The Closing of GA Airports

[gkarris]

I was disturbed to hear about the GA section of one of our local airports, DuPage is closing (under the long term plans). The North Ramp (GA Aircraft Parking) will be moved to (I think) the Southeast end of the field and runway 15-33 closed.

And guess what they're putting there instead...

Wait for it....

A STRIP MALL! :eek:

I decided to start taking as many pics of that part of the field as possible. Too bad I didn't when Meigs Field was around.

Seeing a perimeter fence and keycode access points go up, I assume there will be signs going up stating "Photography Prohibited". It made me make the following thread about photography being banned:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=755472

I saw a DVD, "One Six Right" which talks about Van Nuys Airport and the unfortunate closings of many of the area GA airports.

Just want to give you a heads-up to take pics of local airports before you are no longer allowed to or can't because it has been replaced by a Wal-Mart...

[DC Fan]

Small airfields have been closing in large numbers for decades. (http://www.members.tripod.com/airfields_freeman/index.htm) :(

[FlyingPhotog]

Join and Get Involved... AOPA (http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/airports/)

Make a point of trying to meet some of the local pilots. Introduce yourself and tell them why you're there. Bring some prints along or have some images in some form you can show them so they know you're serious about aviation photography.

Go take an introductory lesson and make friends with a Flight Instructor. Walk into the local FBO if there is one and ask for permission to shoot from the airport side of their building.

An airport is like any business. You don't walk into an office building cold and start taking photos and an airport is no different.

The reason many airports have become stand-offish toward the public is because they're afraid of the amount of BS in the news regarding security Vs "small airplanes" and they figure it's safer to lock 'em down then leave themselves open to a (falsely) perceived security issue.