Documents show Bruce Willis' airport will be large, busy

KETCHUM, Idaho (AP) — Federal Aviation Administration documents show that a central Idaho airport being built by actor Bruce Willis will be larger and busier than officials originally expected.

Willis' Soldier Field Airport is located about 10 miles (16 kilometers) east of Fairfield.

Camas County officials had previous said Willis' airport would be minimally used and have a small impact on nearby residents, the Mountain Express reported.

An FAA notice found by a group of residents who opposed project shows the contrary.

The airport will base about 20 aircrafts, and could have about 500 landings by single-engine, multi-engine and jet planes each month, according to the documents. The airport's 8,500-foot-long (2591meter), 100-foot-wide (30-meter) runway will be made of concrete, and not dirt like county leaders and reports previously said. It will be fitted with high-intensity lights.

The Mountain Express confirmed with Steve Engebrecht, the lead airport engineer at the FAA's Helena, Montana airport district office that the FAA notice was current and accurate.

Larry Bauman, a civil engineer who worked for Willis when the documents were submitted, said the hope was that the airport would eventually serve the public.

Camas County Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jeff Kreyssig said the news is no surprise.

"I think this clearly indicates the size and scope of the project they're planning. That comes as no surprise to anyone who has been following the drama from the beginning," he said,

He thinks it was naive for anyone to think that Willis' intended to keep his airport as small and private and adds that county leaders who deny that are "intentionally sticking their heads in the sand."

County Commissioner Travis Kramer, who had previous said Willis' airport would be minimally used, and County Commission Chairwoman Barb Cutler were not available for comment on Thursday.