Representatives from the Airport Concerned Citizens group requested that public input be included prior to requesting funds. The Council ignored the request and directed the City Manager to request the funds.
Reading the relevant airport documents indicate the existing main runway will support aircraft up to 30,000 lb gross takeoff weight. The repaving of runway 18-36 would allow aircraft weighing up to 60,000 lbs with single wheel main gear and dual wheel main gear aircraft up to 70,000+ lbs to operate into and out of the airport. Numerous Council members adamantly proclaimed that the airport was not being expanded, and that is true with respect to airport runway lengths and boundaries. It is definitely not true with respect to aircraft weight and thus size! There may be good reasons for expanding the capacity of the airport, but, denying the capacity is to be expanded is not a hallmark of good government.
The following is an email sent to the mayor and several Council members.
In reviewing the Council meeting last Tuesday, WHY did no one address the issue of increasing the takeoff and landing weight capacity of the main runway? That is clearly a capacity expansion of the airport. I can easily show you the typical 30,000 lb max takeoff weight airplane and the typical 70,000 lb takeoff weight airplane. The 70,000 lb airplane is significantly larger! The FAA/TxDOT airport designation C-II clearly allows 70,000 lb aircraft. Currently, the runway supports only 30,000 lb aircraft. It is clearly within City authority to maintain a runway at 30,000 lb capacity and not maintain it at 70,000 lb capacity. Thus the City needs to admit it is increasing the capacity of the airport, just not the land boundaries.
Ask your City Council to be honest when dealing with the citizens of Georgetown.
No comments:
Post a Comment