The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has met with senior advisors to New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill to oppose plans by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to evict tenants at Aeroflex-Andover Airport and demolish hangars.
Tenants were first notified in June that they would be evicted, with the NJDEP stating that many hangars needed to be demolished and that only the New Jersey Forest Fire Service would use the remaining space. Formal eviction notices have since been issued with a December 31 deadline.
At a news conference on October 5, Congressman Josh Gottheimer said the state’s own engineering assessment found hangar repairs would cost US$4.7 million, compared with US$8 million for demolition or more than US$11 million to build replacement hangar space for the Forest Fire Service. AOPA warned that evicting tenants would likely close two airport businesses, a flight school and a maintenance shop, and could ultimately put the airport at risk of closure.
“It is as clear now as it was then that the hangars should be repaired, not torn down,” said Leon Jackler, AOPA vice president of airports and state advocacy.
AOPA’s Sean Collins, eastern regional manager, said the governor’s team appeared to be seeking alternatives to the NJDEP plan. The effort to preserve the airport has drawn bipartisan support from local, state and federal officials.
