'We don't really have another option.' Sussex County flight school in danger of closing due to NJDEP demolition
Tenants at the airport, including Andover Flight Academy, received a notice last month from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) stating that the hangar complex on the property is slated for demolition and that the agency intends to reclaim the space.
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A Sussex County flight school could be forced to close after 40 years under a state plan to demolish hangars at Andover Aeroflex Airport.
Tenants at the airport, including Andover Flight Academy, received a notice last month from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) stating that the hangar complex on the property is slated for demolition and that the agency intends to reclaim the space.
According to instructors at the academy, there is already an airplane hangar shortage in New Jersey.
"We don't really have another option to call another airport and move there because there's just no space," said flight instructor Justine Pasniewski. "If we have to vacate these premises, that's pretty much the end of the flight school."
NJDEP owns the airport, while the New Jersey Forest Fire Service manages it.
The Forest Fire Service said the hangar complex requires "extensive capital improvements." However, several state lawmakers who are fighting to keep the school open argue that renovating the existing structures would be less expensive than demolishing them.
"Why would you be spending millions more to destroy small businesses?" Pasniewski said.
Flight school officials also said many of the vintage aircraft housed at the airport can't be stored outdoors.
"These planes will be pretty much destroyed by UV [ultraviolet rays]," said Pasniewski.
The proposed demolition has drawn opposition from current and former students who told News 12 the school plays an important role in the community.
"When you're here, you're family," said former student Charles Romaniello. "Everyone comes here, exchanges information. If you want to go flying with someone, they'll take you up in their plane."
Rep. Josh Gottheimer has also weighed in on the issue.
"The airport and school play a critical role in our community, and we all want it to remain in Sussex County," Gottheimer said in a statement provided to News 12.
Residents said the academy provides a unique type of training that would be difficult to replace.
"I don't know of any other school that would be able to help me continue with this kind of training," one student said.
The NJDEP said in their letter to tenants that a formal notice to vacate would be issued later this year. Once that notice is distributed, tenants would have three months to leave the hangars.
That notice had not been issued as of Friday.
