[ryandrake]

> I think a big factor here is the sentiment of people who live near small airports.

(disclaimer: am a pilot, so biased) They don't really build small airports anymore, so the vast, vast majority of people who live near small airports chose to move there knowing in advance that the airport was there. Then they complain about the noise and pollution. There's a doctrine in Real Estate law called "Coming to the Nuisance" [1] which exists as a defense to these complaints. People who moved there knew what they were getting themselves into and assumed the risk of harm.

I don't like that our airplanes spew lead into the environment, and am really really happy that an actual viable unleaded solution is finally on the horizon, but I also disagree with moving in next to an airport and then immediately complaining about it.

1: https://dictionary.thelaw.com/coming-to-the-nuisance/

[davidw]

On the topic of small airports, you might find this an interesting oddity:

https://www.google.com/maps/@44.0473359,-121.2771145,1144m/d...

I know I did when I started looking around on Google Maps when we moved here. Hey, wait, is that...?!

[btgeekboy]

Airparks are a bit more common around the country than you’d think. Some are nicer than others.

A pilot and homebuilder (of aircraft) myself, it’s basically my dream.

[camkego]

From Wikipedia: The Living With Your Plane Association estimates that there are at least 426 residential airparks in the United States. Florida is estimated to have 52 airparks, followed by Washington with 50, California with 28, and Oregon with 23.

[DaiPlusPlus]

…how is that legal? I thought flight corridors had to be far away from residential areas. You can’t even legally fly a drone in most cities…

[RNCTX]

I'd say the vast majority of airparks used to be the town's municipal airport, and the town built a newer one and sold the old one.

That's the case where I live around Dallas and we have a lot of them.