HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_AIRAB_04.21.2008
Minutes of the Meeting of
the Airport Advisory Board
City of Georgetown, Texas
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Airport Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown, Texas, met on Monday , April 21, 2008.
Members Present:
Van Chandler, Trey Taparauskas, Ken Arnold, Katherine Woods, John Hopper, Daryl Dressler
Members Absent:
Paul Smith
Staff Present:
Travis McLain
Minutes
Regular Meeting
1. Call to order.
Vice-Chairman John Hopper called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M (Chairman Smith is absent).
2. Consideration and Approval of Minutes of March 17, 2008, meeting.
Ken Arnold: Motion to approve the minutes of March 17, 2008.
Katherine Woods : I second the motion.
Motion approved 6-0.
3. Airport Manager’s Report:
March 2008 Monthly Income and Expense Reports
Travis McLain : On April 1, 2008 we increased the Avgas price from $4.00 to $4.25 and based on the price increase
received today, it will increase another $0.25 on May 1, 2008.
Report on Noise Study and Master Plan Update
Travis McLain : Two months ago, I told you that we had submitted the FAA forms 7460’s. TXDOT recommended
that we install obstruction lights on the west side of the approach of runway 18 (installation of three poles with ob
lights to approach 18 & six poles to approach 36). All the poles were approv ed but the FAA is having second
thoughts about putting up another obstruction to mark an existing obstruction. The consultant ’s original
recommendation to mitigate the obstruction to both approaches (36 & 18) was with visual glide slope indicator (4 -
Box PAPI). It was turned down the first go around, but they are going to go back and look at it again. We should get
an answer 30-40 days.
Katherine Woods: What was the reason they turned it down the first time?
Travis McLain : The FAR says that you can’t use VGSI mitigation unless it is impossible to remove the obstruction.
We tried to point out several times, the City Manager wrote several letters, TXDOT visited with them, to point out
that nothing is impossible. There is impossible and impractical. So they are going to go back and review their
decision. We are moving forward with the project to remove the trees and fence on the east side of the approach,
since that is airport property.
Report on Council Actions
Travis McLain: None.
Report on Airport Construction Projects
Travis McLain:
1. The entrance gate rehab project is complete (from solar panels to 120 volt battery charge).
2. Obstruction removal: east side RW18 approach
3. Begin rehab of Terminal Security Lights (4 poles around Terminal)
4. Annual inspection of Tower Equipment - May
General Information Items
Travis McLain : Mr. Shannon Thomas, Tower Manager is here to answer questions or comments.
Shannon Thomas : As Travis mentioned, fuel sales are really starting to bite people. We looked like we were going
to do 6500 operations a month. We finished last month barely breaking 6000. Sunday was a beautiful day and you
would expect people to be out in droves, and we ended up with 128 planes that day.
1. 6 months in operation
2. Experienced some problem with radio coverage
3. Good tower equipment
4. Staff is doing well
John Hopper : The radio problem, is that under warranty?
Travis McLain : Yes. L-3 Communications purchased it.
John Hopper : Is traffic reduction a problem?
Shannon Thomas : No. The traffic reduction is everywhere. Our high traffic count was two months ago at 525 which
were high and after a heavy rain. That’s high for non-radar.
Van Chandler : Are we in any danger of losing our radar because are traffic count has declined?
Shannon Thomas : No. We went over Georgetown’s numbers to which we need to average 30,000 itinerant a year.
We are way above that (even if our numbers drop another 20%). We did the math, there are 32 towers on the list
right now and Georgetown is in the vicinity of number 12 (as long as the FAA has money).
Van Chandler : We talked about inviting you to come speak quarterly, but we just wanted to hear from you and the
controllers. Are there any safety issues we need to be aware of? Is there anyth ing we can do to support you better?
Shannon Thomas : I’ll come monthly if necessary. To date, I have no issues at all. One of the most delicate
relationships there is for an air traffic control tower manager is the relationship with the airport manager. I have been
real lucky and have high praise for Mr. McLain and the City of Georgetown.
Daryl Dressler : I have been very pleased with the interaction of tower and the controllers (every once in awhile they
will say a comment).
Shannon Thomas : That’s the kind of relationship I want to foster here. There is a t ime and a place where you cannot
chit chat. When there are two planes on the radio, there is nothing like being personable. The other day a Citation
came in and said, “we’re going to Jet Black, Georgetown Aviation or whatever they’re calling themselves today.”
Sherene responds, “there calling themselves Georgetown Jet Center today”.
Van Chandler: Are there any safety issues that you have observed?
Shannon ThomasShannon Thomas : Bill Gunn from TXDOT called me one day and asked to explain an incident on
base (when you don’t have radar, things like this can happen). There was an airplane on the downwind, (we ’re
talking to someone who is misrepresenting his position) and we are looking around the sky, we know we ’ve got to
get on final and we see a guy on the downwind (we’re actually talking to a guy who is farther downwind). He starts
to turn his base and we don’t realize it because we’re looking at this plane up here, thinking we ’re talking to two
planes and there is really three (but this guy downwind is not talking to us). So one fellow turns his base and about
the time we figure it out, we know there is a guy on final, so we know this guy is on base now, finally figure out
who he is, so we tell the flight on final to turn around and come back on final and ev erybody saw each other. One of
the questions presented, was “can you assure me this will not happen again?” My answer was “No, we can make it
safe, but we cannot make it perfect.” The job here is customer service and the attitude you do it with is the results
you get.
4. Citizens Wishing to Address the Board
None.
5. Consideration and possible action for setting Agenda Items for the May 19, 2008, meeting.
Agenda item(s) for the May 19, 2008 meeting:
None.
6. Adjourn.
Ken Arnold : Motion that we adjourn.
Trey Taparauskas : I second the motion.
Motion approved 6-0.
Adjourned: 7:30 P.M.