AOPA and lawmakers press New Jersey over evictions at Aeroflex-Andover Airport

Pilots and businesses at Aeroflex-Andover Airport (12N) in Sussex County, New Jersey, have been told to leave by December 31. The eviction notices went out in September from the state Department of Environmental Protection, which owns the field.

The department's Forest Fire Service first notified tenants in June, citing what it called critical repair and condition issues with the hangars. Most of the buildings would be torn down. The remaining hangar space would be kept for the service's own use.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association says its representatives met last week with senior advisers to Governor Mikie Sherill to pass on tenants' concerns. Sean Collins, the group's eastern regional manager, said the governor's team asked questions about the airport, its operations and its possible future.

Aeroflex-Andover is one of two general aviation facilities in Sussex County. According to the Forest Fire Service, more than 50 private aircraft are based there. The field has a full-service FBO offering tie-down and hangar storage, 100LL fuel, maintenance and instruction. AOPA warns the eviction could close a local flight school and repair shop. It says many of the based aircraft are vintage and fabric-covered, so they cannot be kept outdoors.

The Forest Fire Service keeps aircraft across three New Jersey airports: a set of Grumman Ag-Cat agricultural planes, two Bell 206 JetRanger helicopters, two Bell 205 Huey helicopters, one Bell 47 and two fixed-wing observation aircraft. NJ.com reported that the service holds 18 permits for private aircraft storage in the Aeroflex hangars.

The department has not said it intends to shut the airport altogether. A spokesperson told NJ.com that it had heard from the community and is open to further discussion. Lawmakers have joined AOPA in opposing the evictions.