Debate airport's future calmly

The recent crash of a light plane in south Kalispell, predictably, renewed a chorus of criticism of Kalispell City Airport.

We’re glad the crash ended up as positively as it did. In spite of substantial plane and property damage, the three on board the plane had only minor injuries.

We’re not so glad that the accident spawned another round of recriminations over the airport and entangled that one incident with the discussion over the future of the airport.

Figuring out what, if anything, to do about the airport really won’t be helped by emotional appeals and misinformation campaigns.

Sometime soon, a final recommendation may be coming from the engineering firm conducting a $97,000 airport master plan update.

The study so far contains five airport options, although (contrary to some contentions) there is no preferred alternative yet.

Until city officials take up the final study, it’s counterproductive to be shouting that the sky is falling and planes are plummeting out of the air.

The reasonable course of action is to look at all the facts, carefully evaluate the report and come to a rational conclusion.

How crazy has the rhetoric surrounding the airport become?

The latest wild-eyed theory about the airport is that the nearby Kalispell sewage treatment plant gives off methane gas that can cause airplane engines to stall.

One astute observer of city government theorizes that instead of sewer gas, it’s all the hot air being generated by the airport debate that is instead the biggest danger.

That might be true.

Cooler heads and a reasoned approach are needed to resolve the airport issue.