City Government, Public Were Not Notified

For a period of time earlier this year, Ocala International Airport (KOCF) in central Florida was operating without an Airport Operating Certificate allowing part 139 operations. The FAA pulled the ticket when it found numerous safety violations ranging from inoperable taxiway edge lighting and faded hold position signs to failure to address wildlife hazards and depressions in one of the airport's runways.

But airport management, and the city manager, failed to notify the city government, and the airport ran without its Part 139 operating certificate from February 17th to June 25.

The airport avoided problems during that period because not a single Part 139 flight, an unscheduled aircraft with at least 31 passenger seats operating for hire, attempted to land or take off from the airport during that time.

The issue was finally brought up on a City Council agenda on July 6th. The Ocala Star-Banner reports that a written statement from City Manager Ricky Horst appeared on the agenda informing the council that the violations had been addressed. The council's reaction was "what violations?"

No regularly-scheduled airlines serve the airport, and GA was not affected by the ruling from the FAA, so the issue literally slipped under the radar. Assistant City Manger of development Services John Zoblar told the paper that there were only two Part 139 flights at KOCF last year.

Council members seemed to be mostly forgiving of the oversight. Most said that while they should have been informed, it wasn't a major concern. However one, John Priester, said he thought Horst had deliberately covered up the problem. Most wondered how it escaped attention when the airport's new control tower opened May 17th.

The City of Ocala is working hard to develop the airport property with new roads and other infrastructure, and it is considered a key to the city's overall redevelopment efforts.

FMI: www.ocalafl.org