HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - A Hartford City Council resolution aimed at closing down Hartford-Brainard Airport is prompting a newly formed organization to highlight the airport's benefits in hopes of saving it from closure.
Founded in January 2022, The Hartford Brainard Airport Association (HBAA) is a non-profit representing over 100 pilots, business owners and general aviation supporters who are raising concerns about the council's most recent move to close the airport.
The Hartford City Council passed a resolution last October, authorizing the creation of a task force charged with recommending "the most efficient process for realizing the closure of Brainard Airport" including potential replacement options.
HBAA is urging the council and state officials to consider ways of improving and growing operations at Brainard, since it already serves an important economic role for the state, HBAA member Michael Teiger said.
"Brainard Airport has had 56,728 operations in 2020 alone which makes it the third busiest airport in the state. That's a lot of action going on at this airport," Teiger said.
Those operations include flight instruction with three active schools training recreational and airline pilots and aviation-related businesses like aircraft maintenance/repair, fuel sales and charter flights.
The airport also serves state police, homeland security, Life Star and an air traffic control tower.
Brainard Airport contributes $17.1 million in labor income, $3.36 million in state taxes, and $54.8 million in total output while providing 426 jobs, according to the Connecticut Airport Authority.
Teiger also stressed that without Brainard Airport, there'd be no place for the various businesses that operate there and for the private aircraft owners that keep their planes there.
"We don't have another plan B of where we put our airplanes. We can't go to Bradley. We can't go down to Meriden. Robertson is too small. This is an important location for general aviation," Teiger said.
Though it's unknown what would replace Brainard Airport if it did close down, Teiger said luxury apartments have been named as an option, but he points out that the area would pose a protentional health risk given that it's between a contaminated trash-to-energy plant and a waste treatment plant.
Teiger also said a 2016 legislative committee report concluded that the area is best kept as a general aviation airport.
"Our airfield is not, and we repeat, is not just a playground for folks with airplanes. To the contrary, it's an unknown and poorly understood jewel," Teiger said.