TECUMSEH, MICHIGAN -- Al Meyers Airport Corp. is moving ahead with a business realignment without Skydive Tecumseh, according to a statement released Wednesday by airport president and manager, Andy Aalto.
The parachuting service was given notice in January it would no longer be allowed to operate from Al Meyers Airport. Skydive Tecumseh filed a lawsuit in March. A hearing on its motion for a temporary order to allow it to use the airport is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, in Lenawee County Circuit Court.
Aalto has plans for expanding airport business in other directions that would be in conflict with parachuting activity. He stated in a response to the lawsuit the parachute operation was ended due to Skydive Tecumseh’s “lack of compliance with necessary operational and safety measures.”
Steep takeoffs and landing descents and drop planes operating in zones where parachutes were in the air are among the safety violations cited by Aalto.
The airport’s attorney, Charles Gross of Tecumseh, said he does not believe an agreement can be made to accommodate Skydive Tecumseh.
The airport already has a net increase of four airplanes based at the field, according to Aalto’s statement. And Heinen Avionics has located a new aircraft instrumentation repair center at the airport.
“The facility is also undergoing renovations to bring biotechnology businesses to the city of Tecumseh,” he said in the statement. Biomaterialize LLC, a medical device development and consulting firm, plans to initiate operations at the airport facility in May 2015, he said.
“As there are waiting lists for small aircraft hangars at several nearby airports, the airport expects that several more planes will be based here in Tecumseh soon,” the statement said.
Residential and business growth near the airport has made it “extremely difficult” to sustain a safe parachute zone for pilots, passengers, parachutists and the public, according to Aalto.
“Moving forward, we will see a more vibrant airport, business base and community asset that will also result in quieter skies over the city of Tecumseh,” Aalto stated. “The newly arrived airplanes produce lower decibel sound than the prior skydiving airplane. These new additions also fly less often than the Skydive airplane and bring with them a diverse set of talented pilots and owners that are often helping one another at the airport and in the surrounding community.”
The airport’s name has been changed from Meyers-Diver’s Airport back to the original Al Meyers Airport in honor of the founder of the Meyers Aircraft Co., Aalto stated. Former airport president and manager Keith Diver and members of his family will continue being recognized in exhibits and plaques, he stated.
Aalto stated he “spoke at length” with Keith Diver before his death in 2014 about his wishes for the airport.
Source: http://www.lenconnect.com
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