Learjet crash could have been worse

The Learjet crash into the Des Plaines River near Chicago Executive Airport on Jan. 5 could have been much worse.

If the aircraft had approached from the west rather than the east, the crash could have happened into homes near Camp McDonald and Wheeling Roads.

In 2004, I chaired a Noise Abatement Committee on the Palwaukee Airport Community Engagement group prior to my time as an airport board member.

One of the areas I pushed for, to reduce the noise footprint near the airport, was to utilize the airspace formerly used by NAS Glenview. Until the air station closed, almost all approaches to Chicago Executive where made from the west over the homes.

Requesting the FAA to review the airspace to the east and rewriting their rules allowing jets to utilize the forest corridor for their approach not only made for a quieter neighborhoods, but as we now know, a safer one as well. But times change.

The airport's newest board member, (Wheeling) Village Trustee Dean Argiris, has proven over the years to have little concern about anything related to the airport other than the political power it might offer him.

My focus as a CEA board member was to make the surrounding neighborhoods quieter and safer, Mr. Argiris, not to kowtow to your whims and political aspirations.

It's time someone reminds you that the airport belongs to the communities, not you.

Bob Dourlain

Wheeling