MORE ON THE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN

This is from the city’s corrective action plan

4.       Rotating beacon inoperative: Repairs completed February 7, 2013. Verbal report of broken green lens  inspected March 5, 2013 and found inaccurate. Airport lighting shall be maintained so long as good faith   negotiation continues toward closure. Upon termination of positive discussion regarding closure only those repairs and upgrades for which appropriate documentation can be provided will be considered.

7.       Runway lights broken and mounted improperly: Lighting repairs completed January 22, 2013. All runway lights operational and mounted in accordance with regulations. Airport lighting shall be maintained so long as good faith negotiation continues toward closure. Upon termination of positive discussion regarding closure only those repairs and upgrades for which appropriate documentation can be provided will be considered.

        The green lens was originally mounted to the weather pod of the beacon, instead of mounted on the exterior according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, and according to the manufacture, would probably fail in the first 24 hrs. of operation, which it did.  The green lens was overheated by the bulb, and cracked and fell out of the pod and was lying on the ground.  The green lens was installed according to the manufactures recommendations and continues to function properly.

        The Feds replied with;

For Item 4, “Rotating Beacon Inoperative”, and Item 7, “Runway Lights Broken and Mounted Improperly”, ongoing routine maintenance must continue regardless of the status of negotiations on the City s closure request. An acceptable corrective action plan will include a commitment from the City to ongoing routine maintenance of the rotating beacon and the runway lighting system and will not condition that commitment on the outcome of closure discussions.

What does this mean?

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 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.

In addition, under AIP grants, the duration of the terms, conditions, and assurances do not expire with respect to real property acquired with federal funds (land and appurtenances, when applicable)

This means the land and everything attached to it.