Frederick, MD Tower Lobbying

[Gary G]

Apparently, there is a move at Frederick Airport in Maryland to build a Tower facility for it.
I don't fly there. A good friend just got his ticket there last fall.
During his training and since, he figures he's had 4 or 5 "close calls" with traffic.
One he figured he was about 10 seconds from at least a "near miss".
A couple were stupid people. However, he has legitimately relayed stories
of confusion due to the increase in traffic and # of people calling in.
Many people moved planes there due to the ADIZ situation around DC/Baltimore.
The permanent parking spots are all taken.

Just an interesting thing I saw last night I saw a WJZ 13 from Baltimore on a news report
about the situation. They included a quick recounting of a near miss with a State Police helicopter.

I also understand that AOPA's headquarters are at or near FDK.

Just thought I'd throw that in.

[Montblack]

("Gary G" wrote)
<snips>
> Apparently, there is a move at Frederick Airport in Maryland to build a
> Tower facility for it.

> I also understand that AOPA's headquarters are at or near FDK.


I would like to see an observation deck (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) in the tower at
our airport. ATC room would be above you. As it is, there is a secure
entrance to our tower at parking lot level.

I'm seeing a cement floor, a few park picnic tables, two trash cans, some
benches or cheap plastic deck chairs, steel pillars, and lots of glass. Oh,
and drinking fountains and a bathroom. Kind of like a county park pavilion
but at the airport. Framed photos on the walls would come later.

Our tower has floor space with large windows below the control room, but
it's off limits to the public.

Since I'm designing the thing, a small outside deck/balcony would be nice.
Maybe a few steps down, so the railing wouldn't interfere with the few from
inside. Solid benches against the building for the outside deck.


Montblack

[Dave Butler]

[caution, thread drift]

Montblack wrote:

> I would like to see an observation deck (OPEN TO THE PUBLIC) in the tower at
> our airport.

It's not in the tower, and it's not indoors, but I think RDU has one of the
nicest observation decks I've seen. We call it the "voyeur area". It's outdoors
but under a roof. Restrooms nearby. Playground for the kids, a scale model
runway layout so the kids can run up and down the runways with their arms
outstretched making airplane noises. Scanner connected to outdoor speakers.

Google "RDU observation deck" for pictures.

[Denny]

Umm, lets see... Two converging aircraft, #1 and #2, and #1 estimates
they will go crunch in maybe ten seconds (which is probably way low as
an estimate)... Guess them at 120 mph each = 240 mph closing rate...
Which is approx. 353 feet per second closing rate, times ten seconds is
- unhh/urp/groan/sweat/scribble scribble - 3,530 feet apart when #1
sees #2...
I have noted over the decades that guys regaling me with tales of the
near miss, when pinned down to facts, usually turns out to be that they
were almost close enough to tell it was another plane...

Denny

[Gumby]

Denny wrote:
> Umm, lets see... Two converging aircraft, #1 and #2, and #1 estimates
> they will go crunch in maybe ten seconds (which is probably way low as
> an estimate)... Guess them at 120 mph each = 240 mph closing rate...
> Which is approx. 353 feet per second closing rate, times ten seconds
> is - unhh/urp/groan/sweat/scribble scribble - 3,530 feet apart when #1
> sees #2...
> I have noted over the decades that guys regaling me with tales of the
> near miss, when pinned down to facts, usually turns out to be that
> they were almost close enough to tell it was another plane...


I thought the same thing. 10 seconds from a near miss? How much more time do
you need to see & avoid?
--
I'm Gumby dammit!