Any comments or questions regarding the future of the airport should be directed to Park Township Manager Howard Fink
hfink@parktownship.org Office (616) 738-4229 Cell (810) 880-9498
Message from FOPTA. The airport millage failed 41% to 57%.
The airport will be closed.
Thank you for all of your support.
Check out the photos below and watch the videos at the PTAHA Facebook page. David Hallock and Owen Donahoe launched a few of their rockets Saturday to the delight of young and older enthusiasts. The big two stage vehicle went up over 3000 feet. Thanks to everyone that came out to see the rockets and fly the Historical Association flight simulator. Thank you for supporting the airport! If you enjoyed your time at the airport please tell the township Board of Trustees. Email them at board@parktownship.org. Your Airport Historical Association is working hard to keep the airport open.
The Hope College Rocketeers have moved their launch day to OCT 19. The weather this weekend will be too windy to enable a safe launch and recovery. Please change your calendar to OCT 19 and stop by in the morning to see the rockets soar! to see the Hope Association of Rocketry and Performance Aviation launch their rockets. Meet David Hallock – Launch Director and Owen Donahoe – Safety Officer as they set up and fire their multi stage rockets. Launches are scheduled between 9:30 and noon on Saturday Oct 12. You never know what is taking off at the PARK TOWNSHIP AIRPORT!
The Park Township Fire Department chose the Park Township Airport to practice their emergency response skills today. The exercise was set up as a mock fuel spill from the airport’s fuel tank. (Don’t worry, it’s a new tank and won’t be a problem…) The crew made quick work of the drill and the hangar ramp got a nice rinse. Thank you to our fire fighters and first responders. We are in good hands!
Major Gary Tallman, commander of the MI-135 Al Johnson Legacy Civil Air Patrol squadron based at the Park Township Airport, invited a friend to drop in with his sleek Robinson R-44 helicopter. The cadets were invited to inspect the helo and get their questions answered by the pilot. The Civil Air Patrol cadets and officers meet each Monday night at the Park Township Airport Historic Hanger. The squadron has almost doubled in size since moving to Holland. If you are between 12 and 18 years old and would like to be a part of the CAP, please email Maj. Gary at 4gtall1@gmail.com. For more information about joining the Civil Air Patrol http://www.capli.com/faq.html.
You never know what will be flying at the airport! WATCH THE VIDEO ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
Check it out and please support the airport and AirPark plan!
Photos and videos by PTAHA.
Selfridge Air Natl Guard Chinook CH-47 visits Park Township Airport!
Aug 8 – spectators were treated to the arrival, tour and departure of the 127th Selfridge Wing Chinook helicopter. The crew was on a training mission from their Mt. Clemens base on east side of the state. Everyone was encouraged to tour the helicopter and chat with the crew. You never know what will be flying at the Park Township Airport! WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW.
Please help support the Airport and the Airpark Plan. The plan can be reviewed at: http://parktownship.org/wp-content/uploads/Park-Township-Airpark-Master-Plan.pdf. The plan is a “vision” and will undergo many changes before anything is decided by the Township. A recent survey of residents showed a majority of support for the AirPark concept and the continued operation of the Airport. PLEASE voice your support by emailing the Board of Trustees at: board@parktownship.org or call and leave a message at 616-399-4520.
On Thursday June 27 at the Park Township board meeting, the phone and online survey results were presented by pollster company EPIC-MRA. See the attached photos showing the survey results. Overall, 53% of residents support the plan to save the airport and create an AirPark. If you are a resident and did not take the survey, please email the Township Board of trustees at board@parktownship.org with your supporting comments about the airport and AirPark plan.
EPIC=MRA Survey Methodology
Phone Survey
- 300 phone surveys with live interviewer (over 9000 calls made to yield 300 responses)
- Calls made from May 13 through May 18
- +4% margin of error
- Summary of Results:
SUPPORT THE AIRPARK CONCEPT 53-54%
OPPOSE THE AIRPARK CONCEPT 29-39%
On-Line Survey
- Postcards mailed to 6,860 township addresses with qualified voters
- Surveys were accepted from May 17 through June 10, 2019
- Mailing yielded 839 useable responses
- +2 % margin of error
- SUMMARY of Results:
SUPPORT THE AIRPARK CONCEPT 48-52%
OPPOSE THE AIRPARK CONCEPT 41-47%
SEE FOLLOWING CHARTS OF THE PHONE SURVEY AND ONLINE SURVEY RESULTS
Twp Phone Survey Results
Twp Online Survey Results
BREAKING NEWS.….PTAHA representatives also talked with 255 township residents and asked them to sign a petition to save the airport. 241 SIGNED THE PETITION! It was presented to the Township Board of Trustees for the 6/27 meeting.
Park Township Airport Historical Association Petition to Adopt the AirPark Plan
The PTAHA also talked to Township residents about the AirPark plan during the Airport Open house, at the Quincy Dog Park, and at a Waukazoo garage sale.
PTAHA representatives talked to 255 residents at the three locations.
The Petition wording:
We, the undersigned, registered and qualified voters of the Township of PARK in the County of OTTAWA and State of Michigan, petition for the TRUSTEES of Park Township to approve of and implement the Vision Plan or suitable alternative plan for the Park Township Airport such that the airport is appropriately funded and maintained, and shall remain open and accessible for aviation flight operations and local residents for the foreseeable future.
Results of our PTAHA Petition interviews with residents:
- 255 residents were interviewed between June 8 and June 22, 2019
- Only 22% of the residents knew anything about the AirPark Plan
- Only 43% of residents took the online survey
241 residents signed the Petition (94.5%) in SUPPORT of the AirPark Plan after having The AirPark plan explained by PTAHA representatives.
The 241 signed Petitions were presented to the Township in support of the AirPark plan and add confirmation to the results of the Township’s EPIC-MRA Survey.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE PARK TOWNSHIP AIRPORT!
CLICK HERE to see our short video from the June 8, 2019 Wings & Wheels Airport Open House.
Thank you for supporting the Park Township Airport Historical Association.
June 8 Wings & Wheels Airport Open House a SUCCESS!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who attended our 2019 Wings & Wheels Park Township Airport Open House. We had stiff competition from other local events but the weather was superb!
18 aircraft flew in for breakfast including Tim Kustudich and his skywriting Christen Eagle, Carl McCall in his shiny Hummel, Greg Dewind and his bumblebee Hughes 500 helicopter, a gyrocopter, and several other conventional and tail dragger airplanes.
We had nearly 400 guests between 8 am and 2 pm. Everyone waited patiently for our traditional free pancake/sausage breakfast. Others picked up a hamburger or hot dog at lunch time served by the OBI restaurant from down the street. We also served complimentary popcorn and ice cream.
Many people to thank for their involvement with the Park Township Airport Historical Association Wings & Wheels Open House: The Red Cross, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Wings of Mercy and especially the Civil Air Patrol Squadron 135, now based here at Park Township Airport. Most of the event support were the CAP cadets and leadership. Thank you CAP!!
Thank you to local RC Airplane club members who demonstrated their flying skills until the winds became too strong. And a special thank you to the 42 classic car and truck owners that attended to show off their wheels next to the wings. We hope to have more involvement with the various car clubs in the area in the future.
Almost all of the Park Township residents that attended on Saturday signed our petition to SAVE the AIRPORT by implementing the AIRPARK PLAN. Many of you looked at the layout map in the Historic Hangar and talked to our PTAHA representatives who were happy to explain the plan. To look through the plan, click on this link http://parktownship.org/wp-content/uploads/Park-Township-Airpark-Master-Plan.pdf and start on Page 19. The Township conducted an online survey about the plan, but as more than half of you said, NOT MANY PEOPLE KNEW about the plan! The survey deadline is tomorrow, Monday June 10. If you still want to take the survey about the AIRPARK plan for the airport (PLEASE DO), contact the Township office at 616 399 4520 and ask how to complete the survey.
Our visitors on Saturday were very generous with donations – thank you! We will use your gifts to continue to develop our FLIGHT NIGHT introduction to aviation program for middle and high school students. AND we will continue to support the AIRPARK PLAN and work to make it more visible and available to all Park Township residents.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP SAVE THE AIRPORT please email the township board with your comments and support at board@parktownship.org
Thank you for attending the 2019 Wings & Wheels Airport Open House.
For more information about the PTAHA please go to http://parktownshipairporthistoricalassociation.org or find us on Facebook.
PLEASE POST YOUR PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT on our Facebook page!
WE LIKE YOU…..PLEASE LIKE US!
Flight Nights take off!
We are having great success with our Flight Night programs for students and aviation enthusiasts. Click on the button to read the article about one of the March Flight Night events.
Chief Instructor Tim Hilldore addresses a young and interested group!
Tim explains how the airplane control surfaces move the airplane in flight.
Flying the simulator is tougher than flying an actual plane! But fun too!
Civil Air Patrol Squadron MI-135 Now at Park Township Airport
In the fall of 2018 we welcomed Major Gary Tallman and Lieutenant Camille Morris and their 30 cadets to the Park Township Airport. The squadron was previously stationed in Hudsonville but our airport was a more appropriate place to meet. The group meets weekly at the airport and is looking forward to aviation exercises in the spring. They will also be learning about Cessna flight characteristics with the new simulator.
Lt. Camille instructing in the Historic Hangar
Fred and Jeff set up the new Redbird TD flight simulator. A certified system for flight instruction.
