In the Oct. 1 letter “Airport, farmers can both benefit,” the writer identified himself as a long-time private pilot “torn by divided loyalties.” He argues that allowing Kandace Harvey to change the law which presently restricts construction into the Snoqualmie River flood plain to allow her to extend her runway would result in a “safer, quieter Harvey Field,” offsetting the increased harm to the environment and damage future flooding will cause to the surrounding farmers and neighbors, including significantly reducing the value of their property. Is his divided loyalty clouding his ability to think logically?
The writer’s premise is that a longer runway would allow increased use of the airport by accommodating turbine powered aircraft, business jets and other heavier aircraft that do not currently operate off the existing runway. He concludes this will make the airport safer?
I am also a long-time private pilot. Every pilot knows that most accidents occur in close proximity to the airports and the risk of aircraft accidents increases exponentially as the volume of air traffic entering and leaving uncontrolled airports increases. This is a privately owned general aviation airport that does not have a control tower with air traffic controllers. In addition to increased volume of airplanes converging in the landing pattern, the risk of accidents is further increased when light airplanes and heavier, faster jets are in the mix, using the same airport and runway. The inescapable conclusion is the opposite of what the letter states – the proposed change would make the airport less safe!
J. MURRAY KLEIST
Snohomish
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