What have they understood that we don’t?

Here we are now – and will be in the city council next Thursday 2 May. A decision must be made as to whether development should be permitted at the end of the airport in order to facilitate commercial property, and even there I fall completely out of the discussion. I’m trying to understand the logic of this, but I can’t find anything that makes sense to justify doing this. Because if we were to choose to say yes to development in the departure zone, this would have consequences for preparedness, safety and opportunities to later use the airport more commercially.

Preparedness and security – should be high on the list of important assessments to include in this assessment. Because if we limit the possibilities we have today, it will also have consequences for ambulance aircraft and for military aircraft. Telemark Hospital reports at all major NATO exercises on bed capacity, capacity for operations and how many vacant intensive care beds are ready.

In addition, there are only three places in southern Norway that have the defence’s Fuel quality. Rygge – Skien Airport and Hamar Airport. This is determined by the Ministry of Finance and is also paid by them. And already here with this information, I think this should no longer be a discussion.

Why should we even need to tinker with an existing airport? Where everything is in place to safeguard opportunities to be used as a commercial airport at a later date? Even if it is not in use like this today, it seems to me incredibly unwise to touch something that will limit the possibilities of the future to such an extent.

Jobs: There are approximately 40 jobs at Skien Lufthavn Geiteryggen today, but they will be significantly limited if the airport’s capabilities are limited. But we have clear signals from existing drone companies about expanded operations and employment, provided that there are no restrictions on the runway.

Furthermore, there are companies that are in dialogue about establishing themselves here for the purpose of operating cargo flights with drones on long-distance flights. They won’t come if we limit the runway. There is currently an electric aircraft company in Norway with headquarters in Bergen and a hangar at Torp where work is being done to develop this type of aircraft for short-haul flights.

My point is that there is an incredible amount of exciting things happening in the future, including ripple effects from one of the world’s largest companies, Google, a significant increase in jobs at Herøya Næringspark and the future extraction of important metals in the Fehnsfield and more.

Other destinations go the opposite way. The focus is on Eggemoen in Hønefoss and on Gullknapp in Arendal. In recent years, they have worked on extending the runway and providing control towers and more. What have they understood that we don’t?

It is possible that they see that aviation in Norway is ahead of major changes, be it both in the field of drone flight and electric aircraft and more.

So finally: Are there really no other good destinations that Skien municipality can arrange for commercial buildings other than that we have to build in the risk zone of the airport?

I fully understand that there may be a need for new business areas, but it should be considerably more thought out than this.

Let’s preserve our opportunities that already exist for the best of our future and rather give thanks that our airport is so well cared for on a voluntary basis.