Normal parking resumes at airport

A federal rule change that allows Cape Girardeau Regional Airport to resume use of its parking lot will save visitors some walking and taxpayers some money.

The rule that required unauthorized vehicles to park at least 300 feet from airport terminals was lifted this week for small airports like Cape Girardeau's, airport manager Bruce Loy said. Large airports still must comply, he said.

Cape Girardeau airport's 175-space lot became available for public parking Friday, he said. Since Sept. 12, the day after the terrorist attacks, airport visitors have been using gravel parking lots more than 300 feet away.

The rule change also makes it unnecessary to spend $13,000 on an assessment study of the effects an explosion would have on the airport, Loy said. At Loy's request, the Cape Girardeau City Council approved the assessment study Oct. 15 in hopes the Federal Aviation Administration would exempt Cape Girardeau's airport from the parking rule.

Loy said, once the council approved the study, he made calls to make certain the rule wasn't likely to change soon. But, he said, he got indications it might, so the city held off on having the assessment study done by a company in Mississippi.

"I had just assumed they would give us back a portion of our lot, 100 feet or 150 feet," Loy said. "Obviously, we're pleased to get it all back."

But Loy warned nothing is permanent in these uncertain times.

"I'm holding on to all the blast assessment information in case this thing comes back, which it could," Loy said. "It could easily go back to the way it was somewhere down the line."

"Some people thought that the whole thing was ridiculous, but they needed time to assess the threats," Loy said. "They saw that the threat really wasn't to the smaller airports so they changed this rule."

The airport remains under heightened security, Loy said. Armed Missouri National Guard soldiers are stationed at the airport, police patrol regularly, more stringent security screenings are in place and barricades still stand in front of the terminal, he said.

Ruth Missey, the assistant manager of Mac's Smokehouse Airport Restaurant, said business had slowed since the parking lot was taken out of commission.

"Our customers will be glad not to have to park so far away," Missey said. "It's great to have the parking lot back. It has been a real pain."

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137