For too long, the Biddeford Municipal Airport has been left to deteriorate, as the city first argued about its future and then simply decided to ignore it. Improvements such as tree trimming and repaving the runway are needed to keep the facility up to Federal Aviation Administration safety standards, but no action can be taken until the city gets its house in order.

It’s now been five years since the topic of the airport became so heated that a vote was held to pursue its closure, which failed. Hopefully, that’s long enough to allow cooler heads to prevail as the city considers this facility’s future.

It is encouraging to see that the current administration has reinstated the Municipal Airport Commission, a group that was dissolved around the same time as the closure referendum after its members reached an impasse and could no longer reconcile their differences. Members have not yet been named to this commission, however, and that process will be the most important step the city can take in making sure the group is successful in balancing the concerns and needs of this facility and its neighbors.

The council is planning to allow only three pilots on the seven-member commission, to limit any personal interest bias to a minority vote, which sounds like a prudent approach. Even more important will be to choose four other members who will represent more than just the concerns of the immediate neighbors to the airport. This is where the animosity came into play last time around, as personal interest bias took over on the neighbors’ part, particularly those who grew enraged over airport tree trimming, which they describe as closer to clear cutting.

What Biddeford needs on this new commission are members who can represent all the competing interests ”“ of those who use the airport, those who live near it, those who would benefit from improvements there and those who stand to pay the costs.

In the meantime, as the council mulls which community members to appoint, we’re glad to hear the city has entered an airport planning and engineering service contract with Gale Associates, Inc. of Bedford, N.H. ”“ a decision that does not result in any cost to the city. The contract fulfills the FAA requirement that the airport have an engineering firm of record on board, which will make the facility eligible for grants if the city decides to pursue improvements. Signing on with Gale Associates at least puts the city in the position to receive federal money toward keeping the airport safe, should the council choose to do so.

We agree with Councilor Bradley Cote that a study on the wider economic impact of the airport is necessary to provide an unbiased foundation on which the city can build. When it comes time for improvements to be made to the airport, taxpayers need to know if they are subsidizing a playground for the wealthy or if they are investing in an asset that will build up the community and its economy.

Cote recently noted that he requested this study a year ago, and the study group that was convened at the time had said it was beyond their scope of expertise. It’s time for the city to commission an impartial study from a reputable firm to provide actual data on the airport with regard to its possible economic impact in the area. As discussions move forward on the airport, they must be based on facts, not on emotions and opinions, or the commission will dissolve into impotence again.

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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.