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United States Pilots Association |
The following communication was forwarded to me by Don Smith, a member of the Denton, TX airport board. The letter came from the company that manages the control towers in Denton, San Angelo, Texarkana etc. Essentially April 20th Position and Hold clearances cease at airports without three persons on duty in the tower. Here we once again have the FAA applying a one size fits all fix to a problem that primarily exists at large metropolitan airports (LAX).
Once again we at the general aviation level will be affected at tower controlled airports, burning more expensive fuel on the ground, and generally being delayed, with no benefit to safety. If one were to use the FAA's reasoning, the best solution is to cease aircraft operations entirely at these airports.
When are we going to get knowledgeable people into positions of authority within the FAA to stop this kind of "Feel good mentality." Sometimes I think there is not a great deal of difference
among the FAA management, the Transportation (In)Security Administration and Homeland (In)Security. Lets just all feel good about how our government is taking such great care of us. We need to protest this absurd ruling to the highest levels of the FAA.
Steve Uslan, President
United States Pilots Association
Members: The following message was sent from the head of the company that manages the contract towers in the southwest district.
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Hello All Area II-W ATMs,
On March 31, 2006, I wrote a letter to our Service Area stating that we could not meet the requirements to request a permanent waiver to conduct TIPH and therefore, we would cancel TIPH after April 20, 2006. The facilities that would terminate TIPH after April 20 are: ASG, CLL, FMN,
GLS, HRL, MFE, SGR, SWO, TKI, TXK, XNA, TYR, SSF, ROG, PWA, FYV, DTO, and SJT.
Please ensure all personnel are briefed and cancel your TIPH procedures stated in your SOP as of April 21, 2006.
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TPA president Terry Jarog and I are working on a plan of action to try to get this inappropriate move by the FAA revised. The one size fits all nature of the directive does more harm than good, and we must find a way to get the message to FAA officers in Washington.
We will ask help from USPA, and perhaps from other aviation groups as well. Right now, we need to figure out exactly what would constitute a good mechanism to convince the FAA that this approach is counterproductive.
Remember the monthly meeting, Thursday, April 20, an interesting coincidence
of dates.
Don
Posted by Jan at April 11, 2006 11:43 AM