“The arrival last year was closed to the public; a motorcade took the Obamas directly to Blue Heron Farm along the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road, which was lined with crowds of flag-waving well-wishers. ...the Federal Aviation Administration’s temporary flight restrictions [TFR] for the duration of the President’s stay. Any flights below 18,000 feet in the air space surrounding Martha’s Vineyard will be prohibited without complying with rules set forth in the TFR. Pilots of private planes, for instance, will have to begin the process of filing for permission to fly at least 72 hours before their scheduled flights. Commercial carriers, including Cape Air and U.S. Airways, will have to stop at one of three gateway airports en route to the Vineyard, including either Westchester County Airport in New York, T.F. Green Airport in Providence, or Barnstable Municipal Airport.
“At those locations you’ll be screened by [the Transportation Security Administration] and then you’ll be able to fly to Martha’s Vineyard, provided you can maintain radio contact with the radar people,” Mr. Flynn said.
On-Island, outbound flights will be required to go through a screening process much like the one required for aircraft destined for major airports in Boston or Providence. Katama Airpark will be closed almost completely during the 10-day visit, with only the classic aviator flights in Mike Creato’s biplanes allowed to fly. “The airfield otherwise will be closed down for the president’s visit,” said Mr. Creato yesterday. “So no other airplanes, no flight instructing, no private owners. Everything else is shut down.”
The restrictions will cause a loss in revenue for the tiny airport, just like last year. “It’s a financial hit, relatively big,” said Mr. Creato. “It costs some money. We haven’t figured out any way to do anything about that, but it’s a pretty significant financial impact.”
Still, Mr. Creato said he’s grateful to be allowed to operate his biplane tours, though hours of operation will be cut and flight paths severely limited, depending on where on the Island the president is at any given time.
Wesley Hotel owner Peter Martell confirmed last month that there were some agents renting rooms in the hotel, which has housed members of the Secret Service dating back to President Bill Clinton’s first visit in 1993, but wouldn’t say any more this week. “Security is very important, and I have nothing to add,” Mr. Martell said. The Martha’s Vineyard Gazette Online
The Chamber noted the economic boost a presidential Vineyard vacation could provide and said many Island business owners remember “the positive impact the presidential visits of 1993 and 1994 had for the Island.”
The Chamber noted the economic boost a presidential Vineyard vacation could provide and said many Island business owners remember “the positive impact the presidential visits of 1993 and 1994 had for the Island.” To its members the Chamber wrote: “Smile a lot – the rest of the world is watching! Let’s extend a Vineyard welcome to the First Family and all the visitors arriving on Island!”
Mr. Buiter complained about the effect of the “presidential hordes” on the Vineyard’s peace and quiet. “The party that tags along on any presidential journey, let alone a temporary relocation involving the entire presidential nuclear family,” Mr. Buiter said, “looks and behaves like an occupying army. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of persons charged with security, ranging from the secret service to the specially beefed-up state and local police forces. Communications experts, specialist medical personnel, myriad advisers and countless other hangers-on cause the Vineyard to sink at least a foot deeper into the sea. The press corps and assorted other media camp out all over the island, competing with the presidential staff for first place in the hot air emission stakes. Roads are blocked. Traditional rights-of-way are suspended. Beaches become inaccessible.” The Martha’s Vineyard Times
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Composing members:
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