Mon, Feb 01, 2010
FAA Recommends Against Mixing Aircraft And Skydivers
After more than a year of waiting, the Laconia Airport Authority
(LAA) has finally given Tom and Mary Noonan an answer on their
plans for a skydiving facility at KLCI: the answer is "no".
The authority voted unanimously last week to deny the application
for Skydive Laconia based on feedback from the FAA.
As reported previously by ANN, the Noonans
applied for permission to open a skydiving facility at KLCI in
2008. The couple has experience running a tandem parachute
business and thought the beautiful NH scenery that would attractive
upwards of 1,000 customers in their first year. There are
also no other skydiving facilities in the local area to compete
with their planned $225 jumps.
Aerial view of KLCI courtesy of LAA
On December 21, the Tracey McInnis of the FAA's Burlington, MA,
office issued a letter responding to LAA's request for an airspace
analysis. The letter stated "this proposed landing area would
adversely affect the safe and efficient use of the navigable
airspace by aircraft and the safety of persons and property on the
ground."
"FAA must protect for the potential corruption of the
glideslope, the Runway Safety Areas (RSA), as well as preclude the
possibility of debris being inadvertently dropped on the operating
surfaces," wrote McInnis. "The potential for these
occurrences are the basis for the objection to the parachute
landing areas."
The report stated that the mix of aircraft, ranging from LSAs to
bizjets, and the prevalence of non-radio aircraft such as
ultralights would present "significant challenges" and "increase
the likelihood of skydiver/aircraft conflict." The letter
concluded "additional distraction of looking for skydivers while
operating in the traffic pattern or on the surface is also cause
for concern."
Although the Noonans did not attend the LAA meeting, they do
still have the option to appeal the decision or submit a new
application.
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