Recent statements about the conduct of
lightplane operations at the annual Lakeland Sun 'n Fun Fly-In are
creating quite a buzz from flyers who are protesting the revelation
that Sun 'n Fun will be conducting vehicle surveillance in the
"Paradise City" lightplane operations area.
Sun 'n Fun staffers will be apparently be checking vehicle
paperwork and licensing for two seaters (operating either as
ultralight trainers or licensed experimentals) operating in the
lightplane area and making "basic visual" inspections of single
seaters operating under Part 103 to see if they are operating
legally. This is a departure from previous operational criteria
established for this area in which such compliance was left to the
purview of the FAA (to our knowledge, the only legally constituted
authority that can force the issue).
A number of ultralight and lightplane operators are up in
arms... especially those with "Fat" ultralights or some accessories
that may fall outside of Part 103 or other regulatory
definitions. By and large, since the FAA has (wisely) left these
aircraft (pretty much) alone and concentrated on safety aspects
rather than the letter of the law, flyers seem a bit nonplussed at
the "heavy-handedness" they see from Sun 'n Fun.
The Sun 'n Fun decision
could be in response to the legal problems and lawsuits they have
created for themselves through several years of ignoring safety and
regulatory issues... which appears to have played a part in
creating a lot of bad will, a number of accidents, and at least one
fatality. Naysayers indicate that they do not believe that Sun 'n
Fun, an annual event that receives public funding and operates
(primarily) from a Federally funded airport, has the
right to restrict operation to any aircraft based on an inspection
that they may not have the legal authority to require or conduct --
especially from an organization that has reportedly turned its back
on a number of safety issues for many years.
For it's part, EAA and Oshkosh plan no changes for their
comparatively smooth-running lightplane operations this summer --
not exactly a stirring recommendation for the Sun 'n Fun decision
(though the once cordial relationship between EAA HQ and SnF seems
even more strained than usual...).
For many, the answer to this discontent is to not go to the
Fly-in... but at least one intriguing alternative has surfaced from
some folks from the nearby South Lakeland airport, a few miles
south of the Lakeland airport.
Apparently; their plan is to provide a
grass-roots alternative to the aero-tyranny they fear to the
North. South Lakeland airport will be hosting a number of flight
operations, and offering food, shower and bathroom availability,
camping, tie-downs and even a free shuttle bus to the Fly-In (for
those who fly into South Lakeland, only). While there is no fuel at
the field, they note that a gas station sits right at one end of
the property so plenty of mo-gas is available during normal
business hours. They also report that, "Everybody's welcome to fly
in - ultralight, experimental, GA - but keep your head on a swivel,
because the pattern's going to be hoppin' this year!"
A spokesman adds that,
"I'm not going to lie to you and say this is going to be a finely
tuned, smooth operation. But we are determined to make it work
regardless of what it takes. You can count on a bonfire in the
evenings, at least on the weekend, fair prices for food and drink,
and perhaps most importantly, a return to grass roots, seat of your
pants type environment. We're not big on anything but a love of
flying and a willingness to do what we can to help the light
aircraft flying community... The pattern here is left traffic for
32, and right traffic for 14. CTAF is 122.9. More details may be
found at www.airnav.com/airport/X49.
As stated above, we always have a free shuttle to and from SnF with
a 1 hour cycle time. Water and facilities are free, only one shower
at this time :-), and be sure to have your own tiedowns!!! We MAY
have some for rent for around $20, you get $10 back if you return
them."
This is not the only defection from the norm... an announcement
some months ago of a major Sport Pilot/LightPlane Expo to be held
in Sebring, FL, (a great facility) this fall may be the death knell
for exhibitor support of Sun 'n Fun's Paradise City... with several
dozen vendors indicating that if the Sebring event does well, then
their future attendance at Lakeland is much in doubt. We'll keep
you updated about this situation, as it develops... but we do
support and appreciate the effort of the folks at South Lakeland
and Sebring to offer responsible alternatives to an increasingly
troubled event.