Night operations suspended at South Lake Tahoe
Night operations are suspended at Lake Tahoe Airport in South Lake Tahoe, and the state Division of Aeronautics has offered several alternative solutions to allow operations to resume. The state suspended night operations until trees could be cleared on approaches and around wind- socks. Then the city got a permit from the California Department of Forestry to cut 100 trees, but kept on cutting during the Memorial Day weekend until 200 had fallen. Scores of additional trees must come down just to allow light aircraft less than 12,500 pounds to operate at night. In a second proposal, hundreds more must fall if small and medium-size jets are to use the airport at night. Want the large business jets? For that, an additional 1,000 trees must be cut. The second proposal to cut 200 to 500 trees is getting the most attention and would open the airport to the smaller jets and turboprops at night, in addition to small piston-engine aircraft.
The trees aren't the only problem — in fact, they aren't even the biggest problem. The pavement is at the end of its useful life. The FAA is willing to make a $13 million grant, but the city may not be able to raise the matching 5 percent needed to receive the grant. Without the pavement coming into compliance, it will make no difference whether the trees are cut or not.
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) has final authority over the remaining trees, which it has claimed are needed to remain standing because they help keep sediment out of the Upper Truckee River, and thus out of the famed clear waters of Lake Tahoe. TRPA officials are willing to listen to reasons why the cutting of the trees is essential to airport safety, however. At this writing, lawyers are looking into the possibility that since cutting trees is a safety issue, TRPA permission may not be needed.
AOPA Regional Representative John Pfeifer has had discussions with the airport and toured the proposed cutting sites, and AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Donald D. McCracken is keeping AOPA informed.
State appeals Watsonville decision on housing development
Watsonville officials thought they could designate Runway 8/26 as low use, thereby increasing the number of homes that could be approved nearby from 1,000 to 2,000. They also altered the state-written California Airport Land Use Planning Handbook without telling the state. That brought a complaint from state aeronautics Chief Mary Frederick. Now Caltrans attorneys have asked for an administrative appeal of the city's actions and its decision to reclassify the runway — a reclassification that AOPA also objected to a year ago. Attorney Raiyn Bain said the city will be violating the State Aeronautics Act and must appoint an airport land use commission, since it no longer qualifies for the use of an alternative land-use planning process. If allowed to go forward, the city will be "putting the safety of the public at risk," Bain wrote. The letter was sent May 31.
Runway contention at Shafter-Minter Field
After obtaining a grant from the FAA to overlay a runway at Shafter-Minter Field in Shafter, California, that had been closed for decades, the markings were placed in error and must be redone. The airport has two runways. "The new markings don't provide obstruction-free approach surfaces to the thresholds at either end of the runway, so the markings need to be changed to meet minimum standards for a public-use airport," said state Airports Chief Gary Cathey.
An airport official said there is a conflict between state and federal information on runway markings. The official also said that he felt the state could grant a waiver to operate the runway as is, under current regulations. Another issue causing concern comes from a grant waiver: The FAA has told the airport that an agreement made 20 years ago to transfer grant assurances from the county to the airport was never signed, and must be updated.
Tracy airport study draws fire
Several conclusions in a study by the Colorado-based Boyd Group, of Tracy Municipal Airport, have drawn fire from airport supporters. The study suggests wresting away from the current operator the contract for fuel sales and giving it back to the city. It also concludes that the airport contributes only marginally to the city without enhancements, and suggests not extending the runway because it is too close to development and the extension may not bring the hoped-for business aircraft. AOPA is monitoring the discussions through Airport Support Network volunteer Denny G. Presley.
Mary Frederick named aeronautics chief
Mary Frederick, the acting chief of the California Division of Aeronautics since October 2005, was named to head the division in June by Caltrans Director Will Kempton. She comes to the position with a wide range of management experience and training in other California state government positions. A trained civil engineer, she has been in the state since 1983 and has a Master of Science degree in transportation management. She worked in two agencies, including Caltrans, under the state's executive development program.
Related Articles
