The Fight Against Airport Expansion Continues

The city continues to deny that it has plans to increase the capability of the Georgetown airport. It was reported in the Wilco Sun that the city plans to update the airport master plan to provide guidance on improving airport safety through infrastructure upgrades. The updated plan is to also identify new business opportunities - code words for increased aircraft operations.

The city refuses to address why the current plans include a 60% increase in aircraft refueling capacity and a doubling of the main runway load bearing capacity.

Here is a letter to the editor of the Wilco Sun expanding on the short comings of the Sun's reporting on the airport.

From: Carl Norris
Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2016 10:49 AM
To: Michael Freeman- Mgr Editor-Wilco Sun
Subject: GTU 20 Yr.MP Update-Sun 030216 Article-16PMGRGTN

Mr. Freeman,
The attached article that appeared under title "City moves ahead with 
airport plan" on page 5A of the Wednesday Sun seemed to disregard the ACC
opposition as minor.  Nothing could be farther from the truth!

The added attachments to this message will verify that the ACC has been 
validly concerned about the issues of this new master plan and its inclusion
of runway upgrade to serve larger, heavier and noisier aircraft since it 
first arose on GTAB and CC agendas in 2014 and 2015.

The city staff continues to dismiss ACC concerns of city plans to increase 
and expand GTU aviation operations as kooky and unfounded.  Some city
position supporters even claim that the proposed strength upgrade for RW 
18-36 has no merit for supporting heavier and noisier aircraft on the basis
of the existing 5000 LF of RW 18-36 being too short to service such aircraft 
of 150,000 Lb dual wheel design.  The Sun staff is suggested to investigate
the model Bombardier CS100.  This model has the capability of accommodating 
133 charter passengers or the equivalent air cargo weight, it's Maximum Take
Off Weight (MTOW) is 133,999 Lb., Maximum Landing Weight (MLW) is 115,000 
Lb., its Landing Field Length at MLW is 4,499 LF.  Cargo and/or charter
passenger weights of aircraft can be managed.  If properly managed, the 
Bombardier model CS300 with increased capacities could also operate off a
5000 LF runway.

Recall that GTU is an FAA approved "Reliever" airport.  That means it is 
authorized to service any general aviation needs save and except for regular
scheduled passenger service (Southwest, American, etc.).  Accommodation by 
GTU of charter passenger service and/or equivalent cargo operations is FAA
approved within operational conditions.

The continued mantra of the city that "We're not expanding anything at the 
airport - just doing some safety and maintenance for the pilots" has long
since lost its truth and respect.

In opinion of ACC, the Sun could do a far better job of community awareness 
of GTU issues and ACC concerns.  We wish you well in your Managing Editor
position.  We hope you maintained the extensive GTU files information we 
provided in the past to Will Anderson.  If not, please advise.  We will try
to update that file for you.

Best Regards,
Hugh (Carl) Norris
Member: ACC 

Here is a picture of the Bombardier CS100 mentioned in Carl Norris's letter.

As one can observe, this is not a "small" aircraft that normally uses the Georgetown airport!