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Onerous OPerating Procedures/Improper (illegal?) Use of Unicom Freq.
The ongoing saga of my glider club's fight with the local airport
board at LaGrange, GA (LGC)continues. A formal complaint was made by us to the local FAA who pulled both parties in to a joint meeting in May where the airport board was explicitly told that "They (the gliders) *will* be allowed to fly out of this publically funded, uncontrolled airport". The FAA man chairing the meeting gave both parties until 1 June to get together and come up with jointly agreeable glider operating procedures. The LGC airport manager and board ignored all the club's requests to meet, and the FAA was continually notified of their unwillingness to cooperate. Next thing we know some procedures have been unilaterally handed down from the FAA to include such B.S. as requiring the club to post a member with a radio at the intersection of the crossing runways to clear for traffic during glider operations (at this supposedly *uncontrolled* airport!). I know of no other operator that flies out of LGC that is required to do this in order to fly--not to mention even being required to have a radio on board (again I say *uncontrolled* airport!). So I ask what happened to the jointly agreed upon operating procedures? I also ask what exactly does the phrase "fair and reasonable terms without unjust discrimination" per FAA Order 5190.6A mean to the local FAA? Today, Friday, 18 July, two gliders (one club & one private) flew from LGC. Prior to stageing the airport manager's office was notified that gliders would be operating in the area (for the sake of airport advisory broadcasts). Upon takeoff roll the airport manager came on the unicom freq. and demanded that the towpilot tell him the name of the glider pilot. As the towplane and glider lifted off the arpt. mngr. again made a transmission on unicom demanding the same thing. After the 2nd transmission, the towpilot (after safely airborne) told the airport manager that he could ask that question of the glider pilot once the glider landed. The arpt. mngr. then said (over unicom) that "You are operating illegally" and that upon landing that he was "going to meet the towpilot accompanied by the local police". That did not happen. All of this non-aviation related trash talk on the unicom freq!!! It is my opinion that these radio transmissions made by the airport manager were improper, unecessary, in violation of somebody's regulation(s), and certainly were dangerously distracting and jeopardized the safety of flight of an aircraft in tow during a critical phase of flight. And this isn't the first time a glider has been badgered inflight by improper radio calls from either the airport manager or members of the airport authority (such as "Glider thermalling in the patterns say "N" number" [while the glider was turning base to final!]) Anybody have any suggestions about what we can do about this intolerable situation, especially concerning the recent dangerous misuse of unicom? Please cite regs and points-of-contact? FCC, FAA, FARs, etc? Thanks. |
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Inquire from local FSDO (is this the FAA you are referring to?) the
"requirement" to post an " untrained / unpaid air traffic controller" at an uncontrolled airport. A formal response to the FSDO requesting they specify what type of training is required to "man the position" and if they are willing to pay for or provide the training and the radio required, and shelter for inclement days. you would not get me to stand at the intersecting runways and call "alls clear".. to much liability risk involved to "make the wrong call" BT |
#3
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