Local flyers now in search for place to store planes
By karl vilacoba
Staff Writer

VERONICA YANKOWSKI Pilots who have berthed their planes — such as this antique Anandov — at Marlboro Airport, Route 79, will be looking for space at other airports now that the owners of the Marlboro facility have announced plans to close it in September.

MARLBORO — Aircraft owners at Marlboro Airport, Route 79, now must seek new spaces among a quickly shrinking group of general aviation airports in New Jersey.

Since World War II, New Jersey has lost about one small airport per year, according to state Department of Transportation spokesman Micah Rasmussen. When Marlboro Airport closes at the end of September, only 48 small general aviation airports will be left statewide.

In Monmouth County, only Monmouth Executive Airport, Wall Township, will remain.

Only about 50 planes remain at Marlboro Airport, according to airport mechanic Bill Bienes. Since news of a possible closure began to circulate during the spring, aircraft owners gradually began moving, he said.

"People who have their airplanes in New Jersey are not going to get hangars in New Jersey. There are none to be had," Bienes said.

Over the last few days, several former Marlboro pilots moved their planes to Monmouth Executive Airport, according to manager Ed Brown. There are presently no hangar vacancies for rent, but there are about 40 to 50 tie-down spaces, he said.

Nearby Old Bridge Airport, Pension Road, also has some available tie-down spaces and a waiting list for hangars, according to airport manager Paul Cernig-lia. Several patrons of Marlboro Airport inquired about moving there last week, he said.

"I didn’t expect this all to happen so soon," Cerniglia said. "I thought it would at least take a couple of years before they actually closed."

Plane owners can take some relief in recent developments at Lakewood Air-port in neighboring Ocean County, currently being renovated under the new management of Ted Pichel. Not only are there about 40 open tie-down spaces, but permits are currently being filed to build 20 new hangars, he said.

"We have attacked this thing," said Pichel, who also runs operations at Rob-binsville Airport, Washington Township, Mercer County. "We have a way to go, but we’re getting there."

Marlboro Airport owners Marlboro Holdings, LLC, in a letter to Marlboro Mayor Matthew Scannapieco and the Township Council, announced a closing date of Sept. 30. According to the letter, signed by part-owner David Berman, "Despite our best efforts, we have to face the reality that it is not possible for us to continue to operate the property as an airport."

Marlboro Airport part-owners Ken Parker and David Berman did not return calls for comment last week.

According to Rasmussen, of the DOT, the Marlboro Airport owners made no requests for financial assistance. Even if they had, he said, it was unlikely the state could have helped under current financial constraints.

Pichel said the claims of financial difficulties by Marlboro Holdings cannot be underestimated. Investments such as those going on in Lakewood can reap rewards, but it can take years.

"Nobody wants to see these little airports close, but when you face the costs of business today, it’s impossible," Pichel said. "My insurance just doubled. Aviation is a very risky, difficult business."

Pichel, who said he has flown out of Marlboro Airport on several occasions, said he didn’t see a great chance for the airport’s survival.

"The town definitely didn’t want it to survive," Pichel said. "For years, people complained about the airport being open. Then once it was about to close, everybody starts to complain about that."