Aeroflex-Andover Airport tenants face eviction amid hangar demolition plans

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has issued eviction notices to hangar tenants at Aeroflex-Andover Airport, requiring them to vacate by December 31. The move is part of a state plan to demolish much of the airport’s historic hangar complex to accommodate the operational needs of the DEP Forest Fire Service’s aviation program.

Three New Jersey state lawmakers have called on the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to halt the evictions. They have proposed that an outside entity manage the airport, allowing the DEP and Forest Fire Service to focus on their core missions. The lawmakers noted that Sussex County is a “transportation desert” and warned that reducing airport services would not serve the interests of local residents.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has disputed the state’s justification for demolition, which cited structural and maintenance issues. AOPA claims independent engineers found that repairing the hangars would be significantly less expensive than demolition. The proposed demolition threatens local businesses, including the Andover Flight Academy and an aircraft maintenance business, as well as owners of vintage aircraft that require indoor storage.