Friday, May 25, 2001
Friday, May 25, 2001 |
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Radio trouble stalls some departures at Falcon Field By JOHN
MUNFORD
Even though Atlanta's new air traffic control facility is just over a mile away, planes departing Falcon Field sometimes have trouble transmitting to air traffic controllers based there. The radio trouble, which is sporadic, has only affected airplanes on the ground, said Falcon Field Manager Jim Savage. Planes in the air have had no trouble communicating with the new TRACON facility, he added. The main result of the communications problem is an inconvenience for aircraft seeking clearance for take-off, Savage said. But a quick phone call to TRACON alerts the traffic controllers to adjust their equipment to better receive the signal, he added. The communication breakdown only occurs on the ground, likely because trees or other objects block the aircraft's communication with the nearest FAA antenna, which is located south of Fayetteville on Ga. Highway 92, Savage said. An FAA spokesperson told The Citizen that air traffic controllers handle traffic from smaller airports like Falcon Field separately from traffic at other larger airports in the area. That keeps the communications from aircraft at the smaller airports from being lost in the shuffle. Savage has asked the FAA to consider relocating the antenna servicing Falcon Field to the TRACON facility to improve communications with aircraft on the ground wishing to take off. That antenna also serves other nearby airports, including Newnan and sometimes Griffin, Savage indicated. Currently, the TRACON facility provides air traffic control service within a 40-mile radius of Hartsfield International Airport up to an altitude of 14,000 feet. Tower controllers at Hartsfield Airport will continue to direct aircraft arriving, departing and taxiing on the ground there.
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