Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Developing More Airports: Keys to Economic Growth

Developing More Airports: Keys to Economic Growth: "


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Learjet 60XR photo: Bombardier Aerospace

Recently, Greg Lindsay wrote an editorial named 'Cities of the Sky', that was published by the Wall Street Journal, which focused on the roles of huge new international commercial jetports as catalysts for developing whole cities that depend on air commerce.

He cited Dubai International Airports as a hub where 'Nigerian traders bound for Guangzhou mix with Chinese laborers needed in Khartoum, Indian merchants headed to clinch a deal in Nairobi, and United Nations staff en route to Kabul'.

Lindsay had a chat with Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum, chairman of Emirates airlines, during which the Sheikh 'equated the future of Dubai with the future of Emirates', saying that Dubai Airport was 'the center of a new Silk Road connecting China to the Middle East, India and Africa.'

Dubai, according to Lindsay, is a 'textbook example of an aerotropolis', essentially a city planned around an airport. The complex contains office parks, convention facilities. hotels and 'even factories' that are nearly adjacent to the runways.

What a concept! Airports can be vehicles that spur economic growth in local business communities.

It's also apparent that not every airport has to be developed on the grand scale of Dubai International, Inchon or Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok. China has embarked upon am ambitious program to develop general aviation aircraft and airports. The nation views small aircraft as essential components of a complete air transportation infrastructure.

Brazil has more than 4,500 GA airports that are seen as vital air transportation assets that will help that emerging South American nation develop its domestic economy.

The US also has thousands of GA airports, many of which initially were developed during World War II, as part of a strategic federal program to provide the nation with more landing facilities. After the war, these small airports proved immensely valuable as nodes of the US civil air transportation system. Whole business communities developed that were dependent upon access to those small airports.

But, now it's virtually impossible to expand and upgrade most GA airports, let alone build new facilities, in the US because of "Just Say No" non-aviation special interest groups, NIMBY neighbors and weak-knee'd politicos.

This, when, China, Brazil and many other nations are developing their general aviation airport infrastructures as part of their overall strategies to grow their economies. This doesn't bode well for the future of small GA airports in the US or the economic health of outlying rural business communities. 'Makes you wonder about America's vision for the future of general aviation and perhaps even its will power to retain its position as a global economic force.

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