At a recent Broward County town hall hosted by County Commissioner Alexandra Davis, concerns about North Perry Airport were discussed. And while I would never minimize anyone’s concerns about the airport, I would like to help provide some perspective.
First, North Perry Airport is safe and well-managed. I have been an active pilot since I was 16 years old and now have the privilege of leading the world’s largest aviation organization, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). I cannot emphasize enough how important safety is to each and every one of our 300,000 members — nearly 30,000 of whom reside in Florida — and to the airports at which we operate.
Darren Pleasance is president and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. (courtesy, Darren Pleasance)
North Perry is the third busiest airport in Florida and one of the busiest without airline service in the country. The airport contributes $285 million annually to the local economy and supports 2,000 jobs.
A large number of flight schools at the airport play a vital role in training future commercial pilots from around the world, and while it may seem contrary to popular belief, studies show flight training for new pilots is very safe. Airports are a great asset for communities to introduce people of all ages to aviation professions in a real-world environment, including aerodynamics of flight, aircraft and powerplant maintenance, air traffic control, and even airport management and design. Several local organizations have outreach programs to encourage children to get into aviation, too.
North Perry is also used by others that help the community in ways many residents may not realize, including local news helicopters, humanitarian flights during hurricane relief efforts, and the Florida Forest Service, which provides aerial support for fire departments across South Florida. They also provide support to the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Venom Response Team, which responds to snake, scorpion and spider bites. Every second counts in an emergency — and North Perry Airport makes these lifesaving operations possible.
We all agree that any accident is tragic, whether in an airplane, a car or in any circumstance. I wish we lived in a world where accidents didn’t happen, but unfortunately, that is not reality. As a pilot myself, I can assure you that no pilot ever wants to be involved in an accident.
Regrettably, however, Pembroke Pines Mayor Angelo Castillo calls the airport “incompatible” with the community because there have been 40 accidents and incidents — six of which were fatal — since 2020. At the same time, there are over 3,000 fatalities caused on Florida roads and highways each and every year.
The lion’s share of mishaps that Castillo mentioned were not “crashes” but involved landing gear malfunctions, airplanes rolling into the grass next to the runway, or aircraft that landed safely after striking birds inflight. These examples shouldn’t be used to paint a picture that North Perry airport is somehow unsafe.
In order to help ensure pilots remain focused on safety, we are committed to hosting seminars at North Perry by our internationally recognized safety organization, the AOPA Air Safety Institute.
Airports and communities coexist successfully in thousands of cities across the country. By working together as pilots, airport managers, elected officials and neighbors, we can make sure North Perry remains a vital asset to the community and prioritize common sense solutions to ensure it remains as safe as possible.
Darren Pleasance is president and CEO of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/10/21/north-perry-airport-is-safe-and-well-managed-opinion/
