OCR Text |
Show a serious report "The rapid and consequential deterioration and breakup break-up of the runway, taxiway and apron areas at Canyonlands Field is reason for immediate and active concern. The situation sit-uation is basic, since possible consequences could-severely affect the social and economic welfare of the community and the entire area. The consequences of curtailment of routine airline service by either company decision or by government edict or the limitation of services made necessary nec-essary bv hazardous facilities could cause an economic and social blight on the entire region. Continued use of the facilities, without any improvements being made, could easily result in actions or an accident of serious consequences conse-quences to the Moab community and Grand County." The above comments were only a portion of the lonelily preliminary report on the condition of the Grand Count)- Airport, prepared by Isbill Associates, Denver, airport air-port consultants, after an investigation sought by the Grand County Commissioners. Most important in the report, however, were the alternative al-ternative steps established by the consulting firm not only for curing the intolerable situation, but placing the County airport in a position to keep up with future developments in air travel. None of the alternatives outlined carried a br.rgain price tac. The plans range in cost from over SS00.000 to Si. 3 million figures which rival the initial Cost of the airport facility a few years ago. But one thins in the report was made very clear: to attempt to cure the sTtuation merely by seal-coating or reworking the present surface of the airport would give us only a few years of relief before the conditions that made the current problem critical began taking their toll on the reworked runway. One other alternative, not mentioned in the Isbill report, re-port, exists, an it should be given careful and thoughtful consideration That is for the County to abandon the current airport location north of Moab, and join with San Juan County on a two-county airport somewhere in the vicinity of LaSal Junction. Although to leave our present airport location means giving up something we have invested heavily in the Sar Juan proposal has certain advantages .First, the financial assistance of that county in sharing local costs would make a much lighter burden for residents of Grand County. Secondly, Sec-ondly, the involvement of the population of San Juan County Coun-ty in airline boardings would increase local airline use to point where continuation and more favorable scheduling might be easier than at present. At any rate, this proposal must be looked over carefully. Grand County Commissioners are now faced wirh the task of selecting the most economical, but even more important, im-portant, the most effective way of rebuilding Canyonlands ficldff. Yye feel the spirit which prompted the voters of the county to approve construction of the airport in the first place, has Created almost a mandate to keep on top of the air age in this county by doing what is necessary to get the situation improved. Certainly, the emphasis on air transportation, trans-portation, and the importance of that transportation to an isolated County such as this will increase rapidly in coming years. Frontier Airlines new president, E. Paul Burke, stated in Salt Lake City last Friday that his company has continuing continu-ing interest in the development of air transportation in this (corner of the State, and has great faith in the future of Grand County. The fact that the Company has just completed com-pleted its tenth year of service to the non-profitable Moab station should in itself be some indication of that f'tith. Disappointment on the part of public officials and taxpayers tax-payers alike that the airport didn't last any longer than it did, is a natural thing. That doesn't erase the face, however, how-ever, that we have before us an economic challenge that must be faced in a positive way. From what we can determine from the recent Isbill itudy, few words were minced on the seriousness of the current problem, or the economic pain of curing that problem. prob-lem. What must be taken now arc some positive steps in again getting on top of this serious situation. Until we are willing to do that, we have little reason to hope for better schedules or more flights. |