Updates about Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (NWFBIA)

[Will B]

I believe the runway is 15" thick. Just curious how thick the runways are at Hartsfield?

I can't say for sure, but I remember when they built the new international ramp. The concrete they poured for the ramp / taxiway areas was about 2-1/2 feet thick reinforced with rebar. A couple years ago they redid runway 26L - 8R. The slabs they were hauling off in the dumptrucks were close to three feet thick...

 

[DuneLaker]

Airport Wars is fully engaged. Huge front page story today in Northwest Daily News. Haven't seen Panama City daily paper yet. Looks like THE Happy Days are over for Coastal Vision 3000, which is pretty heavily stacked with Okaloosa County folks.

 

[GoodWitch58]

well, it seems that things did get out of hand, if in fact, these folks were lobbying for the closure of the Okaloosa airport...and do we believe our esteemed members of Congress would make up the story?

I think we would be better off with a high speed train hub...instead of another airport...and no one really needs The Beach for anything

Rant off for now...

 

[DuneLaker]

It may or may not be worth noting, but the esteemed member of Congress for the Okaloosa airport is a Republican (CD1), and the esteemed member of Congress for the Panama City airport is a Democrat (CD2). There may be a little blurring and mixing of the lines. Just fyi.

 

[SHELLY]

You got my attention. R U Kidding about the DC trip?

Airport flap: More than rumors, local officials say | county, airport, florida - News - Northwest Florida Daily News


Curry and members of the County Commission were in Washington, D.C., to meet with Northwest Florida's federal lawmakers about the economic stimulus program. While meeting separately with U.S. Reps. Allen Boyd and Jeff Miller, the Okaloosa County officials were told of a group of individuals seeking support for closing Northwest Florida Regional Airport based on legal grounds with the Air Force.

"We're not talking about rumors here," Curry said. "We're talking about a physical presence in Washington, there for the detriment of our airport."

The congressmen told the Okaloosa County officials the four people petitioning for Northwest Florida Regional Airport's closure were Harrison; Brian Yablonski, the vice president of public affairs for St. Joe Co.; Lisa Walters, a Panama City attorney and chair of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance; and Jerry Ray, senior vice president of St. Joe and a member of the board of directors of Coastal Vision 3000.

 

[beachmouse]

Boyd's congressional district also covers a part of Okaloosa County. The Republicans gerrymandered it as such last time around in hopes of making it more possible to win the seat.

 

[AAbsolute]

Sounds like a small group of people with a plan are trying to close down a competitor using any means possible. Do you believe me now?

 

[DuneLaker]

Lines have been gerrymandered since the first maps of the world were drawn. I did say the lines were blurred and mixed. You are correct that D2 picks up SoWal, goes across the Mid-Bay Bridge and picks up around Blue Water Bay. How one congressman might support one airport more than another is also complicated. Probably need to get out a map.

 

[beachmouse]

Lines have been gerrymandered since the first maps of the world were drawn. I did say the lines were blurred and mixed. You are correct that D2 picks up SoWal, goes across the Mid-Bay Bridge and picks up around Blue Water Bay. How one congressman might support one airport more than another is also complicated. Probably need to get out a map.

For whatever reason, we got designated as gerrymandering central last time around. In addition to getting shoved over to 2 for federal elections, there are a couple of state districts where if you live on one side of the street, you're in X, and if you're on the other side, you vote in Y, unless you're on the cul-de-sac of the same name, in which case you're back in X again. Pat Hollarn had to publish like street level maps for a couple neighborhoods to explain it all.

 

[DuneLaker]

Airport Wars Cont.

If you've never picked up a copy of the Northwest Florida Daily News, you might want to today. Several top stories on the front page and continued to A7 mention names and events that are making top news now, including the continuing saga of the Airport Wars. Key words -- Northwest Florida Regional Airport, Panama City-Bay County International Airport, suit, Richburg, Odom, Bense, U.S. 331, bridge, LLCs, Bay, Walton and Okaloosa Commissioners, Tallahassee, Coastal 3000. You can read these top stories online. Good beginning read for the day.