A CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN

The city has a hard time grasping the meaning of the words “corrective action plan”.  What it is going to come down to is that St. Clair is going to have to be run just like any other airport in the system.  What this also means that everything that the city has done to destroy the airport, will have to be redone at the city’s expense, since they gave all the grant money back.  What the local news publication did not report, is that the airport still has $450,000 in entitlement grants waiting to be used.  The word entitlement, means that it is money already approved for the St. Clair airport, all the city needs to do to get it is apply.  It is not a competitive process.   

An acceptable corrective action plan will include a commitment from the City to ongoing routine maintenance of grass and weeds in cracks on pavement surfaces. 

What does the FAA have to say about this? 

b. Airport Facilities to be Maintained.

This section applies to all airport facilities shown on the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) as initially dedicated to aviation use by an instrument of transfer or federal grant agreement. Essentially this

From a compliance standpoint, airport operations also encompasssafety issues. For example, airport sponsors are required to inspect runways, taxiways, and other common-use paved areas at regular intervals to ensure compliance with operational and maintenance standards. Sponsors must make routine repairs, such as filling, sealing cracks, and repainting markings (as shown here)to prevent progressive pavement deterioration. (Photo: FAA)

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means that the sponsor cannot discontinue maintenance of a runway or taxiway or any other part

of the airport used by aircraft until the FAA formally relieves the sponsor of the federal

maintenance obligation. The federal obligations of the sponsor remain in force throughout the

useful life of the facility, but no longer than 20 years – except for land that specifically obligates

the airport in perpetuity.

7.3. Grant Assurance 19, Operation and Maintenance. Grant Assurance 19, Operation and

Maintenance, is the most encompassing federal grant assurance related to airport maintenance.

It requires the sponsor to operate and maintain the airport’s aeronautical facilities – including

pavement – in a safe and serviceable condition in accordance with the standards set by applicable

federal, state, and local agencies. FAA pavement guidance applies.

7.4. Maintenance Procedures. Generally, airport agreements require the sponsor to carry out a

continuing program of preventive and remedial maintenance. The maintenance program is

intended to ensure that the airport facilities are at all times in good and serviceable condition to

use in the way they were designed. Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5380-7A, Airport Pavement

Management Program, discusses the Airport Pavement Management System (APMS) concept,

its essential components, and how it can be used to make cost-effective decisions about

pavement maintenance and rehabilitation. The airport agreement may express or imply such

maintenance requirements and include specific federal obligations such as:

a. Frequently check all structures for deterioration and repair.

b. Inspect runways, taxiways, and other common-use paved areas at regular intervals to ensure

compliance with operational and maintenance standards, to prevent progressive pavement

deterioration, and to make routine repairs such as filling and sealing cracks.c. Inspect gravel runways, taxiways, and common-use paved areas at regular intervals to ensurecompliance with operational and maintenance standards, to prevent progressive deterioration ofoperation areas, and to make routine repairs including filling holes and grading.

d. Inspect turf airfields at regular intervals to ensure there are no holes or depressions, andotherwise to ensure that all turf areas are preserved through clearing, seeding, fertilizing, and

mowing.

e. Maintain field lighting and Visual Approach Slope Indicators (VASIs) in a safe and operable

condition at all times. When conditions dictate, realign VASIs on a regular basis.

f. Maintain airfield signage in a safe and operable condition at all times.

g. Frequently inspect segmented circles and wind cones to ensure accurate readings and proper

functioning.

h. Frequently inspect all drainage structures including subdrain outlets to ensure unobstructed

drainage.

i. Frequently check all approaches to ensure conformance with federal obligations.