FAA and Ohio Senators Oppose Closure of Burke Lakefront Airport
A significant dispute over the future of Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL) reached a critical point this week. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and Ohio’s U.S. senators made a public statement that they will not permit the airport’s closure. This move effectively halts Mayor Justin Bibb’s ongoing campaign to redevelop the 450-acre lakefront site.
Bedford made his stance clear following a tour of an FAA air traffic control facility in Oberlin, Ohio, on August 14. “The FAA is not in favor of closing Burke field,” he asserted. Bedford argued that the U.S. aviation system requires more capacity, not less, particularly with the growing prevalence of drones and electric air taxis. Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) took a stronger stance, labeling any attempt to overrule the FAA’s position as “patently absurd.” He stated that there is “no scenario” in which Burke would be closed.
Several aviation associations, including the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), expressed their approval of the federal stance. AOPA’s Great Lakes Regional Manager Kyle Lewis stressed that the city must collaborate with the FAA to create a suitable airport master plan. Critics of the closure warn that closing Burke, which serves private jets, flight schools, and medical helicopters, would also mark the end of the historic Cleveland National Air Show.
Despite this setback, Cleveland’s Bibb administration indicated that it remains determined to pursue its redevelopment vision. Deputy chief of staff Jessica Trivisonno stated, “We’re not giving up.” According to current federal and state grant obligations, the city could not legally close Burke until at least 2039 without reimbursing federal funds.
Source: AVweb – Bedford Pushes Back On Burke Lakefront Closure