The opening of the new 40,000 square foot Talon Air hangar at Republic Airport has left some community activists irritated. The hangar represents another expansion project at the airport that the community members do not welcome.

Farmingdale resident Helen Norjen, a former Republic Airport Commission member and current co-chairperson of the Woodlands Civic Association's Republic Airport Committee, is unhappy with this new project. Norjen feels that the environmental issues that are involved with these expansion projects are very important and ignored by the airport.

"Republic was intended for small planes, now they build a hangar for large planes and I'm concerned there have not been any environmental studies," Norjen said.

The hangar is part of the Talon Air charter company that was started in August of 2001 by owner and pilot Adam Katz, Katz a recreational pilot for many years, decided to make it his business after the death of John F. Kennedy Jr. That is when Katz finished his instrument rating test. He bought his first plane and began his charter business, the business that has now grown to operate with eight planes of different sizes and 25 pilots on active rotation. The business is also now a worldwide operation that caters to the needs of business CEOs, Fortune 500s and celebrities. As his business grew,Katz realized his company needed more space as they had been operating out of Atlantic Air facilities.

"As my fleet grew it became obvious to me that we should not be a guest in someone else's house," Katz said.

The plans were put into action to build the new hangar and at the end of June 2005 the 40,000 square foot home of Talon Air was opened for use.

Katz however is aware of the negative feelings surrounding the expansion of the airport. He says there have been continuous road blocks put up before him and the expansion but says that his company is only helping the community.

"Talon Air is supporting a lot of commerce and business," said Katz. "People need to understand that benefit."

David Needham, the president of the East Farmingdale Civic Association, is another active Farmingdale resident against the expansion of the airport.

"I understand the economic benefit but coupled with that there has to be a balance between the economics and the residents," said Needham. "We don't want it shut down because we do understand what it does for business but we don't need planes coming in at 1 a.m."

Needham, along with Norjen, organized the June 14 meeting focusing on the airport's expansion projects. Both expressed the need to be more involved as community members in the projects planned by their neighbors at Republic.

"We want to be part of the process in planning which we are shut out of," said Needham.

Needham said that the airport says they have no plans to expand but he sees this hangar as an expansion and wants to open up the dialogue between the community and the airport about these issues.

Republic Airport officials and spokespersons diverted questions to Talon Air's owner, Adam Katz.