The Yarmouth Taxpayer

Barnstable Airport?s Dream or Cape Cod And Yarmouth's Nightmare?

Recently the FAA released its report for the future in New England. You can see the report at http://www.nerasp.com/documentation.htm
The report covers the Regional Airports in New England. Bangor International Airport
Boston Logan International Airport, Bradley International Airport, Burlington International Airport, L. G. Hansom Field, Manchester Boston Regional Airport
Portland International Jetport, Portsmouth International Airport, T. F. Green Airport
Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport, Worcester Regional Airport. The report doesn’t cover Barnstable Airport.

Barnstable Airport Hidden Agenda?

In a recent article by the Boston Globe the Airport Manager, Quincy “Doc” Mosby said, “ its 5,400-foot runway can handle 40- and 50-seat regional jets and even 737s, and he’d be willing to consider more jet service there.” This statement clearly shows the hidden agenda the Airport has and it will be Yarmouth and Cape Cod’s nightmare. The Cape Cod Commission on the present review of the new terminal should look this statement.

An Emerging Market for Jet Service from Cape Cod?

  The Boston Globe  article said, “The FAA study also cites an emerging market for jet service from Cape Cod to major domestic markets” but steers clear of the question of whether Cape Cod officials should embrace it. As year-round population and business grow on the Cape, nearly 2 million people annually will want to fly from there to destinations beyond New England and New York, FAA planner Ralph Nicosia-Rusin said. 2 million people annually? The ENF filed with MEPA only looks at an increase by 2015 an increase to 4000,00- passengers for the new terminal and this has been lowered.

FAA Finial Report on Emerging Markets.

By 2020, the Cape Cod market will have grown to almost two million passengers flying to destinations beyond New England and the NYC area. This reflects the Cape’s evolution from primarily a seasonal vacation/retirement community to a more balanced year-round economy. Because the closest airport for long trips is Logan, most of these passengers will be driving along the congested Route 3 corridor or traveling west to Providence. The primary airport serving Cape Cod is Barnstable Municipal Airport with intra-regional service to the islands, Boston, and the NYC area. Its longest runway is 5,425 feet, and its expansion is constrained by major arterial roads, substantial development, and natural resources .  It has never been evaluated for providing services beyond the Boston and New York City markets. This is different from what is said in the Boston Globe article.d

Argument for an Airport at Otis.nstsources. 

The FAA report addresses the possibility of having another Regional Airport at Fort Devens. Why not have it at Otis? The base is not constrained by major arterial roads, substantial development, and natural resources.  It has 10,000-foot runways not 5,400-foot runways. The runways have the required overruns in case a plane skids off a runway. Barnstable Airport doesn’t have this on all their runways. The base has major road access and a access road already exists to the main part of the base to avoid high vehicle traffic having an impact on the neighborhoods. The FAA needs to study having a regional Airport at Otis. The study would cover noise and it’s impact, which could have less of an impact on the neighborhoods compared to Hyannis

Economic Impact.

Having a regional Airport at Otis would create jobs for  Cape Cod and Southeastern Mass, something that is needed. Look at what has happened at Fort Devens and the impact it has on the surrounding communities. Maybe the F15’s could even stay because having a civilian Airport with the Military would cut the cost of operating the base. This is the main reason the BRAC Commission has considered closing the base in the first place .

Bottom Line.
The Barnstable Airport’s dream is definitely Yarmouth’s nightmare and shared with all of Cape Cod.