Re: County authorizes FAA grant application for airpark [Village News, 7/21/2011]

The July 21 article regarding the County’s approval of a grant application for almost $9 million ($8.8) of improvements to our airpark begs the question: Would this grant be betterment for the Fallbrook community or simply a benefit to few that enjoy flying private aircraft?

Evidently it doesn’t matter to the County that the airport flight pattern involves flying over densely populated areas, a large high school, and across a major highway (S13-S.Mission). In recent years the Fallbrook community has experienced major development as well as intensified air traffic from Camp Pendleton operations. Aircraft using our airstrip today must contend with not only the usual challenges of flying, but they must also negotiate through the uncontrolled peripheral air traffic as well.

Our airport presently services mostly private air flights and very little commerce. If the airstrip is enlarged and upgraded it will inevitably add more air traffic that brings with it not only increased air/noise pollution but more airway congestion. Will it take a mid-air collision or an engine failure to recognize that it is time to stop flirting with disaster?

Public safety must prevail. If the airstrip must remain, don’t expand it. Provide the safety upgrades necessary to maintain the status quo and find some other more deserving need for our budget surpluses that would benefit the entire community.

Chuck Tillotson