Are You Sure About This?

The EAA jumped into action last Monday to help restore a temporary tower at a west Michigan fly-in scheduled for June 25th. The one day event at Padgham Field in Allegan, Michigan was approved for the temporary tower last December, as it has been for the last four years.

Andy Millin of EAA Chapter 221 heard from the FAA on Friday, June 10th that the approval had been canceled. Millen called EAA Headquarters on June 13th, and less than 24 hours later, the temporary tower approval was restored.

Randy Hansen, EAA government relations director, appealed to the FAA Great Lakes Region on behalf of the fly-in. He reminded the FAA that it had authorized a temporary tower in the past "to provide for the safe ingress and egress for the aircraft involved and for maximizing flight and ground safety for the users and the spectators."

At peak times during past events, up to 60 operations an hour occur, and as many as 300 Young Eagles flights are made in the course of the day.

"Temporary towers provide safety in the air and on the ground, so I asked FAA to do the math and the risk assessment," Hansen said. "Having all those operations going on with no control increases the risk for everyone."

Hansen faxed a letter to the Great Lakes Regional Administrator on Monday at 1745. He received a call Tuesday afternoon at 1545 confirming that FAA had "terminated the cancellation" and restored the temporary tower to operate 7 a.m.-3 p.m. at the fly-in on June 25.

"We really appreciate the help that EAA gave us. It's invaluable," said Millin. "We would not have had a chance to get things changed on our own. EAA swung the bat for us, and I am grateful for it."

Millin said that the fly-in grew out of efforts to revitalize Padgham Field after it nearly closed six years ago. "This is the fourth year we have had a temporary tower because the event has continued to grow and grow," he said. "We've got new hangars there, a new runway surface and grants to extend the runway, new lighting, plan a new FBO, a corporate hangar - we're really working hard and it's really starting to pay off."

FMI: www.eaa.org, www.dodgenaircraft.com