A few weeks ago I mentioned that Insight Weekly would carry occasional articles about political and economic issues beyond the Valley's immediate horizon. I'm calling the column "A Wider Angle." It will carry carefully selected articles by well-known others that are well-written, common-sensical, and thought-provoking about this country's future possibilities. I hope I don't repeat your reading. Let me know what you think! 

"A Wider Angle" is dedicated to Peter Jennings, ABC reporter and anchor, a friend, and a smart, curious, meticulously fair reporter who cared deeply about the average person getting a fair shake. I think he would like the column.

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Back in 1976 when the Friedman Airport site was first being paved, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) declared it would never be suitable for large transport aircraft. Nearly 40 years later, things haven't changed. We've been able to amend, reconstruct, adjust, and shift airport elements - enabled by FAA variances - to accommodate inbound/outbound flights by smaller regional planes, but the site is limited - period.

The recently completed $34 million work to make Friedman safer, funded mostly by the Fed, is one of the continuing steps to keep the airport open and available to commercial and general aviation. This is part of the magic that the Friedman Aviation Authority has worked to support Fly Sun Valley, Sun Valley Company, tourists and business travelers.

If you're like me, you might wonder "Why not just go with general aviation?" It turns out that the many private planes we see during Allen & Company's visit (and other general aviation users) would not be here without commercial flights. It's the federal funds that come with commercial activity that enable Friedman to provide runway maintenance, airport upkeep, fire trucks, a useful communications tower, utilities, and other services. If commercial flights go, so does general aviation - a strong contingent which presses to keep Friedman open.

Since 1990, those knowledgeable about and involved with Friedman have expected that a new airport would eventually be built. But where? Hailey can't - and shouldn't and wouldn't - handle it. The Triangle and several other sites on the sage plateau and away from Valley settlement have been evaluated over the past seven years and nixed for various reasons: impracticality, huge costs, sage grouse protection, and plain and simple opposition to a more distant airport being less convenient for travelers. 

But, with expectations for a completely new airport still on the table, it is time for airport planners and the public to become realistic. The next generation of regional jets will exceed Friedman's overall capacity and we will, sooner than later, have to identify a different aviation base. Currently, Friedman's Board is working on a 20 year plan with trigger points along the way for evaluating the airport's ongoing capabilities. 

My vote is to start working toward a partnership with Twin Falls' Magic Valley Regional Airport. It has been considered before by both Twin Falls and Blaine County, but never with either party on the same page at the same time. The time is right. Magic Valley is well-established and looking to expand. It's fiscally irresponsible for us to project a new airport, perhaps only 1/2 hour closer to us than Magic Valley, and to keep spending money on the eventual dead end of Friedman, even if grants are available. 

Yes, Twin Falls is not as convenient but at least you almost always land in bad weather. Parking is free. There will be more direct flights to more places. A shuttle vanto Sun Valley will make a smaller carbon footprint than a plane. Relaxing in a van with a movie or book and beverage - or taking a nap - to unwind from a flight can immediately mark the start of vacation. Vans from Seattle carry people to Whistler; vans from Denver carry people to Aspen and Beaver Creek. None of these resorts is suffering because, on the whole, they market themselves far better than Sun Valley and don't sweat the transportation.

We talk about living in a bubble in our valley - and indeed we do, for better and worse.  We live in a healthy, safe, magnificent environment with a small town feel. That's for the better. But behaving like privileged children who must have absolutely everything as close and convenient as possible, despite the cost and impracticality, is part of the worse. 

Until next week...Jima Rice