How Close are the Runways to Schools?

How Many Seconds Does a Pilot Have to React?

All proposed configurations of the expansion of Solberg Airport show the crosswinds runway lining up directly with Holland Brook School (2850 ft) and Readington Middle School (3800 ft)  as well as Branchburg Central Middle School (5900 ft) and White Oak Park (5500 ft). Hillcrest Park is 1600 ft off the end of the main runway.

When is a crosswind runway used? In windy conditions when the main runway is not appropriate. Windy, gusty conditions.

An aircraft traveling at 200 miles per hour travels the 0.3 mile distance to Hillcrest Park in 5 seconds, not much room for error or time to correct, right? The half mile to Holland Brook  School in 9 seconds or 14 seconds to Readington’s Middle School or 18 seconds to Branchburg’s.

The Philadelphia crash a couple of months ago occurred 3 miles from NE Philadelphia airport. All the above locations are well within that range. By any objective standard, the frequency of air accidents is increasing.

Did you know that the expansion includes an operations area for eVTOLs - electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Essentially drones or helicopters. Now, what could possibly go wrong, helicopters and jets in the same airspace? Think back to what happened in Washington D.C. recently.

Is this what our communities want? Is this expansion a “done deal” as some have been heard to say or is this fight worth continuing until every avenue is exhausted? Do something.