WATERDOG
Gemini
HDF Silver Supporter
Don't Bother Me, I'm in Havi
 
MENIFEE, CA
Posts: 10,292
APPD 1.47
Post Rank: 8
ELIMINATOR EAGLE
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Posted: Feb. 01 2009,12:58 pm |
Post # 12 |
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Race on the runways
Pilots confront council on risky FBO behavior
By Tony Waggoner
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 10:04 PM MST
Golf cart use by fixed base operation aviation businesses at the Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport could lead to the Federal Aviation Administration revoking the airportﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢s 139 certificate, which certifies safety standards and provides the basis of the airportﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢s operations.
Airport Manager Steve Johnston told the Lake Havasu City Council Tuesday the airport could also be in danger of losing FAA grants or of having to pay back previous grants.
Johnston told the council the FAA revoking the airportﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢s 139 certificate and losing grants is unlikely, though.
ﾃ｢竄ｬﾅ的ﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢m not saying they would do this. Iﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢m saying they could do this,ﾃ｢竄ｬﾂ Johnston said. ﾃ｢竄ｬﾅ典he relationship would really have to go south.ﾃ｢竄ｬﾂ
Pilots complained to the council Tuesday that golf carts used by FBOs to provide fuel service at the airport cause hazardous landing situations.
ﾃ｢竄ｬﾅ的 have never ever seen what goes on like what we have here with these golf carts,ﾃ｢竄ｬﾂ pilot Bob McCleary said. ﾃ｢竄ｬﾅ典he golf carts dart in front of the airplanes to try and get the number one lead position to lead a pilot to essentially their fuel pump. Itﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢s all about selling fuel, because thatﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢s really about the only thing an FBO can do to generate money at our airport.ﾃ｢竄ｬﾂ
McCleary said it reminded him of de-boarding a cruise ship in a foreign country where people run up and try to sell a trinket.
The practice has placed pilots in difficult situations. McCleary said at a recent Airport Advisory Board meeting, Johnston spoke of contacting other airports to investigate if the practice is allowed. All the other airports indicated they would not allow the practice.
ﾃ｢竄ｬﾅ的tﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢s not an industry standard,ﾃ｢竄ｬﾂ Johnston said. ﾃ｢竄ｬﾅ展eﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢ve had 14 documented complaints.ﾃ｢竄ｬﾂ
Community Services Director Stan Usinowicz and Johnson presented the council with a proposed ordinance regulating the operation of vehicles and golf carts at the airport.
Airports the size of the Havasu airport typically have one FBO fuel provider, Usinowicz said. The Havasu airport has three, Desert Skies, D2 Aero and Havasu Air Center.
The airport has been proactive in preventing the problem, but an ordinance would provide regulation. The council instructed Usinowicz and Johnston to make some minor changes regarding what vehicles, particularly segways, would be allowed on airport grounds before bringing the proposed ordinance back at the councilﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢s Feb. 10 meeting.
As part of the ordinance, the council could consider the use of ﾃ｢竄ｬﾅ擢ollow-meﾃ｢竄ｬﾂ signs for each of the FBOﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢s to direct planes to their fuel trucks.
Dante Marinelli, owner of Havasu Air Center, said he supported the ordinance. Marinelli indicated his service is at a major disadvantage because of its location farther north at the airport, but he maintained safe practices are a focus of his FBO.
The three FBOs recently held a meeting with Johnston. Two FBOs reached an agreement to park the carts. The third, McCleary indicated did not. He said the two other FBOs did park their carts for about a week. But, the practice continues.
Johnston pointed out an agreement was also reached to utilize signs detailing the name of all three FBOﾃ｢竄ｬ邃｢s, their radio frequency and the brand of gas they provide. Four signs were put in place.
The Police Department has received several phone calls detailing aggressive behavior with the carts approaching plans in efforts to taxi the aircraft to their respective fuel docks.
An accident involving one of the golf carts recently occurred at the airport, as well. The driver of the cart lost control of the vehicle on a taxiway and struck a fire hydrant, sustaining minor injuries and damage to the cart.
The airport has an FAA part 139-inspection in April.
"Damn you sure know how to fock things up."-GFR
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