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.

FMI: www.txgenweb2.org/txgillespie, http://www.fbgtx.org/