Tweed-New Haven Airport: Letter to the Airport Authority.

A Matter of Public Record

August 16, 2023

Tweed New Haven Airport Authority

Board of Airport Commissioners

155 Burr Street

New Haven, CT 06511

Numerous stakeholders to HVN are well represented by this Airport body. Such representation includes acumen not just for Municipal and Political concerns but for:

Business, Commerce, Finance, Public Relations, Airport Operations and Neighborhood Community. One area, however, that I feel lacks proper representation, is that of the Piloting Community.

My participation in these calls and local writings has and will continue to be an effort to properly inform as to the role, needs and perspectives of Aviators.

The errant and malicious misinformation efforts of local anti-airport groups have not only illustrated urgent need for aeronautical education but seem to have gripped certain Airport Board Members much like the talon of a predatory bird plucking its victim from the wetlands

Recent Airport Board Meetings and the conduct of certain Board Members have demonstrated an elevation of one group of stakeholders’ interests over others. This unfair championing of causes has been fueled by a severe lack of understanding as to aeronautical matters. Be it known, equal consideration to all HVN stakeholders is paramount. This consideration must include that of aviation interests and the promulgation of correct information.

While the neighborhood is unquestionably a valid voice in the HVN discourse, it is by no means the only one, nor should it be confused with the uneducated cacophony of anti-airport rhetoric brought about by certain airport protesters. Those who elevate the efforts of these groups must be considered anti-airport, anti-aviation as a whole, a burden to proper airport discourse and above all, undeserving of a seat on an Airport Board.

In closing, you are responsible to numerous stakeholders. As surely as these interests must include the neighborhood, so too must it include others. As a Professional Aviator, I am one of those stakeholders.

Until such time that an Aviator is placed on this board, my endeavor will be not to just alert you to the needs of my aeronautical colleagues (that being pilots) but to provide you with factual aeronautical retort any time blatant and farcical aeronautical misinformation is given opportunity to take flight.