As many of you know, Merrill C. Meigs field in Chicago, Illinois has been threatened for many years. In 1995 the AOPA got a stay from a court for a few more years of operation for Meigs. With less than 350 days until its official shut down, many private pilots have signed petitions to try to keep it open.
Meigs field is at almost the heart of downtown Chicago, which means that it is perfect for corporate aviation. If Meigs is closed, all traffic will be diverted to Midway or O’Hare, which is much more crowded and is near residential sections. Even with the International aircraft that fly into O’Hare, and the jets that fly into Midway, closing Meigs would make that even louder!
Many private pilots operate out of the nice little downtown airport, and despite high landing fees, many corporations fly there instead of Midway or O’Hare.
As well as being one of the favorite airports to pilots of Chicago, its is also the home of Microsoft Flight Simulator’s default scenario, meaning when you start up the game, it takes you directly to runway 36 at Meigs Field.
If Meigs closes, where would it go?
I know the above may sound kind of sappy, but if you are a pilot in Chicago, or anywhere else and you don’t want to put up with jetliners just to fly a small aircraft such as a Cessna or Piper, I recommend that you join the Friends of Meigs.
The Friends of Meigs is a group that is fiercely dedicated to saving Meigs Field.
Even if you don’t live in Chicago, or even if you’ve never been to Chicago, and you are a pilot that understands the annoyance and danger of moving an entire General Aviation airport to an international airport and a commercial airport, I still recommend joining the Friends of Meigs.
Maybe your signature on a petition will be the one that keeps the small popular airport open! NOTE! SIGNING THE PETITION AND JOINING FRIENDS OF MEIGS ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS!
If you would like more information on the Friends of Meigs, keeping the airport open, joining the Friends of Meigs, or signing petitions, visit the unofficial page of a (still) threatened airport at:
Join the fight to keep the best airport in Chicago open!
“Never, never, never, never give up.”–Winston Churchill
Bryant Blanco-14
