FAA Administrator Opposes Closure of Burke Lakefront Airport

Cleveland's plan to close Burke Lakefront Airport has been met with opposition from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). On Friday, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford publicly expressed his disagreement with the city's proposal, stating that the FAA generally opposes airport closures.

The city has been pursuing the closure of Burke as part of a broader redevelopment of the lakefront. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb's administration claims that the airport is underused and has operated at a multimillion-dollar deficit over the past two decades. However, Bedford argues that the airport is valuable real estate and that the FAA should focus on reopening new facilities rather than closing existing ones.

Burke primarily serves business and general aviation aircraft, flight schools, and medical helicopters. The city has studied possible replacement uses for the property, including parks, trails, recreation facilities, and other development.

## Congressional Path Loses Support

The city has identified two potential routes for closing Burke, either through the FAA's standard process or through congressional action. However, Ohio Sens. Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted have indicated that they will not support using Congress to bypass the FAA's traditional review process.

Moreno stated that he would not support overriding the FAA, while Husted's office said that any proposed change should proceed through the traditional FAA review process. This decision could have significant implications for the city's plans to close the airport, as existing federal and state grant obligations could require the city to maintain Burke until 2039.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has also expressed its opposition to the closure of Burke. AOPA Great Lakes Regional Manager Kyle Lewis stated that the city should work with the FAA to develop an airport master plan to provide an unbiased path forward for the airport.

## Airport Closure Plans

The city's plans to close Burke have been met with resistance from the aviation community. The airport's closure could have significant impacts on the local economy and the community that relies on it. The FAA's opposition to the closure is a significant development in this story, and it remains to be seen how the city will proceed with its plans.

The FAA's stance on airport closures is clear: they generally oppose them. The agency's reasoning is based on anticipated growth in air traffic, including drones and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. This growth will require the FAA to retain capacity at existing airports, including Burke.

The city's plans to close Burke are still in the early stages, and it is unclear what the future holds for the airport. However, one thing is certain: the FAA will not support the closure of Burke without a fight.

### Airport Status

| Airport | Status | | --- | --- | | Burke Lakefront Airport | Proposed for closure | | FAA | Opposes closure |

The FAA's opposition to the closure of Burke Lakefront Airport is a significant development in this story. The agency's stance on airport closures is clear: they generally oppose them. The FAA's reasoning is based on anticipated growth in air traffic, including drones and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. This growth will require the FAA to retain capacity at existing airports, including Burke.