Moffett Field

By Mike Kasperzak

We must prevent Moffett from becoming a regional airport

When the last remaining Naval Reserve flying units left Moffett, they left a strong Air National Guard Unit based at the airfield. However, after four years, even the Air National Guard is thinking of leaving because of the high cost of living. Whether they leave or not, neither their presence, nor that of NASA and its SOFIA project is enough to keep the airfield from becoming a commercial airport. Many airports around the country that serve commercial airlines have Air National Guard units.

We must continue to work with NASA as it develops its new business park to ensure a quality and community friendly development that creates uses on and near the airfield which will effectively prevent commercial aviation uses at the airfield. This project, which serves National and local interests, could effectively block development of a regional airport because they are incompatible with the operation of a major airport. The future of Moffett requires creative solutions that meet a variety of interests. Simply stated however, we MUST do what we can to control the destiny of Moffett Federal Airfield.

The Federal Government has many issues to consider when it evaluates what to do with its very expensive runway at Moffett. Unfortunately, the needs of Mountain View and Sunnyvale are insignificant factors in the government's decision making. If it will serve a "national" or even regional interest, the federal government could very easily turn the airfield over to the county for use as a commercial airport. WE MUST PREVENT THIS FROM EVER HAPPENING!