Wed, Dec 16, 2009
No Night IFR Approaches Allowed At Gillespie County
Airport
The FAA has banned night IFR approaches to Gillespie County
Airport in Fredericksburg, Texas following protracted negotiations
over trees at Lady Byrd Johnson Golf Course, which is adjacent to
the airport. The FAA says the ban is "temporary, but
indefinite." The FAA put the restrictions in place November 23rd,
removing authorization for any instrument approach between sunset
and sunrise.
Airport and count authorities are trying to work out who should
pay for trimming or removing some trees on the golf course that
encroach on the airspace needed for instrument approaches. The
Fredericksburg Standard Radio Post reports that Fredericksburg
Mayor Jeryl Hoover and Gillespie County Judge Mark Stroeher are
planning to meet soon over the tree issue. “On the city side,
we’re not happy to hear that,” Hoover said. “We
believe that is a consequence for the fact that this has taken so
long to work out.”
A consultant told the county it would cost about $1 million to
remove the trees and repair the golf course after the removal was
completed. The Fredericksburg City Council asked for $800,000 of
that from the county, which owns the airport. Gillespie County
countered with an offer of $300,000. A golf course consultant hired
by the county indicated it should not cost more than $400,000 for
the work.
Michelle Hannah of the Texas Department of Transportation's
Aviation Division told the paper the airport needs 200 feet of
additional avigation easements around the ends of its 5,002-foot
runway to bring it into compliance with long-standing FAA
requirements for runways with published instrument approaches.
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