The future of one of Idaho’s busiest airports is up in the air. Hailey's Friedman Memorial Airport needs to be expanded or relocated, and that's bringing citizens and airport authority members together.

Some say it's a debate 30 years in the making. Since the 1970s, there has been talk of expanding Hailey’s airport. But many say, “Not in my backyard.”

Hailey resident Shelley Braatz says, "If they expand the existing airport, my house and business will be wiped out."

But Hailey’s airport is the second busiest in Idaho; it’s too small for some newer jets and too busy for its size.

Airport authority chairwoman Martha Burke says, "As our consultant said, it's a box canyon, and planes will always be head-to-head, in and out."

Safety, and the money it would cost to expand at the current location, are reasons why the airport authority is leaning toward three new locations.

"I’ve heard members from Camas and Lincoln County, who both think it's a great asset to their community, or the kiss of death," Burke says,

One of the new sites is 16 miles north of Shoshone, the second site is six miles north of that. The third site is 11 miles east of Fairfield.

The airport authority hopes to make the final decision on whether they'll move the airport, and where, early next year.

They say they would never force an airport on a community that didn't want one.