Aerial mapping related to off-site obstruction removal project at the Albert S. Nader Regional Airport in Oneonta is just about complete.
The Common Council approved a budget transfer of $15,000 for the “collection of high-resolution aerial lidar and imagery” using drone technology in October, according to Daily Star archives. The project was to provide aerial mapping of the area around the airport to give people a better idea of what obstructions would be impacted, as part of the airport’s runway obstruction clearance project.
Landowners surrounding the airport expressed concerns at city meetings in the fall about the clear-cutting of trees on their property to eliminate obstructions.
Commission Chair Justin Osterhoudt said after a Wednesday, March 18 Airport Commission meeting the mapping portion of the project was about 99% complete. He said the mapping information would go out to the landowners to provide a “clear picture” of the land impacted as the project moves to its next steps.
“It’s communication with landowners and negotiating the easements, so everybody’s properly educated and informed on exactly how the process will go,” Osterhoudt said.
In other business
The commission discussed the economic impact of the airport. Commissioner Mike Lynch asked what business or industry would not be able to exist here if the airport was not operating.
Osterhoudt said Astrocom Electronics, Inc. used to use the airport on a regular basis and had an airplane. He added that tourism would be significantly reduced without the airport.
Lynch asked how many tourists were coming into the area each year through the airport. Airport Manager Matt Kent said due to the limitations of the Oneonta airport, if there is too low a cloud cover at their time of arrival, the flight would be diverted.
He said because of the weather conditions in Oneonta, that could equate to about 70% of the time. Kent said surrounding airports have reported that throughout the summer, many of their visitors are going to Otsego County and the Baseball Hall of Fame.
A Class C aircraft, designated by landing speed and landing distance, can never land at Oneonta’s airport, Kent said. The Class B aircraft can land in good conditions.
Lynch asked what would need to change at the Oneonta airport to avoid the diversions. Osterhoudt said steps like the off-premise obstruction clearance would impact airport restrictions. As a separate conversation, he added, the airport will require more runway length. He said that project could likely be done without affecting neighboring properties, inside of the fence.
“In a nutshell, the airport really hasn’t been functional,” Osterhoudt said. “It’s been functional but with nowhere near the utility that it used to have for the past several decades.”