FORKS — Summer drag races at the Forks Municipal Airport received “overwhelming support” during a City Council meeting earlier this week, said a city official.
Thirty people filled the Forks City Council chambers Monday to show their support for the West End Thunder’s drag racing series that has been held at the Forks Municipal Airport since 2006 and to urge the city to do whatever it can to keep the event going, said Rod Fleck, city attorney and planning director.
“There was strong, overwhelming support,” Fleck said.
Audience members
The audience members included two pilots and two property owners whose property abuts the airport, all of whom were in support of the city applying to the Federal Aviation Administration for an exemption to continue to permit the popular West End Thunder drag races on the airport runways, Fleck said.
The hearing, held during the regular City Council meeting, was part of the process of asking the FAA to continue to allow the closure of the airport for nonaviation uses five weekends a year.
The FAA recently told the city that races at the airport may be permitted this summer — if the city files an acceptable application with the federal agency by Feb. 28.
The application has nine pages of questions dealing with the proposed use’s impact on aeronautical use, liability and risks, security issues, financial benefits to the community and an exact descriptions of events at various areas of the airport.
Fleck said the city should be able to complete the application on time, though there may be a few addendums, and that the FAA officials he has worked with have been helpful.
“The FAA has been extremely responsive and accessible,” Fleck said.
The city is required to demonstrate that it had “reached out to aviators and other interested parties to know what their issues or concerns are in regard to racing events at the airport,” Fleck said.
The application is the latest chapter in the city’s attempt to get FAA approval for drag racing on an airport runway.
The city and the office of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Bothell — along with the Port of Port Angeles and the West End Thunder racing club — have worked with the FAA since 2005 to negotiate ways to allow drag racing on airport runways on five summer weekends.
FAA policy prohibits airports with grant obligations to close for nonaviation uses. The city airport has such obligations.
The city of Forks, which owns the airport, and West End Thunder were granted an exception in August 2006 and extensions after that.
In 2010, the FAA denied the city’s request for an extension and was told the 2011 season would be the last.
During the races, airport traffic is directed to the Quillayute Airport 10 miles west of Forks.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
