Solution sought to accomodate ultra-light aircraft at Falcon Field By JOHN MUNFORD jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com An increase in the number of ultra-light aircraft operating at Falcon Field has created safety concerns for airport officials. With four ultra-light airplanes and a gyrocopter flying lower patterns that other aircraft, it could create an unsafe situation, Airport Manager Jim Savage said at Wednesday's meeting of the Airport Authority. A possible solution would be the creation of an "ultra-light" traffic pattern at the airport so other aircraft would be able to locate them better, Savage said. One solution would have ultra-lights landing in the middle of the runway to make it easier for them to be seen by other aircraft. While most aircraft operate at a minimum altitude of 1000 feet, ultra-light aircraft operate at a minimum altitude of 500 feet, Savage said. Another complication is that ultra-light aircraft usually can't use radio to communicate effectively because of wind flowing into the microphone, Savage noted. Airport officials plan to meet with the ultra-light aircraft owners to discuss the possible solutions. In other business, the authority agreed to pay approximately half of the costs to renovate bathroom facilities at the building it leases to Peachtree Flight Center. The authority will pay $3,500 towards the work, partially because some of the walls had deteriorated due to damage.

Friday, November 16, 2001

Solution sought to accomodate ultra-light aircraft at Falcon Field

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com
An increase in the number of ultra-light aircraft operating at Falcon Field has created safety concerns for airport officials.
With four ultra-light airplanes and a gyrocopter flying lower patterns that other aircraft, it could create an unsafe situation, Airport Manager Jim Savage said at Wednesday's meeting of the Airport Authority.
A possible solution would be the creation of an "ultra-light" traffic pattern at the airport so other aircraft would be able to locate them better, Savage said. One solution would have ultra-lights landing in the middle of the runway to make it easier for them to be seen by other aircraft.
While most aircraft operate at a minimum altitude of 1000 feet, ultra-light aircraft operate at a minimum altitude of 500 feet, Savage said. Another complication is that ultra-light aircraft usually can't use radio to communicate effectively because of wind flowing into the microphone, Savage noted.
Airport officials plan to meet with the ultra-light aircraft owners to discuss the possible solutions.
In other business, the authority agreed to pay approximately half of the costs to renovate bathroom facilities at the building it leases to Peachtree Flight Center. The authority will pay $3,500 towards the work, partially because some of the walls had deteriorated due to damage.

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