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| Mayor Tony Martinez |
Mayor Tony Martinez is not unaware of the shambles known as the Brownsville/South Padre Island "International" Airport. His personal vehicle has been observed in long term parking spaces for both
American Eagle and
United Airlines flights, which means he likely drove down S. Iowa Avenue, dodging multitudinous pot holes, but hitting some, before turning left at Billy Mitchell Blvd. into airport terminal parking.
A potty break would have necessitated a visit to the men's room where 80% of the soap dispensers remain inoperative.
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Wet/Dry Vac at North Bridge
(Picture sent by a friend
flying United this past Sunday) |
On rainy days the mayor has walked from the terminal across "people bridges" which provide
American Eagle aircraft and the North Bridge, which takes them to
United Airlines flights, have fallen into extreme disrepair. Cans are strategically positioned to collect raindrops flowing through holes in the tarp awning while wet/dry vacs are used to suck up the excess moisture between flights. Both the South and North Bridges need periodic attention from a wet/dry vacuum to suck water from the rubberized surface whenever it rains at the airport.
"Jim, this place is rundown, embarrassingly so. What we call the "people bridges," leading out from the terminal to board the plane leak profusely during a rain. The south bridge used by American Eagle is the worst, but the north bridge used by United Express is almost as bad. We actually set out buckets to catch the water. The carpeting gets drenched and retains a musty, mildew odor for several days after a rain," reported an anonymous technician.
While a 21 year old joining management at the entry level could easily identify significant problems needing immediate attention at the airport, the mayor and Aviation Director Larry Brown seem totally oblivious. Passenger safety issues make the repair of these passenger bridges extremely high priority.
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| Typical Air-Start Unit Available at Most Airports |
Perhaps even more serious is the fact that the airport currently does not have a functioning air-start unit available to restart aircraft. While the old unit was broken several months ago, the airport occasionally borrows an antiquated 60's vintage starter from
Hunt Pan Am. Airport technicians have not been trained in the use of this older, worn unit and are unsure of its relative safety. When this unit has been unavailable, flights have been cancelled or delayed.
Even though incoming flights are typically notified that the Brownsville airport has no operative air-start unit available, pilots sometimes ignore this warning as it necessitates keeping the aircraft running, wasting fuel during Brownsville layovers.
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what a sad situation...our "historical" airport in such shitty conditions
ReplyDeleteBut 'da Mayor has a $8,000 TV in his new offices. Larry Brown is probably doing the best he can with the funds available for the airport. Potholes are a city problem....not just at the airport. The airport works like most of the city offices....why not take a look across the board and see how problems spread across the city.
ReplyDeleteCall the FAA. Especially about the air-start unit.
ReplyDeleteJust like everything else in Brownsville that was world class, the airport is now nothing better than a crop duster station. By the way, for your edification the proper term for "people bridges" is jetway. Holly shit, we now have direct flights from Brownsville to Berlin, unreal. The leaky jetway is at least three years old and aging.
ReplyDeleteI believe the term you meant to use was "Holy" not "Holly". What say tou Tonina Martinez? Imagine Brownsville as an enterprising and entrepreneurial metroplex.
DeleteIt is a dream I have
Actually it's a "People Bridge" jet bridge or "Jetway" is also acceptable. North bridge is over 10 years old, over
DeleteThe South Bridge is even older than that!
DeleteBy the way, you can start a jet engine without the use of the Air-Start Unit. Just pay a couple of the girls from down on 14th St. twenty bucks a piece and position them in front of in-take side the engine and have they blow as hard as they can. It will work like a charm.
ReplyDeleteWell, you certainly seem to know your way around that "14th St." area, huh? Have you checked yourself for STDs lately? lol.
DeleteInstead of spending money on repairing the airport or fixing pocked marked streets or synchronizing our city traffic lights, the ass clowns on the city commission get a big hard on financing Cyclobia and that sad a pathetic "farmers market" ( which most certainly is not). These small, very limited thinkers are putting the cart before the horse. Until people start voting in pertinent numbers, nothing will change. And Jim, in the future, can you offer some solutions to some of these festering problems? It's not enough to just bitch and moan in an eloquent fashion. You're in danger of becoming just another blowhard . Why waste your spirit. Use your writing talents more effectively.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't the city privatize the air port fire station and save the city over millions dollars 12 firefighters sitting on their asses doing nothing lucky if they get 5 calls a year worthless slugs!
ReplyDeleteFirefighters are needed to be there. You'll be surprised how many house fires and auto accidents they rescue people from. You obviously don't know a thing about emergency services. I'm glad they are available 24 hours per day. Get your facts straight. Not "worthless", more like PRICELESS. Let's see how you feels when your house arches on fire or you get into a car accident. I dare you to call them worthless then.
DeleteJimmy, the city of Brownsville needs it's a working Mayor, not some F&*&8d up Mayor, who thinks he is too good for the working people. Where is the city manager? It is his job to keep the city running, another worthless sob, who is only worried about his paycheck. Or the Building Maintanence Director.. Most likely having coffee at the local restaurants.
ReplyDeleteI believe the term you wanted to use was " Holy", not "Holly". What say you Tonina Martinez? Imagine
ReplyDeleteBrownsville as an
enterprising metroplex.
Imagine the return on
investment for the city of
Brownsville if the $2.3M
spent on Casa de Nylon had
been used to repair and upgrade our airport?
When the mayor smiles, he reminds me of the Grinch.
ReplyDeleteThe few times I have landed there coming home to visit my family, I feel this "airport" could be expanded to accommodate a bigger of influx of ever growing people coming to Brownsville and the rest of the RGV, especially during holidays and most particularly during "El Dia de los Charros" in February. This "airport" has the potential to bring Brownsville more commerce and to service bigger aircraft..., if only it was updated and also expand its runways if at all possible. This can be done, only if the people of Brownsville attended their city council meetings regularly and demanded it! A petition drive to back up the concerned citizens of Brownsville to improve the airport conditions would be a good start. If no one pressures those politicos at city hall, they could care less what YOU think! Yes folks! Start a petition drive first and foremost! Thereafter, then hand them these petitions and if they do not act on this, then start putting pressure about their own re-election day! Trust me gente, this is what scares them the most..., "re-election time"! ...And finally, get the media involved. If its one thing these politicos hate the most..., its bad publicity with the media! I should know..., I work in the media myself! Helloooo....?!
ReplyDeleteE.F. Mohammed Martinez - Journalist/Writer/Community Activist