A group of pilots, plane enthusiasts and others expressed concern for Belen Alexander Airport at last night’s city council meeting, saying the condemnation of an airport hangar could negatively impact the airport in the long run.

The airport’s supporters, who includes 235 people on a petition, said they were spurred into action because Carolina’s Cafe, which was located within the hangar, was closed after the hangar was shut down late last year because of structural concerns, including a leaky roof.

Fred Fuchs, who lives at the Mid-Valley Air Park in Los Chavez and is a frequent customer at Belen’s west mesa airport, said Belen and its airport are perfectly positioned as an air hub in New Mexico, especially with its proximity to Albuquerque.

“We could very easily advertise Belen as the Hub City for small aviation,” he said.

Fuchs said pilots who stop at Belen Alexander Airport are looking for fuel and food. He said the restaurant was a big draw.

“Losing the restaurant, you’re losing a great deal of business,” he said.

Without a restaurant, Fuchs thinks pilots will stop less frequently, not only not buying a meal but also not buying fuel. He said selling less fuel volume could mean the price of fuel will increase, further dissuading pilots from landing there or complicating fuel availability.

With less revenue reported by the airport and fewer aircraft landing there, he said, it could be more difficult for the city to secure funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other agencies to expand the airport to add a crosswind runway, a project the city has been working on for years.

“In the FAA funding process, one of the key things they look at in prioritizing where they spend their money and which airports get it is the amount of traffic and the number of airplanes based at the airport,” Fuchs said. “The reduced traffic because of the restaurant not being there could have a future effect on funding.”

He stressed that the airport has a good runway and pilots will continue to use it, but pilots might choose to stay in their planes, not refueling or taking a short trip into Belen.

Jerry Donovan, another airport supporter, gave the city with suggestions for improving the airport, including enhancing its financial viability.

“We understand it’s a tough time economically and your options may be limited,” Donovan told the city councilors, adding, “But some of these things don’t cost a lot of money.”

He said the city needs to make the airport more accessible to pilots and the public.

The airport has a pilot’s lounge, but it should be more welcoming, providing snacks and extending the structure to include a shaded area just outside the lounge.

Donovan wants the public to be able to access the area so they can view the aircraft landing and taking off.

He said the city council should empower the city’s airport commission to work on financial viability.

He said the commission should promote new land leases for aircraft hangars, develop industry around the airport, including aeronautical industry, and establish a sustainable restaurant with public access.

Belen is losing pilots, aircraft and money to Moriarty, he said, showing the council aerial photographs of each. Calling Moriarty Belen’s aeronautical sister city, he said Moriarty has expanded its operations and created a friendly environment for pilots.

“We believe the city would benefit by increasing based aircraft, attracting industry to the area and establishing a sustainable restaurant,” Donovan said.

Mayor Ronnie Torres said the city would begin working on some of the recommendations.

“We think it’s very important for that airport to succeed,” he said.

Torres said United States Sen. Jeff Bingaman’s office and others are working hard to get funding for the airport, which could include money for a new multipurpose building.

“There’s a lot of things we need to do up there — the crosswind runway is something we hope will bring a lot more business there,” he said.

This page was published on February 9, 2010 at 2:20pm and is filed under Infrastructure.