Wendell News Outlet

At last night’s town meeting called to discuss the feasibility of locating an airport in, yes directly within the Town of Wendell on Marshburn Road, it appeared to me that alliances had been formed. Some local business interests along with Raleigh politicos are in favor of the airport while local residents, for the most part, are not.

Rather than single out any one individual, let me say it was interesting to hear proponents of the airport, who don’t live in or around Wendell, tell us how wonderful it will be to have an airport built in our backyards. Of course, the noise, congestion and pollution won’t bother them, will it? No, they live in Raleigh and elsewhere!

Here are some interesting facts about existing local airports that make you wonder why we need an airport in Wendell:

The Johnston County Airport, located 3 miles from Smithfield (not in the middle of town) just south of Raleigh, is currently offering incentives to attract planes. “The county (Johnston) will offer a 50% rebate on the property taxes paid for planes based at the airport that buy at least 12000 gallons of fuel a year. The rebates would start next January and last for 5 years. The proposal is intended to bring bigger planes and more business to the airport”
This airport commenced operations in June, 1978, 30 years ago, and they still have to offer incentives to attract the right planes to their facility.

As of 9-20-2005, they had 90 planes based on the field:
83 Single Engine planes (which I assume use leaded gasoline)
6 Multi engine planes (leaded gasoline)
1 Jet
They “average 68 aircraft operations a day” on their 5500 foot runway.


The Franklin County Airport, located 5 miles southwest of Louisburg (not in the middle of town), commenced operations March 1993. As of July, 2005 they had 77 planes based on the field:
67 Single engine planes (which I assume use leaded gasoline)
7 Multi engine planes (leaded gasoline)
1 Jet
1 Helicopter (air taxi)
1 Glider airplane
They “average 142 aircraft operations a day” on their 5500 foot runway.

Again, my point in highlighting these two local general aviation airports is to question why we need another airport in the immediate area. Could it be to help relieve the small plane congestion at RDU which, as of June 2007, had 141 single engine airplanes and 40 multi engine airplanes based at their location?

As for me personally, I don’t have an objection to having another airport built, if it is built in a less populated area. Wendell, jammed between Knightdale and Zebulon, is too small to accommodate an airport without negatively impacting a large portion of the community. Having planes flying over our schools, shopping areas and homes on a daily basis from sunup to sundown doesn’t sound like a winning proposition for the residents of Wendell.