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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_AIRAB_09.20.2004 Minutes of the Meeting of the Airport Advisory Board City of Georgetown, Texas Monday, September 20, 2004 The Airport Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Monday , September 20, 2004. Members Present: Arnold Wieder, Chris Cagle, Don Pfiester, Howard Fomby, John Bader, Mark Dietz, Tim Sullivan Members Absent: None Staff Present: Travis McLain Minutes Regular Meeting 1. Call to order. Chairman Mark Dietz called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. 2. Consideration and Approval of Minutes of August 16, 2004, meeting. Tim Sullivan: One correction in item (6); it should be Arnold Wieder not Arnold Sullivan. Tim Sullivan: Motion to approve the minutes of August 16, 2004 (as corrected). Arnold Wieder: I second the motion. Motion approved 7-0. 3. Airport Manager’s Report: A. August 2004 Monthly Income and Expense Reports B. Noise Study Update: Coffman is in the process of replying to the FAA comments. Master Plan Update: No update. C. Report on Council Actions None. D. Civil Air Patrol Update No update. E. General Information Items The Tower Consultant Selection Committee ranked PBS&J number one. Council to consider authorizing staff to negotiate a contract with PBS&J on September 28, 2004. Tim Sullivan: Who determines site location? John Bader: The consultant, working with the FAA, will consider a minimum of 3 site locations. Tim Sullivan: Can the board review site location before it goes to Council? Travis McLain: I can’t see why not. Travis McLain: The city secretary has advised the Board that a bonded copy of the minutes must be kept on file. Therefore, from now on, Betty-Jo will provide a copy of the minutes on bond paper (once approved) to which the chairman must sign and secretary must attest. 4. Citizens Wishing to Address the Board Mark Dietz: Don Dison has signed up for agenda items (5) and (8). 5. Discuss Helicopter operations and possible actions on recommendations. Don Dison: (Citizen & Helicopter Operator) presented his recommendations. Mark Dietz: Comments from the board? Howard Fomby: What is the minimum altitude for engine failure? Don Dison: (Helicopter Operator) 500 feet. Chris Cagle: What are the operational cost increases? Don Dison: (Helicopter Operator) 1.5 minutes extra each way; 3 minutes total. A 30% increase (10 minute ride) Tim Sullivan: Are all the helicopters located in the same area? Don Dison: (Helicopter Operator) They are spread out over the airport. Don Pfiester: What about the rules for taxiing? Don Dison: (Helicopter Operator) The FAR’s specifies that helicopter operations will be conducted in a manner so as not to impose any conflict with fixed wing aircraft. One o f my recommendations is that everyone should depart in the northeast or southeast to avoid those noise sensitive areas; this would be by cooperation only. Don Pfiester: I am concerned about the pilot that takes off from Airport Road a lot. I would prefer that departure be a safe distance from a building. Tim Sullivan: We need to get this information to Chuck Willis, if it ’s to be part of the Master Plan. Mark Dietz: There will be a comment period after the Master Plan is prepared. Howard Fomby: The Rules & Regulations is not a part of the Master Plan. Mark Dietz: We need to forward some information to Willis very soon. Don Pfiester: I recommend that training exercises and ground maintenance be done on the west side of the windsock, with the traffic pattern east of 18-36. John Bader: Has Willis used helicopter operations from other airports? Mark Dietz: Yes, he has some and they will incorporate it into the general language. Don Pfiester: Motion that we set up Minimum Operating Standards for helicopters and they will encompass: helicopter operations in the Georgetown area, comply with all Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR’s) and they will comply with UNICOM procedures. Helicopter operators should recognize that the airport is situated in a noise sensitive area that their operations should be conducted accordingly. The training area should be established in the vicinity of the windsock and all patterns should be in concert with fixed wing operations but at a lower altitude, the altitude recommended is 500 feet; helicopters will perform take-offs/maneuvers and landings (when at all possible) parallel to and within 200 feet of an active runway and they will not cross active runways unless well clear of the traffic. Whenever possible helicopters will depart to the southeast or northeast, avoiding residential areas and that all taxi operations will be conducted with vigilance and consideration of potential down wash problems and at a safe distance from structures and people. Howard Fomby: I second the motion. Motion approved 7-0. 6. Discussion and Possible action on recommendation for Airport Layout Plan, Rules & Regulations and Minimum Standards. No discussion. 7. Discussion on the Updated Master Plan. No discussion. 8. Discuss the Airport Safety Observation Report and Methods to Promote Airport Safety. Arnold Wieder: We had one report that a pilot failed to use proper radio communication. We have twelve safety observation reports to date. 9. Discuss meeting with selected Central Texas Airports. Mark Dietz: We had a very good meeting. We met this past Thursday, September 16, 2004, 7:00 p.m. We had representatives from six Central Texas Airports; Texas Aviation Assoc., National Business Aviation Assoc. (Paul Smith) and three members from TxDOT (Michelle Hannah, David Fulton, and Bill Gunn). It was a good meeting and an opportunity to enhance what we are already doing here and receive suggestions on safety issues we can take advantage of. We will probably have another meeting in the near future. Arnold Wieder: I felt that TxDOT was impressed. Tim Sullivan: I thought they were complimentary of airport security. Howard Fomby: TxDOT was unaware that the cost of the Noise Study was to be paid by the Airport Fund; because the last thing they want to do was to damage the airport/aviation. John Bader: Another thing TxDOT pointed out was that Texas is one of the few states that does not have a general aviation alliance association. Mark Dietz: We did hear that it is unlikely that there will be a Central Texas Airport, but legislature will discuss this next time around. Howard Fomby: Chairman Dietz funded the refreshments and meal. Thank you. Arnold Wieder: FYI - we will be getting about 300 brochures from the FAA. (Free pamphlets on runway safety – A Pilot’s Guide to Surface Operations) Tim Sullivan: We also had Mr. Christian, Killeen Airport, talk about airport commercial flights at their new airport. Howard Fomby: He did mention it is for commercial flight operations only. 10. Discuss Airport Museum. Howard Fomby: One of the real challenges we have had is how the ongoing operations will be funded. That’s where we are right now. Chris Cagle: The gift shop at the San Diego Air Museum produces a lot of revenue. Howard Fomby: Even charging at the door will not bring a lot of revenue. We are thinking maybe a restaurant to draw more people. Chris Cagle: A thought – by charging a minimal fee, if anyone is being destructive you can give them their money back and ask them to leave. 11. Consideration and Possible Action for setting Agenda Items for the October 18, 2004, meeting. Don Dison: (Citizen) Mr. Chairman, will there be any discussion about the Airport Road Construction? I anticipate a negative impact at the Airport. Tim Sullivan: The construction will make airport road one way. Travis McLain: They have construction scheduled through February, 2005. Howard Fomby: They will close the Florence exit and make everyone coming into Berry Creek exit at Lakeway, Exit 264. Mark Dietz: They have yet to begin the project. Don Dison: (Citizen) I heard a recommendation that maybe we could approach the city and ask for a temporary way through Lakeway? Mark Dietz: We will put in on the agenda for next month. A. Discussion and possible action on recommendation for the Airport Layout Plan, Rules and Regulations, and Minimum Standards B. Discussion on the Updated Master Plan C. Discuss the Airport Safety Observation Report and Methods to Promote Airport Safety D. Discuss the Airport Museum E. Discuss the Airport Road Construction 12. Adjourn. Don Pfiester: Motion that we adjourn. Howard Fomby: I second the motion. Motion approved 7-0. Submitted by: Travis McLain Airport Director Approved: Attest: ____________________________ __________________________ Mark Dietz, Chairman Chris Cagle, Board Secretary