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Landing system for bad weather to be studied by Airport Authority By JOHN
MUNFORD
In certain conditions, bad weather at Falcon Field in Peachtree City can hamper aircraft from landing. If the weather "ceiling" is lower than 400 feet, or visibility is less than three-quarters of a mile, planes can't land at Falcon Field. While those are the best guidelines available currently, the Peachtree City Airport Authority may consider implementing a precision landing approach system. Such a system would allow planes to land with a minimum ceiling of 200 feet and visibility requirements of only a half-mile. Airport Manager Jim Savage estimates there are between seven and 10 days a year when the precision approach would allow planes to land when they otherwise couldn't. That may not sound like much of a help, but it would benefit corporate jet operations in particular, Savage noted. The authority, which wants to attract more corporate jets to Falcon Field, is expected to discuss the possibility of adding a precision landing system during a retreat meeting next month. A normal precision approach system would require additional equipment to be installed at the airport at a significant expense. But a new technology using Global Positioning System satellites to create a precision approach path to the runway would not require more equipment at the airport. Instead, the GPS precision approach equipment would be installed in individual planes. The GPS project is still being studied by the Federal Aviation Administration, which might give the system approval by this summer, Savage said. With the GPS precision approach system, Falcon Field won't need to add equipment, but it would need to meet a few other guidelines. The runway protection area would have be expanded from 250 feet to 500 feet, which means trees in that zone must be kept below a certain height. Also, the runway's approach lighting system would also have to be improved, Savage said. The GPS precision approach system has been in the works for about four years, but this is the first year the FAA has indicated it might be feasible, Savage said. Even with the current non-precision approach system, Falcon Field sometimes benefits from bad weather at other area airports such as Tara Field, where the minimum ceiling requirement is 700 feet.
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