FAA Has Approved The Activity At Venice Municipal Airport

The City Council in Venice, FL will consider a proposal September 27 to allow tandem skydiving at Venice Municipal Airport (KVNC).

The FAA has approved the proposal to allow a Wellington, FL-based skydiving company to use the airport, and in fact has been encouraging the city to develop a plan to make that happen. If approved by the Council, up to 2,000 skydiving flights per year could begin as early as October 1.

However, Venice Municipal Airport Director Mark Cervasio said it might take more time that that to get Christian Schoemig's company, Skydive Palm Beach, "geared up and ready to go," according to a report from the Herald Tribune newspaper.

The drop zone would be the first to be established in Sarasota or Manatee counties.

KVNC is an uncontrolled airport that sees about 60,000 operations per year, according to city records.

Part of the proposed safety protocol is for the pilot of the skydiving plane to make three announcement on the airport's UNICOM frequency; when the jumpers exit the aircraft, when parachutes open, and when the skydivers are on the ground.

While some area pilots have expressed concerns about adding skydiving to the airport, they plan to get the word out make plans to welcome Schoemig to the area. The Venice Aviation Society has already begun a safety education program about skydiving operations.

FMI: www.venicegov.com/Boards_Links/city_council.asp