Narrative:

NOTAMS at mgw are not always timely and accurate/valid. Also, there may be a misuse of purpose of NOTAMS. The issuance of a NOTAM that closes runways 5/23 and 24/7 may be being used, unfortunately, for a purpose other than safety, namely, to build a case to close runway 5/23 permanently. Runway 5/23 is the prevailing wind runway. In feb and march, the crosswind component for my aircraft and 2 commuter aircraft (there may have been others) were exceeded and the only choice was to land on runway 23, if a landing was to be made at mgw. Each aircraft chose runway 23. However, the airport manager has determined that he will close the runway permanently and has stated so publicly. The city council and the mayor with support from the aviation community have stated that the runway will not be closed. It is speculated that the use of the NOTAM in the fashion in which it is being used is a way to build the case for closure. Current construction will last for several months. With respect to the construction equipment located near the end of runway 23, this can be moved and located elsewhere during non working hours. An additional issue is whether the markings being used on runway 5/23 to designate that the runway is closed are appropriate. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter restated in considerable detail his opposition to the manner in which the airport is run. Most specifically and in greatest measure the alleged intent of the airport manager to eventually close the runway in question. He stated the NOTAM issue, while of some concern, was mostly a means to get awareness of his greater concern in the public view...ie, NASA involvement.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR ALLEGES AGENDA DRIVEN ARPT MGR. AT MGW IS MISUSING RWY CLOSURES AND NOTAMS TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S DESIRE TO ELIMINATE A RWY. ALLEGES ARPT NOTAMS ARE UNTIMELY AND INAPPROPRIATE.

Narrative: NOTAMS AT MGW ARE NOT ALWAYS TIMELY AND ACCURATE/VALID. ALSO, THERE MAY BE A MISUSE OF PURPOSE OF NOTAMS. THE ISSUANCE OF A NOTAM THAT CLOSES RWYS 5/23 AND 24/7 MAY BE BEING USED, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR A PURPOSE OTHER THAN SAFETY, NAMELY, TO BUILD A CASE TO CLOSE RWY 5/23 PERMANENTLY. RWY 5/23 IS THE PREVAILING WIND RWY. IN FEB AND MARCH, THE XWIND COMPONENT FOR MY ACFT AND 2 COMMUTER ACFT (THERE MAY HAVE BEEN OTHERS) WERE EXCEEDED AND THE ONLY CHOICE WAS TO LAND ON RWY 23, IF A LNDG WAS TO BE MADE AT MGW. EACH ACFT CHOSE RWY 23. HOWEVER, THE ARPT MGR HAS DETERMINED THAT HE WILL CLOSE THE RWY PERMANENTLY AND HAS STATED SO PUBLICLY. THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR WITH SUPPORT FROM THE AVIATION COMMUNITY HAVE STATED THAT THE RWY WILL NOT BE CLOSED. IT IS SPECULATED THAT THE USE OF THE NOTAM IN THE FASHION IN WHICH IT IS BEING USED IS A WAY TO BUILD THE CASE FOR CLOSURE. CURRENT CONSTRUCTION WILL LAST FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSTRUCTION EQUIP LOCATED NEAR THE END OF RWY 23, THIS CAN BE MOVED AND LOCATED ELSEWHERE DURING NON WORKING HRS. AN ADDITIONAL ISSUE IS WHETHER THE MARKINGS BEING USED ON RWY 5/23 TO DESIGNATE THAT THE RWY IS CLOSED ARE APPROPRIATE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR RESTATED IN CONSIDERABLE DETAIL HIS OPPOSITION TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE ARPT IS RUN. MOST SPECIFICALLY AND IN GREATEST MEASURE THE ALLEGED INTENT OF THE ARPT MGR TO EVENTUALLY CLOSE THE RWY IN QUESTION. HE STATED THE NOTAM ISSUE, WHILE OF SOME CONCERN, WAS MOSTLY A MEANS TO GET AWARENESS OF HIS GREATER CONCERN IN THE PUBLIC VIEW...IE, NASA INVOLVEMENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.