The South Shore Flying Club is officially taking over operations of the Airport in Queens County.
After two years of negotiations a 15-year lease has been signed by the club to operate the runway in Greenfield.
President Glenn Parlee says it’s an important asset for the area.
“If you have somebody who’s looking to locate in an area,” he says, “and one community has an airport and another one doesn’t, that could be the deciding factor.”
Parlee says one of the challenges was convincing the Municipality a small club is able to operate the airport.
He says now the lease is in place the club has big plans.
“The next step would be to develop hanger space so other pilots can store their aircraft and fly out of Liverpool.”
Parlee says the club would also like to supply fuel and other services eventually.
However, for now, he says, they’re just happy to have the lease finalized.
Meanwhile…
Christopher Clarke, Mayor for the Region of Queens, says he’s glad they were able to come to an agreement.
“We do not use it as an airport,” he says. “There’s this group who is interested in seeing it kept open. Now they’ve taken responsibility for it. I think it’s great.”
The municipality will continue to insure the property and will also provide $2,500 each year to help maintain the runway.
