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United States Pilots Association |
We have all been given these instructions at one time or another by the tower controller at various airports around the country. This past weekend at the USPA quarterly meeting in Tunica, MS, we learned that the FAA has instituted a new procedure which essentially eliminates this practice. Don Smith of the Texas Pilots Association told us that the contract tower at Denton, TX, (DTO) has advised all pilots that the feds were eliminating this procedure entirely at tower controlled airports. I received an E-Mail clarifying the news by permitting airports with towers to apply for an exemption if they agreed to keep three controllers in the tower on duty at all times the tower was open. I now am given to understand that AOPA has intervened and that permanent waivers for some airports may be forthcoming.
Let’s examine the reason for the idea. There have been several accidents and numerous incidents at LAX (Los Angeles International) where the local (ground) controllers cleared aircraft to cross or enter upon an active runway when another aircraft was either landing or taking off. We can all presume that there were more than three controllers on duty at LAX when these occurrences took place. The FAA, in an attempt to instantly stop these incursions, puts out a rule that is guaranteed to inconvenience everybody. Look at Palm Springs, California. When AOPA comes into town, hundreds of small planes descend into the airport. When it comes time to leave, those same airplanes are shunted around the airport for two hours burning lots of fuel waiting for a takeoff clearance. One can only imagine how long it will take now if position and hold is eliminated. Denton is a single runway airport which operates with one controller usually on duty in the tower. Eliminate position and hold, and the number of movements per hour will be reduced. Here again I believe we of general aviation are being punished for the actions of controllers at a big city airport almost exclusively serving airline traffic.
The second point here is the value that USPA brings to general aviation. By holding meetings around the country, we hear of new FAA procedures and are able to respond quickly. USPA is holding their annual meeting in June of 2006 in Oklahoma City--the backyard of the FAA. You do not have to be a member to participate in our meetings. Come and join us, and vent your frustrations on user fees, position and hold, and/or any other regulatory issue that troubles you. We will have FAA people there to respond to your questions. We hope to have an FAA medical person there to fully explain all of the intricacies of getting medicals back, etc.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association