looking into the closed lobby of the tiny terminal that was used by maybe Island Air or some other long ago defunct airline. It was like looking back in time , with old big PC monitors and raincoats hanging on the wall. Kind of like a museum itself. The runway has quite a slope to the west that really gets you going on takeoff! I find it hard to believe so many pilots grumping about a lousy $20 landing fee! Been to your local Starbucks recently? Maybe time for them to get another hobby! ;)
You guys whining about 20 bucks when the guy put his own dollars into the place? You need to come to Europe and experience some real airfield economics. You are so spoiled you don’t even know it.
You're right. Maybe we should privatize what's left and nationalize the rest like Europe did so basically no one except the ultra wealthy can participate. Kinda like what this guy did.
@@Saml01 I don't want the GA in USA turn into something like as it is in Europe but again, if some investor buys a neglected airport and revitalize it and opens it to use with a nominal charge like $20 it doesn't bother me. I live in CA and we have many airports around us could be the best places to fly but because they are managed by the some tiny municipalities they are so neglected that they look like scenes from TV series of Walking Dead. Runway sucks, pilot lounge sucks, toilet sucks, tumbleweeds blow across runway, fuel pumps are not working etc etc. I wish some of those were purchased by investors and turned into nice, decent airports to fly in and if that cost $20 to fly there once in a while to have fun, I'd be gladly paying that fee rather than flying to one of those Mad Max airports!
In my area there is a private airport for sale. The price is too high for me to buy it. It has real possibilities to generate a profit. I can imagine a wonderful restaurant and activities. My point to you is: You must make your airport a destination. A place other pilots want to fly to. A place people from the surrounding area want to drive to for an experience. Good luck with your airport. I live on the other side of the US. It is not likely I will be able to visit your airport.
Let’s talk about how this guy who casts himself as an “angel of peace” throughout the world actually sued the county to prevent the public from taking ownership and improving it within the public domain. Grab some interviews with former and current tenants who have had the displeasure of dealing with this guy. There are many and they aren’t hard to hide. The constant self promotion from this guy is nauseating.
I like him. He is a real deal GA pilot. He loves aviation. We all know what happens when small broke governments get into airport ownership and seek grants… the port was dillydallying, and was likely never going to have a consensus that guaranteed it would stay open or get improved. You’re welcome! The facts he stated in the video are true. And complaining when you have no skin in the game, is just cowardly.
I used to fly out of OKH. It was a challenge landing downhill and only 25' of runway, but it made you a better pilot. I would have loved to have landed in the grass there! Bring back skydiving too!
Maybe you could get a little snack shack on the airport or portable food trailer and set up certain days or dates, and have a flyin breakfast, or bbq.. Send out to all nearby airports... People love food! A great way to get people there to see what you are trying to do. A 20 buck landing fee probably doesn't even cover fuel, and insurance...labor.. I think its a deal... Good Luck.....
I won’t be there ever . I don’t generally pay landing fees , and won’t if at all possible. Noticed a few things . First phone number is out of San Diego area. So i bet the new owner flipped real estate there and bought this airport as an investment. That’s fine , he has the right, but I have the right to not go there unless it offers something for my 20 bucks other than just landing ! I haven’t seen a price for fuel , so unless that saves me 20 bucks why go ? I travel up and down the West Coast , San Diego , at both KSEE and KMYF have no landing fee and at KSEE it’s 5 bucks a night parking on the transient ramp. This guy sounds like every other idiot that thinks just raising prices will solve the situation, it won’t . The solution is offer more for less , you’ll get more . Yes he will have to invest and take some risks , but the run way costs the same each day regardless if it gets used . Airports have no additional costs because a small plane lands there . The successful small private airports I frequent offer fuel savings and/or a crew car and/or a restaurant and/or a real museum… something to make it worth 20 bucks ! I see nothing here that works for me . A runway is not a draw , his location may be , but i’ll never find out, I’ll vote with my wallet and go to Johnson Creek , or many other places that don’t charge a landing fee ! Thanks for letting me vent !
You know, in Finland we have this annual airfield competition run by the local aviation association to get people flying and visiting many airfields - it is good for community and it also motivates people to keep their skills current. But having variable prices landing fees to certain airfields just make people to not visit those, but selecting ”more friendly” places.
This is a gross joke. He *took* a public airport and turned it private, then calls anyone who doesn't like it selfish. It's the most American thing, a rich person full of themselves uses their financial power to buy a public asset, then names it after themselves and puts it behind a barrier for exclusive use. Sure he upgraded the fuel tanks - forgot to mention that no one can use them anymore unless they're part of his little club. It's like the charter schools of airports. Talking about doing it "for the community" is a joke.
It seems like an airport of last resort. I get it if there was a fancy FBO that would park your plane in the hanger, fuel it up, and get you a rental car, but for a strip of asphalt, this guy is an opportunist.
Great job renovating and renewing this little airport and striving to get kids interested in aviation. I’d love to be involved and help make our community better.
Even before finding out more information about what was & is really going on here, I was turned off and suspicious. (Rightfully so it seems.) I've never heard so many Politically Correct clichés in one short video, ever. And I live in the SF Bay Area, near Stanford... (Big Red Flag) Washington. Naturally. There are a million of him in Marin County, and plenty in Silicon Valley too.
Why the bad comments, when trying to save an airport it is a loosing battle. Example is the Evergreen Airport in Vancouver, Washington. It was owned by Wally Olson he developed it with another individual after WWII. Taxes were eating it up the family couldn’t keep up with it and had to sell it for development as housing had taken over all surrounding land!
The only viable way for him to make money with the place is a private airpark with very expensive hangar houses and or commercial service to KSEA. I only flew in there for a fun touch and go on a skinny runway.
It kinda already is. There is a house next door south of the runway with a beast of a Cessna 180 in Olive Drab colors, and to the west there is a house that has numerous aircraft that he used to taxi over to the property until a fence was put in. To the north there is a four-hangar building and a fire station that is occasionally used for life flights. There easily could be houses on the north side of the runway.
I think the $20 landing fee is fine. Not ideal, and I'd prefer to have well maintained quality public airports free for use. But, I don't think there was any FAA money finding it's way to Whidbey Island for renovation. You can be pretty sure if the FAA was funded sufficiently to do that, we'd all be paying more than $20 extra dollars from our pockets. Keeping this airport alive and available for public use seems like a great outcome to me. Looking forward to seeing the museum also.
My experience with AOPA has not been extremely positive. So thankful you and your airport has found a way to work together and move good projects forward.
A lot of money can make a lot of things better :) but yes little runways everywhere could potentially make GA a very viable means to get around. Some better lower cost planes would be needed too. instead of the post WW2 junkyard we do have.
Not sure why pilots are complaining about just $20, considering what they’re paying for just 1 flight hour! $20 is nothing! Also, if it’s private airport, those landing fees can help sustain the airport for long run, and hopefully a return to his investment! Who else has money to build airport, spend all his money for you to land for free?! People just love to complain
@@hawkgreenway821 my thought exactly. This dude is a product of capitalism, if you want to say something is liberal take a look at our subsidized airports that we all enjoy for free minus our tax dollars
The problem with this airport is that is nothing more than a locals "stamp" airport. We transit to Whidbey Island from California and this airport isn't even a consideration. No services for true transient operations. Their local bus is the recommended form of transportation. It is currently a better experience and arguably faster to fly into Skagit and drive to Whidbey.
Owner is as egotistical as they come, but he does put on a good disguise behind the screen.
As soon as I heard him say he is “an equatorial and polar circumnavigator” I suspected the worst. It was confirmed when he publicly criticized the airport as a “dark place” and started to complain that people disagreed with his plans. And why is AOPA supporting landing fees anyway?
I thought AOPA was fighting for no/reduced landing fees but then uploads this with a $20 landing fee? If he wanted contributions to your tax credit, you shouldn’t have bought an airport because it “maybe sounded like fun.” What. A. Joke.
While visiting family on the island, I stopped by to see what the airport was like. I got a nice tour of the current setup and future projects, and was very impressed. The owner seemed very down-to-earth, and legitimately excited about the project. I wish him and the airport the best.
glad to hear! how did u find the owner to talk? amazing experience!
AOPA what happened? Anyone paying attention knows the transformation of Eisenberg/Oak Harbor hasn’t been good for the local pilots or transient aviators but has instead removed OKH from flight plans for many. I’ve been an AOPA member for 30 years and know there are good stories to be told about airport restoration, like the one you ran recently on L88 New Cayuma. Had you done a little more research, you would know this is not one of those stories. Please reconsider spending your members dues on promoting developments like this.
What was a fun little airport has become a monument to this guy’s ego. Look up the history of the sale of the airport. It could have been publicly owned with no landing fee. Luckily, there are lots of examples of just that in the area.
He just wrecked his Aero Commander in Spokane the other day. I'm glad he's ok.
If it came down to a choice between closing an airport for good and this model, I think we would all take this model any day. But thats not what happened here. Neglect occurred in the hands of a previous private owner, and when the community attemped to put this facility into public ownership to rehabilitate it, it is true - this guy sued to block the effort by the public. Sure, he has put his owm money into it, and it is better now than it was, no question about it. But is it better than it could have been? Did this guy really do a service to the community? What happens when he gets bored or runs out of money or worse? At the end of the day, I'll give credit where credit is due...he put up his own money and hasn't neglected it like the last owner, and I respect his right as a private owner to charge whatever he wants or feels he needs to charge to keep the place operating. But lets be honest about the situation here - there was a public option to ensure community benefit forever, to allow aviators who pay fuel tax and businesses who benefit from aviation to enjoy use of those funds, and this guy blocked it.
A big Nope due to the fee to land.
It is my dream to have my own small airport near my home. And I don't stop achieving my dreams. Excellent presentation and camera work from the drone. My support to your channel and full respect
I fly in the Seattle area out of one of the many private owned, public use airports that help make the PNW one of the most interesting areas to fly in. None of them that I know of charge landing fees and overnight parking fees are rarely more than $20, and even the private owned, private use runways that need prior permission to use typically don't charge anything. By charging a landing fee what he's doing is basically saying "this airport is for me to show off my toys in "a museum" and write off on my taxes and for my friends and I and other desirable people who are significantly well off that a $20 fee doesn't bother them to use" while at the same time claiming it's for the community.
For those of us who don't have unlimited aviation budgets and are dealing with some of the highest avgas and maintenance prices in the country to start with, paying $20 to land at an airport with no services surrounded by other airports with better runways and locations without landing fees is basically a non-starter. And I kind of think that's his intent.
I've been to one airport that charged a landing fee. It was a dual use commercial / GA airport and they had a "follow me" truck to get me to a tucked away parking space, the driver / line guy helped me tie down and unload, dove me to the FBO and dropped me off at the courtesy car which they had ready for me, and when I left later in the day the process was reversed. The airport and FBO split the $30 fee and I didn't mind paying that for that level of service.
I also find it interesting that the airport is owned by "DFF LLC" out of San Diego, not locally.
I am sorry but I don't think anybody need to have an unlimited budget in order to pay $20 landing fee for an airport you may be flying to once or twice a year! I don't want to sound like a snob and I am definitely not one of those people with "unlimited aviation budget" or any other type of unlimited budget actually... I fly a 1946 Ercoupe which I've purchased for $35,000 in February 2024 and I don't mind to pay $20 landing fee in order to visit a private airport I may be flying once or twice in my lifetime. If I find myself in a situation that I can't afford even once in a great while an unexpected $20 expense, that will be the day I'll put a For Sale sign on my plane and place an ad into Barnstormers!
@@CaptJimDavis now what if more, and then most, and then every small rural/GA/etc. airstrip had this $20+ fee, and it wasn't just 'only once or twice a year'; would you still be okay with that....? genuine question.
@@KuostA Well that is not the case in here isn't it now? If a privately owned airport is charging $20 landing fee then don't fly/land there. It's that simple... Instead of discussing imaginary issues let's talk about the actual issue here.
@@CaptJimDavis my point is that, if you're okay with an airport being privatized like this and a high landing fee being assessed, more and more airports may continue to go down this pathway, and you'll potentially see more and more airports you're forced to pay this fee at out of necessity, and will you be happy with that?
@@KuostA I understand your point but we are talking about an airport in the middle of nowhere which was purchased by someone and after some work its was turned into something you don't like. Ok so, skip that one... It's that simple. Plus $20 is not a high landing fee at a place that you won't be going on a daily basis. That's my point! If every small town airport turns into something like this one then we can discuss that issue. But USA has 19,700 airports and few of them has landing fees. So, simply skip them... That's my point! Well at least at the moment...
New slogan, AOPA: your freedom to pay user fees.
This is great AOPA but where were you in the fight to keep the airport from closing in St. Marys, Georgia? We know have no airport there anymore.
Nice little airport we have been to many times in the past in our Ercoupe. There is a short walk south down to the water which is nice. I remember looking into the closed lobby of the tiny terminal that was used by maybe Island Air or some other long ago defunct airline. It was like looking back in time , with old big PC monitors and raincoats hanging on the wall. Kind of like a museum itself. The runway has quite a slope to the west that really gets you going on takeoff! I find it hard to believe so many pilots grumping about a lousy $20 landing fee! Been to your local Starbucks recently? Maybe time for them to get another hobby! ;)
Owner is the Most hated guy in the Northwest 😂
Smart move getting this property. May God’s blessings go with you. 🙏🏻
You guys whining about 20 bucks when the guy put his own dollars into the place?
You need to come to Europe and experience some real airfield economics.
You are so spoiled you don’t even know it.
No we know it and you're absolutely right
You're right. Maybe we should privatize what's left and nationalize the rest like Europe did so basically no one except the ultra wealthy can participate. Kinda like what this guy did.
@@Saml01 I don't want the GA in USA turn into something like as it is in Europe but again, if some investor buys a neglected airport and revitalize it and opens it to use with a nominal charge like $20 it doesn't bother me.
I live in CA and we have many airports around us could be the best places to fly but because they are managed by the some tiny municipalities they are so neglected that they look like scenes from TV series of Walking Dead. Runway sucks, pilot lounge sucks, toilet sucks, tumbleweeds blow across runway, fuel pumps are not working etc etc. I wish some of those were purchased by investors and turned into nice, decent airports to fly in and if that cost $20 to fly there once in a while to have fun, I'd be gladly paying that fee rather than flying to one of those Mad Max airports!
@@CaptJimDavis Name these so called mad max airports in SoCal so we can go there !
How much from investors?
Landing fee in our part of the country/state doesn't make sense at all. If you want to throw some hangars up however, you will make some steady money.
This!
Wait, is he using ADSB to charge landing fees?
In my area there is a private airport for sale. The price is too high for me to buy it. It has real possibilities to generate a profit. I can imagine a wonderful restaurant and activities. My point to you is: You must make your airport a destination. A place other pilots want to fly to. A place people from the surrounding area want to drive to for an experience. Good luck with your airport. I live on the other side of the US. It is not likely I will be able to visit your airport.
$20 landing fee? lol. Avoiding this place asap.
It was public, but in disuse, and now it’s private.
@ and I’m still avoiding it. $20 for a landing fee is ridiculous. Try just having inexpensive gas and some fly-ins.
I'd rather pay a private entity than pay taxes to a government that takes 10x the cost to mismanage the same project.
I bailed out of AOPA about three years ago .. garbage
Let’s talk about how this guy who casts himself as an “angel of peace” throughout the world actually sued the county to prevent the public from taking ownership and improving it within the public domain. Grab some interviews with former and current tenants who have had the displeasure of dealing with this guy. There are many and they aren’t hard to hide. The constant self promotion from this guy is nauseating.
Links or it didn’t happen plz
@@brentdavidson1 let me google that for you
It happened. It was actually the Port of Coupeville but the gist is the same
The word is no one likes new owner.
I like him. He is a real deal GA pilot. He loves aviation. We all know what happens when small broke governments get into airport ownership and seek grants… the port was dillydallying, and was likely never going to have a consensus that guaranteed it would stay open or get improved. You’re welcome!
The facts he stated in the video are true.
And complaining when you have no skin in the game, is just cowardly.
I used to fly out of OKH. It was a challenge landing downhill and only 25' of runway, but it made you a better pilot. I would have loved to have landed in the grass there!
Bring back skydiving too!
Thank you.
Yeah, no.
Wonderful video! Congratulations. I would love to do what you've done in buying and restoring the airport.
Maybe you could get a little snack shack on the airport or portable food trailer and set up certain days or dates, and have a flyin breakfast, or bbq..
Send out to all nearby airports...
People love food! A great way to get people there to see what you are trying to do.
A 20 buck landing fee probably doesn't even cover fuel, and insurance...labor..
I think its a deal...
Good Luck.....
Best of Luck to you...
I'm Canadian and I love flying to Orcas. I'll definitely come visit.
I won’t be there ever . I don’t generally pay landing fees , and won’t if at all possible. Noticed a few things . First phone number is out of San Diego area. So i bet the new owner flipped real estate there and bought this airport as an investment. That’s fine , he has the right, but I have the right to not go there unless it offers something for my 20 bucks other than just landing ! I haven’t seen a price for fuel , so unless that saves me 20 bucks why go ? I travel up and down the West Coast , San Diego , at both KSEE and KMYF have no landing fee and at KSEE it’s 5 bucks a night parking on the transient ramp. This guy sounds like every other idiot that thinks just raising prices will solve the situation, it won’t . The solution is offer more for less , you’ll get more . Yes he will have to invest and take some risks , but the run way costs the same each day regardless if it gets used . Airports have no additional costs because a small plane lands there . The successful small private airports I frequent offer fuel savings and/or a crew car and/or a restaurant and/or a real museum… something to make it worth 20 bucks ! I see nothing here that works for me . A runway is not a draw , his location may be , but i’ll never find out, I’ll vote with my wallet and go to Johnson Creek , or many other places that don’t charge a landing fee ! Thanks for letting me vent !
@@brokenpropproductions the $20 is to keep the cheapskates like you away. Do you really think the $20 covers the cost of a 3-4 million dollar runway?
I’ve landed there before.
You know, in Finland we have this annual airfield competition run by the local aviation association to get people flying and visiting many airfields - it is good for community and it also motivates people to keep their skills current. But having variable prices landing fees to certain airfields just make people to not visit those, but selecting ”more friendly” places.
This is a gross joke. He *took* a public airport and turned it private, then calls anyone who doesn't like it selfish. It's the most American thing, a rich person full of themselves uses their financial power to buy a public asset, then names it after themselves and puts it behind a barrier for exclusive use. Sure he upgraded the fuel tanks - forgot to mention that no one can use them anymore unless they're part of his little club. It's like the charter schools of airports. Talking about doing it "for the community" is a joke.
He lost me with biofuels.
I would love it if you could give us some financial details
It seems like an airport of last resort. I get it if there was a fancy FBO that would park your plane in the hanger, fuel it up, and get you a rental car, but for a strip of asphalt, this guy is an opportunist.
What a wonderful story! Thanks Robert and AOPA
Great job renovating and renewing this little airport and striving to get kids interested in aviation. I’d love to be involved and help make our community better.
Awesome, a local airport, never been to that one.
Do you have like a couple of hours once a week for giant RC planes? For a fee?
Even before finding out more information about what was & is really going on here, I was turned off and suspicious. (Rightfully so it seems.) I've never heard so many Politically Correct clichés in one short video, ever. And I live in the SF Bay Area, near Stanford... (Big Red Flag)
Washington. Naturally. There are a million of him in Marin County, and plenty in Silicon Valley too.
Wow. So zero dollars from state or federal. Impressive.
Landed here right seat in a Cessna Caravan and it felt like a golf cart path. Hopefully the residents of Oak Harbor can support these efforts 👍🏼
After a lengthy permitting process, the runway was recently repaved and widened from 25 feet to 60 feet!! 🎉
Apparently money can buy happiness, for one man and his Ego !
Speaking of buying happiness. Every time I get depressed I go to my local Rolex dealer and buy a new watch.
@@waynesilva3129 That's a good one! :)
Why the bad comments, when trying to save an airport it is a loosing battle.
Example is the Evergreen Airport in Vancouver, Washington. It was owned by Wally Olson he developed it with another individual after WWII. Taxes were eating it up the family couldn’t keep up with it and had to sell it for development as housing had taken over all surrounding land!
That runway needs FAA money !
It's been completely replaced already. Without FAA money.
Then he wouldn't be able to charge landing fees
Ah, my comments have been deleted. I may need to revisit the value of my AOPA membership.
The only viable way for him to make money with the place is a private airpark with very expensive hangar houses and or commercial service to KSEA. I only flew in there for a fun touch and go on a skinny runway.
It kinda already is. There is a house next door south of the runway with a beast of a Cessna 180 in Olive Drab colors, and to the west there is a house that has numerous aircraft that he used to taxi over to the property until a fence was put in. To the north there is a four-hangar building and a fire station that is occasionally used for life flights. There easily could be houses on the north side of the runway.
Nice work, I wish you the best.
I think the $20 landing fee is fine. Not ideal, and I'd prefer to have well maintained quality public airports free for use. But, I don't think there was any FAA money finding it's way to Whidbey Island for renovation. You can be pretty sure if the FAA was funded sufficiently to do that, we'd all be paying more than $20 extra dollars from our pockets. Keeping this airport alive and available for public use seems like a great outcome to me. Looking forward to seeing the museum also.
My experience with AOPA has not been extremely positive. So thankful you and your airport has found a way to work together and move good projects forward.
Way to go Robert. Will be visiting. Thanks for supporting aviation in our region.
All the very best in the Airport operation, you are to be commended for all the hard work you have put into this operation👍👍🛩
Awesome! Thank you, Robert!
AOPA:
- UL100 available? Nope.
- BasicMed to Canada? Nope.
- My membership? Cancelled.
Robert: Great video! We support you all the way. I'd gladly pay $20 to land at your airport. Keep fighting the good fight!
I salute 🫡 you 💯 👏 🙌
A lot of money can make a lot of things better :) but yes little runways everywhere could potentially make GA a very viable means to get around. Some better lower cost planes would be needed too. instead of the post WW2 junkyard we do have.
Fantastic story, fantastic spokesperson. What an adventure.
Not sure why pilots are complaining about just $20, considering what they’re paying for just 1 flight hour! $20 is nothing!
Also, if it’s private airport, those landing fees can help sustain the airport for long run, and hopefully a return to his investment! Who else has money to build airport, spend all his money for you to land for free?!
People just love to complain
I’m sorry this sounds like some liberal propaganda piece.
I don’t understand your comment. What part of what is liberal propaganda?
@@hawkgreenway821 my thought exactly. This dude is a product of capitalism, if you want to say something is liberal take a look at our subsidized airports that we all enjoy for free minus our tax dollars
A solid vision, I say good luck to the gentleman.
We need more airfields throughout the world.