Ohio State Airport Advisory Committees to Meet

The Ohio State Airport Advisory Board and the Ohio State Airport Noise Advisory Committee, two newly appointed groups representing nearby communities, airport users and airport staff, will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8 at the Ohio State Aeronautical and Astronautical Research Laboratory, 2300 West Case Road, according to William A. "Bud" Baeslack III, Dean of the College of Engineering.

The primary purpose of this initial joint meeting will be to inform the two groups about the Airport facility and operations, and provide an update on the status of activities related to the establishment of an effective airport noise complaint system and airport development. The purpose, goals and organization of the two groups will be discussed. Baeslack said the advisory board and noise advisory committee will be asked to review and make recommendations to the University Administration and Airport staff about the operations, capital improvements and development of the Ohio State Airport. These groups will also serve an important role in promoting effective communications between Ohio State, the Airport, and surrounding communities.

The advisory board members, appointed by Baeslack, represent the communities of Columbus, Worthington, Riverlea and Dublin; airport users including a personal aircraft owner, the corporate flight department, a student and a commercial (landside) operator; and one member each from the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Northwest Civic Association, Columbus Flight Watch, WOOSE, an informal neighborhood organization, and the University.

The noise advisory committee members will represent the communities of Columbus, Worthington, Riverlea and Dublin; airport users including a personal aircraft owner and the corporate flight department; and MORPC, Northwest Civic Association, Columbus Flight Watch, Columbus Regional Airport Authority, WOOSE and the University. The purpose of this group will be to work with the Airport staff to fully optimize the Airport noise compatibility program.

The activities of both groups will be facilitated by Cathy Ferrari, recently-hired manager of external relations for the Ohio State Airport. Ferrari joined the airport after a 16-year career in corporate communications for American Electric Power. She will be responsible for working closely with the communities on airport issues and will manage a new state-of-the-art noise complaint system with a radar receiver and data collection system. The new systems are expected to be operating in early January.

A list of confirmed Advisory Board and Noise Advisory Committee members follows:

Ohio State Airport Advisory Board
Affiliation and appointee

Columbus - Mark Barbash
Columbus Flight Watch - Rosalie Bujarski
Columbus Reg. Airport Auth. - Angela Newland
Commercial Operator - Mike Reynolds, Thrifty Car Rental
Corporate Flight Dept. - Paul Spreng, Worthington Industries
Dublin - Jane Brautigam
MORPC - Ahmad Al-Akhras
Northwest Civic Assn. - Dwight Groce
Ohio State University - Robert Haverkamp
Personal Aircraft Owner - Wayne Williams
Riverlea - Steve Mershon
Student- Michael Elliot
Worthington - Scott Whitlock
WOOSE - Dennis Hennen

Ohio State Airport Noise Advisory Committee
Affiliation and appointee

Columbus - Vince Papsidero
Columbus Flight Watch - Don Peters
Columbus Reg. Airport Auth. - Bernie Meleski
Corporate Flight Department - (to be determined)
Dublin - Paul Hammersmith
MORPC - Chris Gawronski
Northwest Civic Assn. - Paul Baughman
Ohio State University - Mike St. Clair
Personal Aircraft Owner - Jay DuRivage
Riverlea - Mary Jo Cusack
Worthington - Cheryl Chandler
WOOSE - Kim Nixon-Bell