TRAVERSE CITY -- Proposed legislation in Washington could force airports everywhere to add more firefighters at their facilities.  At Cherry Capital it would mean a huge boost in the staff. 

Airport Director Steve Cassens says the change would mean 36 firefighters - at a cost of almost four million dollars a year. That's roughly the same amount the airport spends each year on it's operational expenses -- for the entire airport.

Why the proposed changes? It's a part of the re-authorization bill for the FAA. But the legislation includes language requiring airports to meet new standards based on guidelines from the National Fire Protection Association. Cassens says the guidelines are a joint recommendation from the International Association of Fire Fighters. But in his view - it should be left up to the FAA, and not unions or legislators to set the safety standards.  

If the legislation moves forward as proposed, Cassens says the future of Cherry Capital's commercial air service could be at stake. He says it would mean either new taxes or new fees for airline carriers, either way the cost would be passed on to residents or those who fly the friendly skies.

In addition to adding extra firefighters, the proposed safety standards would call for Cherry Capital to add more fire trucks and a second fire station at the airport.  Cassens says in the first year alone - start up costs could reach 9 million dollars - and there's no way to pay for it.  

But it's not just a matter of cost. More importantly, Cassens says, it's an issue of justifying the need for more firefighters on staff. He says the airport has been able to respond to incidents with support from Traverse City and Grand Traverse Metro Fire - both of which have fire stations just a few miles away. Guidelines from the National Fire Protection Association would require at least seven firefighters at the airport 24 hours a day. Cassens says that means Cherry Capital could have a full staff of between 27 and 36 fire fighters - making it one of the largest paid fire departments in northern Michigan.