My opinion as a flyer . . . we own a small aircraft and fly all over the east coast I have 2 observations:
1.) 1.9 million is nothing. It really gets you some dirt moved, new pavement and some fencing. All which are badly needed - remember Laconia was once a 2 runway airport. Also keep in mind, I have been at airports that have recieved more, and man are they nice!
2.) This is necessary if we want people to come to the region and business to thrive. Most small airports north of Boston are pretty dumpy. Once you leave New England a majority of small airports are as nicer if not nicer than Laconia. And they are thriving with businesses: FBOs (fixed base operations: plane repair companies, flying schools etc), resturants, car services, fueling operations etc...
Some Stats for you:
Flying is BIG business and not just for the uber rich who fly in in jets -
Of the approx. 42.6
Million hours flown annually 48% of the flying is done by general aviation craft 52% by commerical flights.
NH has 25 public airports (private grass fields excluded) while states like Michigan have 213, Texas 387 and Alaska 414.
There are over 600,000 people in the US that are pilots only about 20% of them fly
professionally.
In case you want to read more:
http://www.aopa.org/special/newsroom...tatistics.html