Airport fights for ILS approval

By RUSTY GARRETT
Times Staff Writer

Final approval of an instrument landing system at a level that will benefit air traffic at Drake Field continues to elude the city. But airport officials Thursday said the situation is improving.

The airport's goal in installing a $1 million instrument landing system late last year was to provide aircraft equipped with instrument landing systems a landing glide slope mirroring that provided by the airport's microwave landing system.

The MLS provides landing aircraft a decision height of 312 feet. Planes may descend to that altitude to determine whether a landing is feasible. But few aircraft are equipped with MLS technology. The radio-controlled ILS would provide the lower ceiling for many commercial and private airplanes using Drake Field, enabling them to land in periods of reduced visibility.

Drake Field installed the ILS with the promise of Federal Aviation Administration officials it would match the parameters of the MLS. But when the system was approved, the FAA instead set a ceiling height of 759 feet for the instrument system, an altitude which provides little additional safety for incoming aircraft.

The airport staff has been working with consultants and engineers to get the FAA to reconsider the ceiling height.

Johnny Quinn, engineer with McClelland Consulting Engineers, said at a Thursday meeting of the Fayetteville Airport Advisory Board the FAA had relented some, agreeing to establish a 500-foot ceiling for the ILS approach.

"We're not where we want to be yet," Quinn said, "but we're closer than we have been."

Quinn said he was also told by FAA officials that eventually, the 312 decision ceiling may be approved as a "special provision" for experienced pilots who are familiar with Drake Field and the terrain surrounding the airport. The lowered ceiling would benefit commercial air carriers and charter pilots who regularly use the airport, but would not be generally published by the FAA as the approved ceiling.

Quinn said even winning the minor concessions from the FAA "has been a real tag-team uphill battle all the way."

Some board members expressed unhappiness with the FAA's unwillingness to approve the lower ceiling. "We spent $1 million for 200 feet," said Donald Lyall, who suggested taking legal action against the FAA.

Richard McKinney, board chairman, said the FAA would eventually publish 312 feet as the general ceiling, but that it may be several years off.

Airport manager Dale Frederick said he feared threatening the FAA with legal action would further delay approval of the system. He said the FAA was reluctant to approve the system because "it's not standard." He suggested the airport accept the approved ceiling "and let them get familiar with it."

"Once we get it established, we can pull the swords out and go at it again," McKinney said.

In other action, the board:

• Approved a proposal to expand parking at Drake Field by 100 spaces. The extension of the employee-permit lot will cost about $60,000.

• Elected Truman Smith vice chairman and John Gearhart secretary.

• Learned the airport will receive $1,011,000 in federal airport improvement program funds this year. The money will be used for ramp improvements, acquisition of new fire and rescue equipment and relocation of a fire station and storage facility.

• Reviewed plans for replacement of a sign at the airport. The original sign was destroyed in a storm last month.