Trump visits put 'black cloud' over Central Jersey airports

BEDMINSTER - Whenever President Donald Trump visits his golf club in Bedminster for a weekend, life in the township goes on normally. Though there may be extra security at his country club and a protest rally at the library, most people are not affected.

But the effects of the president's visits are being felt and are having an adverse impact miles away.

Prompted by security concerns from the Secret Service, the federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposes "temporary flight restrictions" (TFR) that prohibit all air traffic within a 10-mile radius of Trump National Golf Club and strictly restrict air traffic within a 30-mile radius whenever Trump is in town.

Business at private airports as far away as Hunterdon County is suffering because the FAA restrictions mean that the airports cannot conduct flight training, and pilots who want to fly must load a transponder so their planes can be tracked on radar.and be in constant contact with New York-area air-traffic controllers. In addition, no skydiving flights are allowed and all balloon flights are grounded.

Though the president's schedule for the rest of the summer is not yet known — he is expected in Bedminster this weekend — the Secret Service has worked with the QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning to ensure that North America's largest summertime balloon festival, based at Solberg Airport in Readington, will not be affected.

"From our very first meeting with representatives of the United States Secret Service and local law-enforcement authorities, which also included members of other local agencies, we have been very appreciative of their attention and support to ensure that the QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning will go on as planned July 28-30 should the president be in Bedminster that weekend,” said Festival Executive Producer Howard Freeman.

And though the balloon festival will go on, Solberg Airport is within the 10-mile radius and will be completely shut down whenever Trump visits Bedminster.

READ: At Trump National, the president is just a good neighbor

WATCH: Welcome to Trump National

READ: How to see balloon fest from new lens

"The long-term economic result is frightening and devastating, for if the TFRs are not re-examined, they can be in effect for this particular area for the next eight years," said Suzanne Nagle, co-owner of Solberg Airport.

"Some could consider the TFR as inverse condemnation. This is a taking with no compensation," said Nagle, whose airport is in a long legal battle with Readington over condemnation. "It places a 'black cloud' over the airports within the 30-mile radius."

The consequences for the privately owned airports could be severe, she said.

"The majority of general aviation business/pleasure flying is conducted during the spring, summer and fall with the milder weather and longer daylight hours," Nagle said.

"All aeronautical activities such as fuel sales, flight instruction, aircraft rental, storage and maintenance, banner towing and skydiving are either prohibited or restricted at airports within the 30-mile radius."

At Somerset Airport, the facility within a mile of Trump National, the State Police will still be allowed to operate its medevac helicopter, which is based there, said Dunellen resident Bob Checchio, vice president of the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Coalition and an amateur pilot based at the airport.

The airport, owned by Bedminster Mayor Steve Parker, depends heavily on charter traffic, Checchio said

The 30-mile radius extends west in Hunterdon County to Alexandria Field — nearer to the Delaware River than it is to Bedminster — where about 100 planes are based. 

Linda Castner, an owner and flight instructor at Alexandria, said airports are trying to get a relaxation on the restrictions by asking the FAA to allow flight instruction outside the 30-mile radius though flights can take off and land at the airports.

Pilots also have to remember to "squawk and talk" by installing transponders on their planes so they can be tracked by radar and be in constant contact with air-traffic controllers. Pilots also have to stick to their flight paths and fly in a straight line so controllers can keep track of them.

The restrictions have had an impact on Skydive NJ based at the airport, Castner said.

Skydive NJ, which offers an opportunity to parachute out of a plane for $215, does a "large piece of its business" on weekends, Castner said, but the restrictions have hurt.

"This could put them out of business," she said.

The 30-mile restriction even extends across the Delaware River to Van Sant Airfield in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, that offers rides in antique airplanes, including a 1928 biplane, Cecchio said.

Airport owners understand the Secret Service's security concerns, Castner said.

"We're totally for safety," she said about the policies put in place after the Sept. 11 attacks.

"The Secret Service is willing to listen to our concerns," Cheechio said. "We understand the Secret Service's concerns."

"We are working toward not blanketly shutting certain operations down without jeopardizing the safety of President Trump and the Secret Service personnel who protect him," Nagle said.

The FAA is trying to work with airport owners on coping with the TFR restrictions, which could last for seven more years if Trump is elected to a second term.

The FAA had scheduled a seminar for June 15 at the Clarence Dillion Library in Bedminster to discuss the restrictions and "the challenges they bring along with potential solutions."

In announcing the seminar, the FAA said, "we've noticed a very positive approach to both the design and implementation of this TFR, and it's become apparent that officials, both local and federal, have worked to permit as much activity as possible without compromising safety."

The seminar would also cover "interception procedures … just in case."

But the seminar, to which the Secret Service was invited, was canceled. Matthew Keiner, of the FAA Safety Team and a pilot based at Sky Manor Airport in Hunterdon County, said another seminar will be scheduled, though no date has been set.

It was good news for Central Jersey airports that Trump recently spent a weekend at Camp David, the official presidential retreat in the Western Maryland mountains.

It was even better news that Trump tweeted he enjoyed the weekend, Cecchio said.

"There's not that many airports out there," he said.

Staff Writer Mike Deak: 908-243-6607; mdeak@mycentraljersey.com