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At 04:52 PM 6/13/02 -0700, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Beyond that, how and how much they >bill for services is up to them to figure out. That's >the beauty of full privatization, competition will >eventually end upkeeping the prices reasonable. Uh, nope. Morristown NJ airport (KMMU) is a good counter-example. It used to be a viable GA field run by Morris County, NJ. Built and supported with taxpayer money at the local and Federal level. It has now been 'privatized.' Leased, long term, to an 'airport development' company. That company answers to nobody in the community, least of all GA pilots. They, over the last few years, have catered to bizjets (can you say 'Signature?'). Noise complaints have skyrocketed. Fuel prices are very high. The GA tie-down prices have gotten to where very few can afford them. Of course that is what they wanted, because when the 172s and such left the tie-downs, they stuck another set of bizjet hangars on them. Never mind that there are literally acres and acres of airport property which could have been used. That would have required more approvals, to pave more ground. It was easier to boot the little guys off their tie-downs. Of course the supply of tie-downs was now lower, so it was necessary to raise the rent. Supply and demand, you know. Nothing like paying $150/mo for a tie-down! Now, there is a light-aircraft hangar shortage in this area. But no consideration was given to tee or shelter-hangars in this area which was presently occupied by light aircraft. An AP/AI wanted to build a shop on the field. There is a shortage in the area of service facilities for light aircraft. Most light aircraft at MMU are serviced off-field, some as far away as Pennsylvania. He was flatly refused. Privatization? Feh! It amounts to nothing more than GIVING facilities built by taxpayers to private companies to exploit for THEIR profit, while removing taxpayers' control of their own property. Frankly, I remain opposed to corporate welfare. Greg ================================================================== TO UNSUBSCRIBE go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
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