"I can imagine that if you live locally its a mixed blessing. A busy airport would provide employment, but at the same time it will produce noise from flights."
A mixed blessing indeed. However, the airport is currently haemorrhaging local support because of their behaviour. The last three Sundays they've had training flights screaming around all over the Isle, not sticking to the agreed routes and going on for hours on end. It's almost as if they are trying to wind the locals up. Today they've had Astraeus going round and round ad nauseam. Many people are now questioning whether it is worth all of this aggravation for a measly 30 jobs. A business park of almost any size would produce more employment without the environmental downsides.