WILLMAR -- Airports in smaller cities like Willmar will become a more important part of the nation's future public transportation system, according to a National Aeronautics and Space Administration official.
"It appeared to us many years ago that the hub-and-spoke commercial airline system will became more and more gridlocked,'' said Dr. Bruce Holmes of Hampton, Va., director of NASA's Strategic Partnerships, Planning and Management Office.
"Some day, you'd want as a nation the option of making more widespread use of the smaller community airports and smaller aircraft for public transportation and not just for the weekend flier,'' Holmes told representatives of Minnesota's community airports meeting here.
"And that's what could happen to Willmar and can happen at 5,000 other communities across the country, not just the 500 that have the big commercial service airports,'' he said.
Holmes was a guest speaker Thursday during the second day of the three-day conference of the Minnesota Council of Airports at the Willmar Conference Center.
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Besides space exploration, NASA is also involved in testing and research of airplane technology. "We have an interest in safety and efficiency for the public good,'' said Holmes.
In an interview, Holmes, a native of Thief River Falls, said the national hub-and-spoke air transportation cannot continue to grow because of problems with air space, procedures and equipment.
"It's a complex issue,'' he said.
Holmes said the advent of new very-light jets and more technologically advanced aircraft will make community airports more important in providing short-haul commuter passenger service, emergency service and freight service.
Holmes said the Washington office of Joint Planning and Development is championing transformation of the air transportation system.
Holmes said state and local officials will have a role in the process.
"When it comes to the next generation of personal air mobility with the new very-light jets and new small propeller craft being used in commercial services, the states and the local communities are the stakeholders for the economic and quality-of-life benefits, jobs, access to medical care and educational opportunities,'' he said.
"I'm not satisfied -- and there are several of us in the federal sector -- that are not very satisfied that we've done a good job of engaging the states as stakeholders in taking ownership for the things that the states could do to help, especially with the new personalized on-demand services of the sort that we've referred to as the small-aircraft transportation system,'' he said.
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"What can state and local economic development authorities and airport commissions do to help to clear the way for these new aircraft, the new airport capabilities, new transportation service companies, to grow to meet the needs of the nation,'' he said.
Holmes said air transportation affects everyone from delivery of packages to flying a loved one to medical treatment.
"If the airport is not equipped for that airplane to come in and take that person to the big-city hospital, you only have to have one or two of those before you realize how valuable it is to have an airport that is state-of-the-art with that capability because it matters to the quality of life -- in this case medical quality of life,'' said Holmes.
"The educational and business opportunities, the jobs at the airport and jobs around the airport, the value of land at and around the airport will change as the airport becomes more useful to the community and not just people who have airplanes,'' he said.
