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Welcome to WAAM

"WAAM"
Witham Airport Action Majority
(a committee of concerned citizens, committed to preserving a high standard of living in Martin County)

Click here to send us an email

In a Civilized Society, Human Beings
Should Never become the Collateral Damage of Commerce.
                                                                               Lynne Pine -2003, Past President WAAM

Board of Directors

Board Members

Honorary Advisory Board

WAAM Organizational Data & Policy Statements / Website Archives

Policy Manual	Mission Statement	Goals
Update: WAAM Position Statement on FAA Ruling on the FAR 161 in Naples, Florida	WAAM By-Laws	Letters/Faxes/Emails & Things
Current Information and Updates Archived (click here)	Plane Facts WAAM's Weekly Update to Members (click here)	Archived Presidents Messages
WAAM Happenings	Official WAAM Position Statements (index) Objection to RFP Process - MCA	WAAM Newsletters Online
Archived News	Golf Course	New Items Added this Week Archive (click here)

Airport Exploratory Study

note: the above files are in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader. See bottom of this page for information

Current Information and Updates

(DHS website - click here)

Ten steps to Downsize
as outlined in the
Airport Exploratory Study

(click here)

The immediate need to downsize the Martin County Airport is demonstrated by the FAA proposal outlined below. If we don't "de-federalize" our airport and regain control, expect your quality of life and property values to be severely impacted.

FAA Proposal that will allow heavier and large jets to land at MCA.

For information and the full text of this proposal click here

The FAA is proposing that weight restrictions be modified or lifted at some airports.
This proposal will affect the Martin County Airport

You can make your written objection to this proposal by going the following site:

WAAM
Official Letter of Objection To FAA Proposal FAA-2003-15495
(click here to read)

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 WAAM Supports the AES Option of Downsizing
The Martin County Airport

 (Click Here to Read)

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We know we have Noise Pollution
Are you aware of the Air Pollution Problem?

"A toxic waste dump is allowed one cancer risk per one-million people, anything over that it would be shut-down. It is conservatively estimated that O'Hare Airport produces 400 cancer risks per one-million!"
(click here and read the report)

"If you live within 6 miles of an airport, you are at heightened risk of dying prematurely from environmentally induced cancer." The culprit is the pollution spewing from jet aircraft, ground vehicles and airport maintenance operations."
(click here and read the report)

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Ever wonder what type of aircraft can land at the Martin County Airport?
Wonder who is coming next?
Maybe this will pique the imagination.

Picture of Boeing 727 at the 2002 Stuart Air show

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What does it mean when you are told that your home is going to be
purchased or insulated as a result of the FAR 150?

        
Before Purchase Option                                        After Purchase Option

Purchase or Insulate?

The County Commissioners recently approved the purchase of some homes in the Capitol Improvement Program. These were homes that were identified and qualified for purchase under the FAR 150 program. This program is part of the FAR 150 study that was completed in 2002 as a result of the phenomenal growth of operations at the Martin County Airport. It is designed to mitigate growing noise and pollution problems at the airport. Mitigation in this case means homes are destined to be purchased or insulated. 

You do have a choice !

You can accept the purchase / insulation program or you can eliminate the problem.

The Airport Exploratory Study results are in - WAAM feels the AES shows the best option for Martin County is to downsize the airport.

WAAM supports the downsize option and will be working on your behalf to see that this option is implemented. There seems to be some confusion on exactly what we mean when we say downsize. WAAM will be publishing the answer to this and other questions you may have in a soon to be released "White Paper".

We thought however that you might like to see the results of what happened in West Palm Beach when the decision was made to purchase and insulate.  Which option do you think is best for Martin County?

(Take another look at the two pictures above, before purchase option - after purchase option)

Pictures taken on 11/03/2002
(click here)

These pictures above are of an area just east of the Palm Beach Airport that would correspond to the St. Lucie Blvd. neighborhoods here in Stuart. What was once a really nice neighborhood in West Palm Beach has been replaced with what you see here, rubble. It has become open space, the only economic use of what was once a nice middle-class neighborhood. Do the residents of the Conquistador area, the historic area of old St. Lucie Blvd., and Port Sewall want their neighborhoods to be reduced to rubble and look like this? What neighborhood would be next as airport operations continue to grow?

 We thought you might like to see estimated costs under the Purchase / Insulation Programs

Purchase

Initial estimates to purchase homes - 29 homes @ $300,000 ea = $5.8 million

Estimates of homes to be purchased in the first 5 years of program
Number of homes - 60
Estimated cost per home - 300,000 = $18 million

The initial 13 homes are located north west of the airport in the 18th street area and are valued considerably less than subsequent homes which will be purchased. Future purchases will be located south east of the airport in the Old St. Lucie area. These homes are in some cases valued in excess of 2 million dollars.

Insulate

Initial estimate to insulate homes - 350 homes @ $50,000.00 ea = $17.5 million

Estimates of homes to be insulated in the first 5 years of program
Number of Homes - TBA
Estimated cost to Insulate - $50,000.00 ++ per home

We were provided the insulation costs per home by the firm that was in charge of the program in West Palm Beach. The costs given to us were $40,000.00 per 1500 square ft. home. Most homes in the Stuart area are much larger than 1500 square ft. Also, the West Palm Beach insulation program was a few years ago and we estimate costs must have risen since that time. We feel that based on the information provided to us, our estimate of $50,000.00 per home at the present time in Stuart is extremely conservative.

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Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
"AOPA views on Airport Noise"

Pilot Association Battles Aircraft Noise Restrictions at Airports

"Although these controversies often involve business jets, they are precedent-setters," said Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president for regional affairs. "Today, the ban is on some jets or large aircraft. Tomorrow, it could well be Bonanzas."

Want to see a position taken by the AOPA that the public would find hard to believe ?

Here is the position that that AOPA took on proposed restrictions at an airport in Minnesota. The stated position by AOPA as quoted below shows this organizations disregard for the general public in their zeal to protect aircraft owners and pilots.
As difficult as it is to believe, The AOPA is objecting to this airport banning Stage 1 or Stage 2 Jets between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am.

In a letter written to:
Mr. Mark J. Ryan
Airport Planner
Metropolitan Airports Commission
2901 Metro Drive, Suite 525
Bloomington, MN 55425 

The AOPA stated -  ....."These proposals include prohibiting operations by jet aircraft not meeting Stage III certification requirement under the FAR Part 36 between the nighttime hours of 2200 and 0600 local time."

"AOPA strongly opposes the proposed restrictions because we believe they fail to meet the requirements of FAR Part 161 and are unjustly discriminatory aircraft access restrictions to a federally funded airport."

Read about it here - http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2000/000922flying_cloud.html

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WAAM Cares !
If you are concerned about what is happening to our community with the unprecedented growth
at the Martin County JetPort, contact us - let us know your concerns - we are here to help you.
You are not alone.
Make your voice heard - we will listen !

Click here to send us an email

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The one thing those who oppose the majority fear the most.

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