Would the Federal Aviation Administration allow Burke to close?
Certainly, the FAA hates to see an airport close. But we have found no absolute law that says Burke can’t close. It seems to be more of a political issue and a matter of making other changes to the regional air system. It’s also claimed that the City would have to repay the FAA huge sums for federal investments at Burke if the airport closed. The exact amount is another murky issue, but Prof. Ned Hill of CSU’s College of Urban Affairs, who has studied local airports, estimates the amount to be only about $7 million. He adds that a good argument could be made that the City could avoid a one-time payment if a sensible regional air system plan can be worked out. How should one evaluate the value of Burke? Airport officials and many others see Burke as an essential part of the regional air system, which in turn is essential for economic growth. But what if the question is what is the best use of Burke’s 480 acres of lakefront land to stimulate the downtown real estate market and build the
