Note: This email is addressed to James Lyons, Executive Director/CEO of the Alabama State Port Authority, Mobile, AL in regards to this week's surprise announcement by President Barack Obama of his decision to normalize relations with Cuba after 50 years of isolation while seeking Mr. Lyons' support for moving Mobile's regional airport (MOB) back to its original location, Brookley Field. Currently, the state of Alabama exports fresh poultry through Mobile's port, which is only 600 nautical miles from the communist island. Lifting the embargo could lead to more Alabama goods being shipped like farming equipment, livestock and agricultural products to Cuba. In 2012, Alabama sold $41.8mm worth of goods to the communist country. Some minor edits have been made.

December 20, 2014

Mr. Lyons,

I'm a local resident, a political writer and activist. I'm writing in response to President Barack Obama comments about Cuba and the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, this week. I'm sure it's got you thinking about the opportunities for the Alabama State Docks, at the port of Mobile. Since 2007, I've written over hundred essays while building a global audience of 18,000 contacts from heads of state, foreign ministers, and their ambassadors, attorneys, Fortune 500 CEOs, major foundations, state and federal judges and lawmakers, media executives and their personalities, American notables, Washington policy institutes and over 14,000 professors teaching at some 90 colleges and universities, in thirteen countries. Last summer, I put together a short 6-minute video (see below) supporting the move of the Mobile Regional Airport (MOB) back to its original home, Brookley Aeroplex, for various reasons. Namely that the airport's current location, in west Mobile, is out of place resulting in it being underutilized given the size of Mobile's MSA (metropolitan statistical area) as its third place ranking behind Pensacola (PNS) and Gulfport-Biloxi (GPT) in terms of annual air passenger traffic proves it. If this airport were a business, it would be out of business along time of ago.

With the airport back at Brookley, one piece of the city's infrastructure is back in its proper place, centrally-located between the other two airports conveniently off I-10 and near I-65. It creates new opportunities that would increase air passenger traffic with residents traveling from the Eastern Shore and south Mississippi. Thus, the number of flights into and out of Brookley increase, more competition for MOB's primary carrier Delta Air Lines (80% market share) and better service for area residents. Arriving into Brookley, all Airbus business is just one shuttle-ride away from Airbus' assembly plant and their engineering offices, as well as, being five minutes away from the downtown business district, Mobile city and county government, the U.S. District Court, the Alabama Cruise Terminal, our hotels and the Alabama State Docks.

There could be an opportunity to build a hotel and conference center on the property along with other amenities to serve residents like a park and a pier. The move allows for all sorts of unforeseen opportunities not possible at Bates Field. In my video, I suggested that air cargo service (now, maybe even air passenger service) moving between Havana, Cuba and Mobile could become a reality before it's transferred and shipped by truck, rail or barge, inland. Mayor Sandy Stimpson has shown no interest: in private or in public on this project in his first year in office, yet the world is changing once again right before Mobile's eyes. Is this city going to use its strengths to play a significant role in the newly-emerging diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States or are we going to sit back and miss another boat? We have some unique advantages over south Florida like none of their unhappy Cuban nationals living here. If Castro can normalize relations with the U.S., he could payback those former dissidents and that part of Florida by steering business to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

I would like your support in forming a political, business, civic committee and campaign in convincing our new mayor of the many foreseeable benefits and unforeseen opportunities that comes with moving our airport back to the Brookley Aeroplex, now! Congressman Byrne has already expressed support for the idea, I hope you will join him and many others who support turning this idea into a reality. I don't see a more critical issue facing Mobile's growth and competitiveness than having this assets located in the right place to serve the community. Anything less is a failure in leadership.

Sincerely,

Ted Burnett
Daphne, AL

Sources:

Cuba thaw could mean more money for Alabama -- The Anniston Star; http://www.annistonstar.com/news/article_5e15f7be-8641-11e4-a367-87a6d735e7a1.html

Made in Alabama 2013; http://www.madeinalabama.com/assets/2013/03/2013-Year-in-Trade4.pdf

Video: Moving Mobile Forward -->>

Note: The following short-film (6 minutes) is a one-man campaign, with the support of friends, to encourage the mayor of Mobile, Sandy Stimpson, and members of the Mobile City Council to move our under served airport (MOB) in West Mobile back to its original home at Brookley Field.

July 26, 2014

Moving Mobile Forward – >>

By

Ted Burnett

First Step To Achieving Our Dreams…
Move “MOB” back to Brookley Field

“I actually support that idea, and I have for some time…”
U.S. Representative Bradley Byrne
1st Congressional District of Alabama
– July 25, 2014

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area.

Mobile MSA = 412,992 (2010 Census)

Daphne-Fairhope xSA = 182,265

Mobile MSA Total = 595,257

Pensacola MSA = 448,991 (2010 Census)

Gulfport/Biloxi MSA = 238,772 (2009)

2) Airport Passenger Traffic (PT) For MOB, PNS and GPT

Mobile Regional Airport (MOB)
U.S. ranking = 159
MOB Passenger Traffic = 277,432 (CY 2012) -3.82%

Pensacola International (PNS)
U.S. ranking = 100
PNS Passenger Traffic = 740,852 (CY 2012) -1.24%

Gulfport-Biloxi International (GPT)
U.S. ranking = 131
GPT Passenger Traffic = 394,110 (CY 2012) -0.31%

3) Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Compared to Airport Passenger Traffic (PT)

 

Mobile MSA = 595,257 and MOB PT = 277,432

Pensacola MSA = 448,991 and PNS PT = 740,852

Gulfport/Biloxi MSA = 238,772 and GPT PT = 394,110

4) Geographical Location on Map: MOB, Brookley Field, PNS and GPT

MOB = 30° 41′ 29″ N, 88° 14′ 34″ W
Distance and Time to Downtown Mobile = 18.1 mi and 30 min
Distance and Time to Daphne = 29.5 mi and 44 min

Brookley Field = 30°37′36″N, 088°04′05″W
Distance and Time to Downtown Mobile = 5.1 mi and 10 min
Distance and Time to Daphne = 23 mi and 16 min

PNS = 30° 28′ 24″ N, 87° 11′ 12″ W
Distance and Time to Daphne = 50.8 mi and 55 min

GPT = 30° 24′ 26″ N, 89° 4′ 12″ W
Distance and Time to Mobile = 72.8 mi and 67 min

Brookley Areoplex’s SWOT
(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats)

1) Strengths:
All Airbus-related passengers can be easily shuttled from the new Brookley terminal around to the Airbus assembly plant or to their engineering offices avoiding Airport Blvd altogether (Commonsense).

2) Strengths:
Easy access to the downtown business community, to the U.S. District Court, to the Alabama State Docks and the port of Mobile, The Arthur Outlaw Convention Center, the Alabama Cruise Terminal and our hotels.

3) Strengths:
All residents of Mobile and Baldwin Counties, S. Mississippi and North Florida can quickly and easily access our new Brookley terminal using our interstate system of I-10 and I-65.

4) Strengths:
With increased passenger traffic, all airlines could re-evaluate their strategy with the Mobile market. More passenger traffic with its ease of access at Brookley could lead to more competition and better airfares for customers and area businesses.

5) Strengths:
Only minutes from I-65, 10 minutes to the Eastern Shore and 40 minutes (36.8 mi) to Pascagoula, Mississippi (Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding Co.). It offers one of the longest runways in the U.S. Any airplane can land, taxi and take off, again.

6) Strengths:
Brookley is the geographical center.

7) Strengths:
The move back to Brookley Field allows us to stop MOB’s bleeding of passenger traffic, fees and taxes to its rivals — PNS and GPT because of its poor location and access in West Mobile.

It’s time to be #1 in something (+), again while creating new construction jobs!

Weaknesses:
At water’s edge — periodic exposure to tropical storms, storm surge and hurricane-force winds.

1) Opportunities:
Remodel Brookley Aeroplex, build a hotel and conference center, bayside recreation area with a municipal pier. Create a meeting place for people and airplane watching, as well as, fishing and crabbing.

2) Opportunities:
The space between where we step out beyond our comfort zone into the vast unknown is where the “MAGIC” in all of life occurs
—
all unforeseen opportunities that would otherwise not be realized fall into our lap due to taking this necessary and repeating RISK, which leads to real faith, growth and prosperity.

Threats:
Construction Cost for Terminal and Any Required Upgrades

To get a printable copy of what you just watched, VISIT

http://www.tedburnett.com/

CREDITS
Ted Burnett, Big Picture Productions and the Land of New Opportunities

SPECIAL THANKS FOR THEIR SUPPORT
(in advance)
Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson and the Mobile City Council
Mobile Airport Authority
Herbert A. Meisler, Chairman
Patricia G. Edington, Co-Chairman
Thomas Busby, Secretary
Michael E. Pierce, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Joe B. Bullard, Jr., Treasurer
Prichard Mayor Troy Ephraim and the Prichard City Council
Saraland Mayor Dr. Howard Rubenstein and the Saraland City Council
Citronelle Mayor J. Albert “Al” McDonald and the Citronelle City Council
Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier and the Dauphin Island City Council
Mobile County Commission
Bay Minette Mayor Robert “Bob” Wills and the Bay Minette City Council
Daphne Mayor Dane Haygood and the Daphne City Council
Fairhope Mayor Tim Kant and the Fairhope City Council
Spanish Fort Mayor Michael M. McMillian and the Spanish Fort City Council
Baldwin County Commission
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, M.D.
U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby

“Hi Ted Burnett – I actually support that idea, and I have for some time. I’m still waiting to gather all the facts. Since it is a municipal owned airport, I want to follow the lead of Mayor Stimpson and the airport authority.”
on Facebook, 7/25/2014
— U.S. Representative Bradley Byrne, 1st Congressional District of Alabama

SOURCES
1) Brookley Air Force, Mobile, AL, http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brookley_Air_Force_Base
2) FAA Airport/Passenger/Statistics/CY12/Commercial Service Enplanements, http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/media/CY12CommercialServiceEnplanements.pdf
3) Gulfport-Biloxi Metropolitan Area, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulfport%E2%80%93Biloxi_metropolitan_area
4) Mobile Metropolitan Area, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_metropolitan_area
5) Mobile Regional Airport – History, http://www.mobairport.com/about-mobile-airport-authority/history/history.html
6) Pensacola Metropolitan Area, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pensacola_metropolitan_area

YOUR SUPPORT IS CRITICAL– LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!
Contact:
Mayor Sandy Stimpson or your mayor’s office,
Mobile City Council or your city council member
Email: mayorstimpson@cityofmobile.org or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SandyStimpsonMobile?ref=br_tf

Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved. “Is Mayor Stimpson too nice for the city of Mobile, Alabama?” by Ted Burnett. http://thesageofmobile.com/is-mayor-stimpson-too-nice-for-the-city-of-mobile-alabama-2/
Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved. “Moving Mobile Forward” by Ted Burnett
All my videos and essays can be viewed on my websites – www.tedburnett.com and www.thesageofmobile.com

Thank you for taking the time to watch this short film, if you have any questions, comments or concerns for me.
Email: ted@tedburnett.com
or
500 Lincoln Street, Ste. B-105
Daphne, AL 36526