AOPA weighs in on Montgomery Field threat
Sunroad Centrum I, a high-rise building that is part of a proposed development with three towers and associated shopping and housing less than a mile from the runway at Montgomery Field in San Diego, is a hazard to pilots and should not be allowed to continue, according to the FAA.
News that construction began before the FAA received an obstruction evaluation application sent AOPA, and the Airport Support Network volunteer for Montgomery Field, Rick Beach, into action.
In a letter to San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, AOPA Vice President of Airports Bill Dunn said, "AOPA and those who regularly make use of Montgomery Field are disappointed that the city appears to be sacrificing the airport's safety and efficiency in order to allow construction of the Sunroad Centrum complex."
Dunn urged the city to take immediate action to bring the complex into compliance with the FAA's long-standing obstruction evaluation standards.
The tallest building in the office, shopping, and housing complex, Sunroad Centrum I was planned to rise 180 feet above ground level.
Sunroad Enterprises, the developer, first made application to the FAA's obstruction evaluation division in April 2006. The FAA determined that at a proposed height of 180 feet, Centrum I would be a presumed hazard to air navigation. Sunroad subsequently applied to the FAA for a 160-foot building, a height the FAA determined to not be a hazard.
After the city issued a building permit for 180 feet this past summer, and Sunroad began construction on the tower, the company submitted another obstruction evaluation application to the FAA for 180 feet. The FAA again determined this height to be a hazard to air navigation, and noted that circling minimums would have to be altered as a result of construction.
AOPA's advocacy, in addition to the work of Beach and the state Division of Aeronautics, resulted in the city taking action. A series of letters from the Division of Aeronautics to the builder clearly stated that Sunroad was in violation of the public utilities code and was liable for the safety of area pilots.
In addition, a San Diego city attorney sent a letter to the city's Department of Land Use and Economic Development, stating in part that a stop-work order for the project must be immediately issued. No response had been received by press time.
Fullerton tower likely to be rebuilt
A tall radio tower operated by WKFI near Fullerton Municipal Airport will likely be rebuilt, despite objections from AOPA and the local pilot community.
The previous tower stood at 760 feet and has caused multiple aircraft accidents and fatalities over the years. Despite this, the FAA's obstruction evaluation report said the tower would not be a hazard to air navigation if properly marked, lighted, and reduced to a maximum of 684 feet.
The determination befuddled AOPA, which initially worked to have the tower studied. "AOPA is disappointed with the FAA's determination," said AOPA's Director of Air Traffic Heidi Williams. "We pushed the FAA to study the proposal under the obstruction evaluation program because it is clearly a hazard to pilots." Because the tower was being rebuilt on the same site to an equal or lower height, FAA regulations did not require an obstruction evaluation study.
Though the tower sits less than a mile from the Fullerton airport, the land is within the city of La Mirada. The La Mirada planning division must still grant permission before construction is allowed to begin.
"With support of the local pilots and Fullerton Airport Manager Rod Propst, the La Mirada planning division will fully understand the hazard to public safety this tower has caused in the past, and will continue to [cause] in the future, at this height," said Williams. She said that AOPA urges the planning division to fully evaluate all aspects of this application and do what's best for public safety.
AOPA completes third visit to Oceanside
AOPA Vice President of Airports Bill Dunn has completed a third fact-finding and research visit to Oceanside, where the airport has come under fire from Mayor Jim Wood and some City Council members. The information will be used to determine further actions in defense of the airport.
The San Diego Union-Tribune has reported that a new report by Public Works Director Peter Weiss and city property manager Gary Gurley recommends operating the airport for another 15 to 20 years before developing it. The report also suggests building a hangar on the south side of the airport, and allowing a proposed Costco store to be built on the airport's north side. That raises the issue, however, of whether the FAA will allow land it helped to purchase to be used for a retail store. The purpose of the land was for an airport.
The report also suggests paying off some $5 million in federal and state grants and loans that carry with them the obligation to operate the airport for a specified number of years after the money is received. Some in city government see the repayment of the money as removing barriers to closing the airport and developing its land.
County supervisors have approved negotiations on having the county assume control of the airport from the city, according to the North County Times, another newspaper service in the San Diego and Oceanside area. The idea was proposed by County Supervisor Bill Horn, and several Oceanside officials immediately expressed anger at the idea. Horn told the newspaper he felt that county attorneys have determined that the county can take control of the airport if Oceanside tries to close it as surplus land. Horn is a private pilot and thinks the airport could become profitable and valuable to the region, the North County Times reported.
Mustang Airport could take up slack for Elk Grove
Elk Grove Airport lost its use permit nearly two years ago, but now the Southeast Area Planning Advisory Council has approved a use permit to convert Mustang Airport, just south of Elk Grove, to public use. In the event Elk Grove is forced to close, Mustang Airport could replace Elk Grove. County officials said Elk Grove continues in litigation, with another hearing set for December. AOPA fought for Elk Grove, also known as Sunset Sky Ranch, to continue in operation.
The permit must still be reviewed by the Sacramento County Project Planning Commission, and at this writing no hearing had been scheduled. The action by the Southeast Area Planning Advisory Council took place in mid-October.
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