Regional Affairs

AOPA warns of safety concern from antenna tower

A communications antenna tower built less than 800 feet from the traffic pattern and within a transit area at St. Lucie County International Airport poses a potentially serious collision threat, AOPA warned county commissioners. In a Feb. 26 letter, AOPA pointed out that the tower, which reaches 125 feet agl, is higher than aircraft approaching Runway 27 and violates federal safety standards. What’s more, the tower is within a transit route used by sheriff’s department and other helicopters under a letter of agreement with the FAA. Because of those factors, “the likelihood for a collision between aircraft and this structure is extremely high,” wrote Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president of airports. AOPA is asking the county to lower the tower or relocate it away from air traffic.

February 29, 2008