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Meigs Field, Alive?

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“The citizens didn’t close the airport. It was Mayor Daley who closed it overnight. The citizens didn’t even know it was gonna be closed,” Wilson said. “The park is just sitting there… We’ve got a lot of parks in Chicago. If you reopen the airport, you’ll bring in revenue.” (www.aopa.org) Mehr...

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hank7716
Liam Henry 28
When Ritchie Daley lived a stones throw from Meigs. His wife Maggie was furious about the noise from the airplanes. Ritchie capitulated to Maggie. So in the middle of the night it was tore up leaving a few planes that had to get special permission to use the taxi way to fly out. Daley should have been jailed for his actions. The has a stage for concerts that only used a few times in the summer. That airport was a vital link to the surrounding convention centers and with all the new venues there it would have generated more millions to the city. The Daley’s screwed the city for years..

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

AWAAlum
AWAAlum 14
Politics not spoken here. Airplane stuff yes. Politics no.
lynx318
lynx318 3
Whole story is political, local or federal.
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 0
You can view it like that. Although it isn't just about the way it was demolished. It appears to me it's a politician who is talking about Meigs Field and its history and its future. There's way more meat to the article than just politics.
lynx318
lynx318 -3
The whole reason it's up is as an election issue for a new mayor, doubt it will get any traction. Would need huge financial backing from business who have had 16 years to organise other transport plus site is most likely to small now for a current facility to be viable. The enticement isn't there and government funding would be tight as it is tied up in 'other' crazy expenses currently to the 'south'!
hank7716
Liam Henry 8
No Daley is just another Democrat
AdamKonopka
Adam Konopka 6
Typical Illinois politician
rockportflyer
rockportflyer -1
Spoken like a whining lib
AlanW
Alan Waggoner 1
I'll rephrase: God forbid Trump try to fulfill his constitutional duty and protect the citizens of this country.

SmittySmithsonite
Gotcha - I didn't read the person's post that you were responding to. Now I get it!
AlanW
Alan Waggoner 1
God forbid he protect the citizens of this country. You lock your doors at home?
SmittySmithsonite
Protect us from ... airports???

BWAHAHAHAHAHAA!! Thanks Alan - I needed a laugh this morning!
AlanW
Alan Waggoner 2
I was talking about the border.
SmittySmithsonite
My bad - misunderstood you, until I read the post you were responding to.
AlanW
Alan Waggoner 2
No problem, have a great week!
SmittySmithsonite
You too, Alan. Thanks.
topgunnh
Peter McGrath 0
I'm sure Midway and O'Hare never turned away the additional revenue generated either!
canuck44
canuck44 17
Having an airport near the heart of a city is a real boon for business and recreation. None want to ride a cab or limo for an hour through traffic to attend a two hour meeting only to turn around and find their way back to where they landed. Reopening Meigs would very quickly pay for itself directly and indirectly.
taniamarcel
Marcel Rivard 9
Politicians just like pampers have to be changed often and for the same reasons
Plummer1
Wade Plummer 9
As a long time citizen of Chicago I distinctly remember this event as I thought it was a near criminal act. Daley actually used the Sept 11th terrorist attack as pretext to proclaim Meigs a security threat. It was deemed an illegal order but of course he nor anyone else was held accountable. The Maggie Daley story is also part of this madness as Liam says below.
ThinkingGuy
George Lane 24
I'm not even a pilot, but I will alway have a special fondness for Meigs Field, just from all my years of playing Microsoft Flight Simulator, where it was the default location at startup.
MikeMohle
Mike Mohle 8
Flying in to CGX to go to downtown meetings and McCormick Center was slick. Now I avoid that area entirely.
dee9bee
dee9bee 7
It will never reopen in my lifetime I'm afraid, and I'm really not that old. Quite a few lawyers would get rich, however. It's kind of a shame, though. In this day and age, one could design a pair of GPS approaches that, offset about ten degrees from the runway heading, would keep aircraft over the lake most of the way in. Just heed the missed approach procedure!
biller55
scott Biller 12
As a corporate pilot, I used to fly into CGX almost every week during the summer in our Piper Cheyenne or Lear 35. It would be like landing on an aircraft carrier in the Lear. It was my favorite layover airport. A quick cab ride or walk to the city for lunch. I would love for it to reopen, but I don't think it will ever happen. I miss it a lot.
ArthurNetteler
I flew in and out of Meigs Field for OVER 25 YEARS! I was in that Airport with a Commercial Pilot friend William, just 2 days before that IDIOT Daley Bulldozed it! William used to fly Cargo out of Midway, but Parking/Tiedown his Cessna 310 cost too much at Midway. Meigs was just a Cab ride away.
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 7
It certainly makes financial sense. Meigs Field brought millions into the city's coffers, whereas in its current stat as a concert venue which is used a few times in the summer, brings in squat.
rmchambers
rmchambers 5
It didn't bring millions into Daley's personal coffers and that's why it was of no use to him.
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 2
*** in its current state
GaryTsuchiyama
Sorry but since a vast majority of airports and the FAA itself is controlled by politicians you can't hide from the politics of it all. It does no good to ignore that fact otherwise the air traffic control system will be privatized and whether you agree with that action or not, it should be debated in an open forum with the pros and cons discussed.
srobak
srobak 1
From a purely fictional perspective - yes. Not at all from a political one.
srobak
srobak 1
Functional. Not fictional. Damn phone.
andersod
andersod 2
It could be reopened at reasonable landing fees and fuel plus no commercial flights other than air taxi service. It could be a very big tourist destination airport bring in considerable amount of revenue to Chicago.
srobak
srobak 2
That's how it used to be. Want good shoehorn fit Daley however
srobak
srobak 2
For the love of god - this phone.

That's how it used to be. Wasn't good enough for Daley however
emilpudge
emilpudge 2
I wish I would have known about Mr. Wilson's intentions before I Early Voted last week!
....the destruction was a travesty.
srobak
srobak 3
It's ok... You can vote twice. Or even 5 times.
rmchambers
rmchambers 6
Vote early and often, the Chicago way
SmittySmithsonite
Massachusetts way, too ... unfortunately for me.
yr2012
matt jensen 3
Meigs was the jumping off spot for many salmon fishing trips from the boat ramp there. Always a great place to recreate and do some flying too. Did many a flight there on weekends even when the Coho Derby was there.
CAH747
May '57 x country Army L-19 Ft. Polk to Red Bank N.J. Let buddy off @ Meigs he lived in ORD. & p/u 2 days later on return. Super long flight, but young LT's can do anything.
gaitherj
John Gaither 1
The comment that Miegs was not a commercial airport is wrong. You could get commercial flights to regional cities, Springfield in particular.
kehoedoug1
Douglas Kehoe 1
Regarding Meigs field, I didn't know you folks practiced censorship of my submission z...I'll think twice before submitting again!
lynx318
lynx318 1
It's just an automatic thing due to high downvotes of comment, I got the same above because some here think I made a political comment, even though there are a heap of exactly the same type of comments here.
kehoedoug1
Douglas Kehoe 1
The flow and placement of our submission z is helter skelter... If in factRMChambers is referring to me... I don't have blind hatred towards,and am not running wild with imagination. I have purposefully speculated what someone would do, or is in fact, capable of. The big picture is the takeaway...you have a House Bill...I think its HR2997 to privitize aviation in some form or another and people! Wake up they'll take your Meigs field! I kid you,not!
phurford
Paul Hurford 1
I flew into Meigs monthly. What a great location so close Downtown. Landing to the North, at night, it was like landing on an aircraft carrier. Landing to the South the wind sheer was scary the first few times. But, landing aside, it was and hopefully will once again be a viable airport for Chicago. I still miss it.
SmittySmithsonite
Far be it from me to advocate for more government regulations, but it's pretty clear that something needs to be done to reign in rogue politicians at the state level that refuse to obey the rules laid forth in our Constitution. This Daley should be in prison, along side MANY other politicians ...
AWAAlum
AWAAlum -6
SmittySmithsonite
Who died in '76? Daley? Then how did he manage to shut Meigs Field down in '03? LOL
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 0
whoops. lol good trick, eh? sorry, i was thinking of papa daley.
rmchambers
rmchambers 2
That would have been good if he had, the airport would still be open
FrankMonnelly
Frank Monnelly 1
Northerly Island better serves the citizens of Chicago as a park rather than as an airport.
stevemg11
As I recall having lived in Chicago at that time it was a very exciting time the restaurant scene was on fire and the city looked great then September 11th happened. The mayor elect at that time was Richard Daley the son not the father who had it removed one night in March citing security concerns. The issue is this there is a law from the late 1800’s that states the waterfront in Chicago will be used and only used for the citizens of Chicago for museums, outdoor activity etc. This law went into effect because Montgomery Ward the store owner had the vision of how it should be for the people and knew it had to be preserved. He was not and I repeat not liked by the meat packing industry as well as others who were polluting the waterfront and the Chicago River using it as a dumping ground for carcasses so much so many individuals were getting extremely sick. And there began the process of having the Chicago River flow turned around. As anyone can see it was a wonderful thing that Montgomery Ward did for the city as you drive along Lake Shore Drive any day or weekend it is alive with people using it for their personal reasons. Blaming and shaming the elected mayor and his wife for his actions is unfair and as I recall he was elected for 20 years or so he must have done something right for the people to repeatedly elect him. The streets were clean the city had beautiful plants everywhere it was great and I felt safe walking around. Now for the airport it only served very few it was not a commercial airport for all yes it was convenient to get a cab ride and be where you needed to be in minutes but let’s face it how many of us have a private plane. Should it be for only the few and yes it is inconvenient for business men to have to take a hour long cab ride but again this land is for the people of Chicago to enjoy. I am certain that the decisions made by the mayor at that time where done for the city and it’s people so to blame Daley is unfair I am certain that the city still sees some rewards of his actions on all fronts iIt will now be up to the citizens to find out more about your city and the real reasons why things happen. The waterfront is for the people of the city and I repeat not commercial. Enjoy your park and demand more activity if you feel it is underused. It is up to the you Chicagoans.
SmittySmithsonite
Just because someone gets re-elected multiple times doesn't mean much in this day and age, especially in Chicago, or any other big city (Boston, NYC, etc.) - the governments in these places are so corrupt, I don't think our votes have counted there for 2 decades at a minimum. My state elected a murderer (that walked scot-free) to FIFTY YEARS of "service" in the senate. Haven't met a single person in my life that voted for him, or ANY of the current crew in the statehouse ...
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 0
I'd truly be interested in learning more about your inside track to Daley's thought processes. Because you are "certain" about his decision to destroy Meigs leads one to believe you and Daley must have had discussions about destroying Meigs in the dark of night
stevemg11
Please reread what I wrote I never indicated that I had any conversations with Mayor Daley but instead I stated some known facts. If you want to debate the facts and make a point that is one thing but to infer I had prior knowledge is another my post stands for itself.
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 1
Didn't mean to offend Cherie...tsk tsk, no never. I'm merely forming that opinion due to the fact you said you are "certain that the decisions made by the mayor at that time were done for the city and it's (sic) people so to blame Daley is unfair". I may be jumping to conclusions, but I'm under the impression that when someone is certain, they must have some definitive information. If that isn't true, then forgive me - I fall on my sword.
frankzackary
Frank Zackary 0
Typical for a "Daley Czar". Shitcago is only run by the Democratic regime that has propelled it to the financial and social disaster that prevails.
AWAAlum
AWAAlum 1
I don't imagine there are many who don't share your thought. Other than your opinion of the Democratic regime, can you tell me what it means in relation to this Meigs Field posting?
jbaugh3
john baugh 0
It could reopen but me more limited. No flights after 10 pm, Jet fuel only, European like land fees, say $1,000. No flight training or VFR. Keep it small and highly profitable.
srobak
srobak 2
Might as well not do it then, John. There wasn't enough jet traffic there to sustain it on its own. The vfr, prop and instructional traffic were the majority and also made it a tourist hot spot for city view flights. Not sure why you would want to cut out the bulk of the profits like that.
SmittySmithsonite
That would be cheaper than landing at BOS ... lol.
craigbell1941
craigbell1941 0
I used to fly from Meigs to Peoria, Cape Girardeau, Springfield and other cities south of Chicago. It was handy for my Lakefront lifestyle and flying to those places was better that driving from the City. Capitol Airways had a good thing going.
kehoedoug1
Douglas Kehoe 0
And...by keeping an eye on whoever!... I mean those who wish to take that infrastructure from the public, not private, monies that paid for it (re: privatization take over) You'll never fly again, just like at Meigs!
airstars
mike bednar 0
Old man Daley bulldozed the runway overnight.

[This comment has been downvoted. Show anyway.]

rmchambers
rmchambers 6
Trump owns planes, he would rather have an airport than a park. Don't let your blind hatred for someone let your imagination run wild.
lynx318
lynx318 1
His jet is too large for Miegs, he would rather a long cavalcade through the city from a 'safe' airport anyway.

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