Something changed with FAA?

[tonyc9075]

What’s going on at FAA?

We fly at a local small airport here in Northern Louisiana. Calling it an airport would be a stretch, it’s a paved runway with a parking area along side. No hanger, no Porte potty, nothing like that. But it is home to our RC club and a few local pilots that have there own airplanes and use the runway. We share with the local pilots, the local pilots always have the right of way, never a problem, never an argument. Heck we do barbeque together.

I just found out that the FAA has told us to shut down? Is this just a local problem or is something changing with FAA?

[jamesrxx951]

sorry to here about your field, i hope something will work out with your club. have your club contacted the FAA to find out if some thing can be arranged?

[tonyc9075]

According to the Jonesboro Airport Manager, the Town received an email from Pat Vaught with the FAA stating there are to be no model aircraft at the airport. I have not seen the email so I'm not sure of everything it says.
We met with the FAA airport inspector for this region and he was fine with us being there.
There were a couple of issues we were going to have to deal with which include moving the power pole, fence, flag pole, and our channel pin board to the other side of the shed. Their concern was that it was too close to the apron and a plane's wing might catch any of that. Then Friday, the sign shows up next to the gate...
So, at this point, we don't know what will take place but Tanya Schulingkamp with the Louisiana DOTD Aviation Division was going to bat for us today.
She is going to contact the FAA on our behalf and the mayor. She feels
this can be resolved but might take a little time.

But why did this happen? Why us? Someone is out to make trouble I bet.

[JoeAirPort]

The FAA dude's a drama queen.

[TimDavie]

Someone has alerted the FAA and doesn't want you there.

[Greyhoundman]

	Quote: Originally Posted by TimDavie
	Someone has alerted the FAA and doesn't want you there.

That's it exactly somebody got their panties in a bunch and bitched to the FAA.

[Judge]

Have you contacted the AMA (assumes you are an AMA club). There are a fair number of AMA clubs that operate at active airports. I have never heard of the FAA shutting down a field totally.

I would contact the AMA and explain your problem and see if they can offer any assistance.

[JoeAirPort]

I just heard a story that a "Flight for Life" helicopter (a fast ambulance) started to operate near a big RC field north of me. apparently the chopper pilot came by the field and said "if I ever see one of you flying near me I will shut you down". So yeah things can change in a hurry with the right drama queen on your tail.

[jfstrama]

The superman jet rally that was run for a week at the Metropolis, IL airport was shut down. The ruling was that a single strip airport could not have any event like it since it shut down the entire airport. This could be the ruling that they are trying to use (or are using). It wasn't a problem until one pilot complained that he was doing a cross-country and needed to re-fuel at the Metropolis airport, but couldn't because it would be shutdown for the week. The superman organizers ended up at another airport in Cape Girardeau, MO. Though it is not clear that they will do it any more. Sullivan, MO jet rally got shut down with the same ruling and to my knowledge has never returned.

You didn't state if this was a private or public airport, sounds like public from the description of what is going on.

MadDog Joe

[StickerBiotch]

We were in the same situation about three years ago. Flying at a local airport off the abandoned runway so we were totally off and out of the way of full scale traffic. The only thing that we had to do was cross the end of the active runway through the maintenance road. This was fine with the airport manager and everyone there and had been for the last 12 years. One day we found out through the club president we were kicked out. Come to find out there was a complaint to the FAA from a visiting pilot that flew in for fuel. Now if that wasn't a fine how do you do. The guy wasn't even from the local area and got us kicked out by making a simple phone call.
We ended up a couple of years later with a new field but not with out a lot of hard work from the membership to get it into shape from formally being a cow pasture.

My guess is someone complained about it because they have nothing else better to do.

[3D1]

That sucks why do people have to be such babies. Talk about being selfish! My field is a grass landing strip with full scale mostly piper cubs and some trikes and ultralights. the only way we can fly there is if we have a spotter for each flier. At first I thought it was a little overboard but really the full scale stuff can sneak up on you so it really wound up being a good thing. they always have the right of way and we have to land if we see one coming in or taking off. maybe this would help you to get your field back.

[wecoyote]

I know this was in Australia but I wonder if it has anything to do with this..
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=137095

[3dAndrew]

	Quote: Originally Posted by wecoyote
	I know this was in Australia but I wonder if it has anything to do with this.. http://www.thewest.com.au/default.as...ntentID=137095

Wow the guy who pulled that stunt must be truly the stupidest man on earth! My airfield is located about 1/2 a mile away from the BROOKHAVEN Airport. We have it in our club rules, that when flying be cautious of fullscale planes that are flying overhead! We have had the field for over 7 years now, no problems so far. I hope it stays this way. Man it sucks to hear bout your incident. Good luck finding a new field. take care!

[askforplanes]

Is that a parkzone corsair? It's too bad that he had to do that, get in trouble, and give rc a bad name.

JP

[askforplanes]

	Quote: Originally Posted by jfstrama
	The superman jet rally that was run for a week at the Metropolis, IL airport was shut down. The ruling was that a single strip airport could not have any event like it since it shut down the entire airport. This could be the ruling that they are trying to use (or are using). It wasn't a problem until one pilot complained that he was doing a cross-country and needed to re-fuel at the Metropolis airport, but couldn't because it would be shutdown for the week. The superman organizers ended up at another airport in Cape Girardeau, MO. Though it is not clear that they will do it any more. Sullivan, MO jet rally got shut down with the same ruling and to my knowledge has never returned. You didn't state if this was a private or public airport, sounds like public from the description of what is going on. MadDog Joe

If thats the case why are there full scale airshows when those also close the airport?

JP