A year ago, when Telford Air was actively looking to sell Maine Atlantic Aviation to an interested buyer, one of the problems in negotiations was the North Haven business — or lack of it. No one had figured out a way to lengthen the privately owned Witherspoon airstrip by 200 feet so planes could land safely during the lucrative summer market. In the off season, all 3,000 feet of a private airstrip owned by the Watson family could be used, but that did little to affect the balance sheet of a business Telford was trying to unload. When Roland Lussier purchased Maine Atlantic Aviation from Telford last July, he well understood the problem — this was the third summer when the Witherspoon property failed to meet insurance-policy standards because it was still 200 feet short. Furthermore, the Meigs family, which owns the adjacent property, remained steadfast in its refusal to allow small aircraft to potentially land so close to their summer residence.
Peter Ralston of the Island Institute explains that resolution of this ongoing problem is critical to the survival of any island commuter service, whoever the owner. “Just as Vinalhaven has done its strategic planning and soul searching and stepped up to the plate to ensure that Penobscot Island Air has every advantage possible as a new entity, it’s time for the residents and greater community of North Haven to step up to the plate,” he argues.
Late last December, North Haven registered its strong support for Penobscot Island Air. “The Board of Selectman for the Town of North Haven voted unanimously to give Kevin Waters our moral support,” says Bump Hadley, town manager. “But at some point and time, we realize that it might be necessary to offer some other kind of support, as well.”