The actions — or perhaps more appropriately, the inaction — of officials at the Mount Airy-Surry County Airport this week are disturbing.
Tuesday there was an incident. According to the FAA, which governs air traffic and airports across the United States, a plane landed at the runway without its landing gear being down. Whether that was because of a mechanical malfunction or an error by the pilot remains unknown, because authorities at the airport have refused to talk about the incident.
And that is what is most disturbing.
The airport is at least partially a public entity. It is governed by a board appointed by the Mount Airy and Surry County Boards of Commissioner. The airport, as a public entity in the rather dubious claim of economic development, has seen fit to seize private land via the process of eminent domain in order to expand its runway.
But now, when an incident of public interest, and perhaps public importance, takes place officials there suddenly circle the wagons and refuse to communicate with the public?
The owners of the airplane, Premier Property LLC, of State Road, refused to address the incident, which is their right, just as a car owner doesn’t have to speak publicly after a car wreck.
But the airport officials — particularly manager John Spane — refusing to even take a phone call or address the situation in any way? Refusing any aid from local Emergency Services workers? That’s inexcusable.
At least John Springthorpe, a city resident who serves on the airport board, understood the need and responsibility to address the issue, and we commend him for sharing what he knew of the incident.
In talking publicly about the accident, Springthorpe said the folks involved were likely reticent to speak about it because of the accompanying embarrassment, rather than taking part in any sort of cover-up.
Maybe so, but airport officials have a responsibility to the public, and if they refuse to fulfill that responsibility, we have no choice but to wonder just what is going on there, and why is it being covered up?
If I was the pilot of that aircraft and found out that someone associated with the airport had made unauthorized comments to the press, I would sue the airport, county, etc. for MILLIONS and I WOULD WIN!
As for the 911 responders being told they weren't needed, that was TOTALLY appropriate. In fact, everyone should be glad that county money wasn't wasted on a fruitless trip to the airport. The 911 people AND the local LEOs had no authority to act, as the pilot-in-command of the aircraft was the sole legal authority - UNDER FEDERAL LAW, NO LESS -in charge of the incident site until such time as he or she was relieved by the NTSB investigating officer.
Get it? Everything was done absolutely legally, there was nothing to cover-up, and county / airport officials declining to comment about an incident over which they had no authority probably saved the county MILLIONS of dollars in civil judgements against it. The person who illegally tattled to the FAA is probably looking a a total loss of personal assets if / when the PIC finds out who it was.
Just because the press and members of the general public were told it was none of THEIR business and that the powers-that-be at the airport were not going to feed the prurient interest of lolligaggers by answering inappropriate questions doesn't make it some sort of conspiracy or, as implied in the title of the article, a "cover-up".
In fact, the airport personnel did exactly the correct thing. By not commenting, they made sure that nothing they might have said was taken out of context, misinterpreted, and reported in such a way as to subject the county government to civil litigation.
Bottom line, you DO NOT have a right to know. Period. Get over it. Move on. If you don't like that, ask the county to shut the airport down ... 20 years from now! (since their contract with the FAA requires them to operate the airport for 20 years after the last date of accepting federal grant money, as you no doubt already knew?)
Now about that claim of threats... What threat? Since when is stating the facts and the law as it applies to a situation from an academic perspective considered a threat?
As for my attitude. I know my rights and responsibilities as a pilot. I know to whom I have to communicate and who I can tell to "go suck eggs". You may not like it, in which case I invite YOU to excuse yourself from society and go live on that 1000-arce tract where my rights don't impact yours. Your rights end at the end of your own nose, not at the end of mine.
As for the concept that you speak for the people of Surry County. THAT made me laugh so hard I almost peed my pants!
For now, I'm going flying. Its a nice night for it. I think I'll hop over to KMWK and do a few night landings, just for fun. Look up. I'll waggle my wings as I fly over.