Skydive Tecumseh issues statement

A hearing Tuesday in Lenawee County Circuit Court on the issuance of a restraining order in the case that would allow Skydive Tecumseh to continue operation at Al Meyers Airport until the lawsuit is decided was adjourned until April 24 at 1:30 p.m.The adjournment came after information from the Michigan Department of Transportation was received Tuesday morning regarding the issuance of grant money to the airport, according to attorney David Stimpson, representing Franz Gerschwiler, owner of Bad Ideaz LLC, commonly known as Skydive Tecumseh. Stimpson said the hearing was adjourned so both parties could vet the newly introduced information.Gerschwiler sent a press release to the Tecumseh Herald Friday, April 10, stating, “…we are saddened by the unilateral decision of Al Meyers Airport Corporation to terminate skydiving activity at the airport in Tecumseh, Michigan.”Al Meyers Airport Corp. owner, manager and president Andrew Aalto informed Skydive Tecumseh in January it would no longer be able to operate from that location. Skydive Tecumseh filed a lawsuit against the airport on February 28, which is still pending. “Mr. Aalto, the airport’s manager, ended decades of continuous skydiving activity in Tecumseh and forced a community asset from the city. Skydive Tecumseh has been a beacon of leadership in the community sponsoring numerous community service projects and events. Skydive Tecumseh brings thousands of people to the city every year form Michigan and all over the Midwest. Tecumseh is recognized throughout the country for its record breaking skydiving operations, and Skydive Tecumseh was recently spotlighted in the State’s Pure Michigan Campaign as a major tourist attraction,” the release continues. “There is no doubt that other local business will surely feel the impact of their loss. Without Skydive Tecumseh, the city can expect less people shopping in our downtown and less people eating at our restaurants and cafes.”According to the press release from Al Meyers Airport Corp., Aalto hopes to expand businesses at the airport and increase its use for private aircraft. Aalto also noted in his release that there have been numerous complaints about noise and safety associated with skydiving at the airport. “Skydive Tecumseh is further disappointed by the rationale recently released from Mr. Aalto that he is using this public, FAA registered runway to hand pick his preferred aeronautical activities. According to the news release from his attorneys, Mr. Aalto intends to limit aeronautical activity at the airport. Per Mr. Aalto’s press release, this activity will include Biomaterialize, LLC, his wife’s consulting company which appears to employ only Mr. Aalto’s wife and an assistant and Heinen Avionics LLC. While Heinen Avionics LLC is licensed to repair airplanes and is currently located in Adrian at the Lenawee County Airport, the company was not formed until March 9, 2015, after the filing of this dispute between Al Meyers Airport Corporation and Skydive Tecumseh.”Skydive Tecumseh said it is thankful for the phone calls and letters supporting the business.“The overwhelming positive response from the community has been inspiring,” said Gerschwiler in the release. “Theses communications, in addition to the over two thousand petition signatures collected at change.org all plead with Mr. Aalto for the continued operation of Skydive Tecumseh. It is our hope that the public outcry persuades Mr. Aalto to reconsider this devastating decision to favor his self-interested development over a community landmark that benefits all area businesses.”