The Journal of
The Airship Association
September 1999 No. 126

The College Point Airship Park
or
New York Blimp Port Project

by Alan Gross and John Taylor

In the last decade, at least six airships have visited New York City each summer, mostly for periods of a week or more, some making more than one visit each year. They operate out of a number of general aviation airports in the area, conducting advertising flights around Manhattan and other areas, and providing a presence at sporting and other events.

Airship Association member Alan Gross, a life-long resident of Queens, one of the five counties making up metropolitan New York City, grew up watching Goodyear blimps operating out of Flushing Airport, right outside his apartment window. A summertime job handling the mooring lines, and a later degree in electronic journalism and public relations, led to his involvement in the creation of the airship operating companies Airship Enterprises, Ltd. and subsequently Airship International, Ltd.

Returning later to New York after four years traveling as a member of an airship crew, he began a quest to reopen the now-disused Flushing Airport as the world's first blimp port. There is a long history of airships being based in Queens. A military base complete with an airship hangar was located near what is now Kennedy International Airport. Decades ago, blimps landed at North Beach Airport, now known as LaGuardia. At nearby Holmes Airport, Goodyear erected a hangar and operated a sightseeing blimp all year long. In 1964, two Goodyear blimps used Flushing Airport as a summer base for the New York World's Fair, and at least one airship returned annually until the mid-70's when Flushing Airport's future became uncertain.

Goodyear Blimp over Flushing Airport in 1966
Photo: Alan Gross

Surrounded today by a development project known as the College Point Corporate Park, the triangular Flushing Airport site, a last remaining green space, faces commercial development. Additionally, the need for a blimp port is becoming critical, as the three blimp mooring spaces at Linden Airport and the one at Westchester Airport are no longer available, and Republic, Teterboro and Caldwell Airports are becoming more congested by regular air traffic each year. This summer, one airship has to operate under restrictive conditions out of Gateway National Park, the site of the previous Floyd Bennett Field Naval Air Station and a rather unsuccessful commercial airport, and another has had to move from one operating base to another because of the tightness of scheduling slots. The blimp port project is intended to eliminate much of this mooring space shortage, nd Flushing also has the advantage of being within three miles of Manhattan.

Realizing that urgent action was necessary, Alan approached Airship Association Council member John Taylor, who had recently incorporated his irship consulting and brokerage business, Airship Consulting Associates, Inc., to solicit help in developing the project. Coincidentally, John was looking for marketing and public relations expertise for two of is own forthcoming projects, and many long phone conversations and a ten hour meeting in New York led to the formation of a partnership, Airships Unlimited, Inc., to develop these three projects and other exciting concepts.

The possibility of reopening Flushing Airport as a blimp port is very much an environmental and community issue. The community is opposed to the loss of the last sizeable green space in the area, and support for the blimp port project as a means of preserving it from development is strong. The proposed grass take-off and landing area, and space for two or three blimps to be moored, is partially surrounded by wetlands, which are the subject of a current study by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. The blimp port will not impact the wetlands and they will provide a buffer zone against further commercial encroachment.

A small complex, to be designed by Airship Association member Wendel Wendel's Starnet International, Inc., will include a visitor center, museum, gift shop, airship sightseeing ride terminal, airship theme restaurant, pilots' lounge with meteorological and communications stations, ground crew lounge, and administrative offices. An airship hangar, also to be produced by Starnet International, Inc., is also under consideration, to enable year-round airship operations in the New York climate for the coverage of football games and other events.

Work is proceeding on four milestones which must be accomplished for success. These are the approvals of the Queens Borough President's Office, the New York Economic Development Corporation and the Federal Aviation Administration, and obtaining a contract with a major partner.

Numerous issues exist which will impact the layout of the facility, including the road infrastructure, existing traffic congestion, site access and control of the flow of visitors to the unique facility. These, together with operational issues such as aviation fuel storage, oil waste disposal, security and local employment opportunities, were the primary subjects of a meeting held in New York on 26 July (the date of completing this article), attended by high level officials from federal, state and local levels, including Congressman Joseph Crowley of the US House of Representatives. The information exchange, and promises of support in obtaining access to data necessary for the preparation of outline proposals and applications, were very encouraging.

Flushing Airport Site 1986
Photo: Alan Gross

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