Wingtips Dec 1999

Originally published in 1999
By Sandra Gaither
Aviation Division

The first set of compliance terms and conditions that this article will address is the airport sponsor’s obligation to establish and maintain ownership and control of the airport property.

If your airport has ever been improved through state or federal grant funds, these contractual obligations were created in the “Sponsor’s Assurances,” which were explained in our last Wingtips issue. They may also have been created, if a public sponsor accepted a transfer or release from the United States government. Many of our public aviation facilities were returned to various local communities as part of the Surplus Property Act after World War II. Although some of these documents vary in their exact terms, there are common obligations for which the airport owner/sponsor is responsible.

The sponsor will use its powers to prevent any construction or use of the land within and outside the boundaries of the airport, which would constitute a hazard to the landing, taking off, or maneuvering of aircraft or otherwise limit the usefulness of the airport. This may be accomplished by establishing areas of specific land use within the airport boundaries, enforcing rights granted to the airport sponsor in easements adjacent to airport property, adopting and utilizing hazard zoning around the airport, and adopting and utilizing comprehensive land use policies within the community including the airport.

The building areas and non-aviation facilities of the airport will be used for or improved only in such a manner which does not interfere with the efficient operation of the landing area and airport facilities. This may be accomplished by adopting minimum standards for development, adhering to the development identified on an approved Airport Layout Plan (ALP) and coordinating proposed development with the TxDOT Aviation Division.

No property will be designated and/or used for other than for aviation purposes, leased, sold or disposed of without state and federal approval. To support this requirement, each airport is required to have an Airport Property Map, also referred to as the Exhibit “A” Property Map, as part of the ALP. This map delineates all property owned by the Sponsor which has been dedicated as airport property. It describes whether the property was conveyed from the federal government, donated to the sponsor, acquired with grant funds, or purchased solely with local funds. This visual representation supports the requirement that the sponsor holds good title to the airport and describes the property rights that the sponsor holds in each tract of land making up the airport.

Along with specific obligations created through grants contracts or conveyance of property rights, once land is identified on the Exhibit “A” as airport property the Sponsor may not thereafter dispose of or use this land for “other than aeronautical” purposes without state and FAA consent.

Our next article on Airport Compliance Matters will cover the process and requirements for requesting approval for a change of use of airport property from aeronautical to non-aeronautical and requesting approval for the sale of airport property.

Originally published in 1999

Dec. 28 – First time that an airplane reaches 20,000 feet, 1913.

Jan. 13 – NASA selects the first group of women astronauts, 1978.

Jan. 26 – Glenn Curtiss flies the first seaplane, the Curtis single-float plane, 1911.

Feb 14 – The D-4 Douglas airliner makes its first flight. It is the first land plane to be used by airlines for ocean-crossing routes, 1942.

Feb. 22 – Transcontinental airmail service begins in the U.S., 1923.

Source: Minnesota DOT. Office of Aeronautics, /999 Calendar.

Originally published in 1999

• TRIBUTE TO TUSKEGEE HEROES-A famous squadron from the past will play a role in the future. The legendary 100th Flying Training Squadron was recently reactivated as part of the Air Force Reserve out of Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. In 1942, the 100th FTS was known as the 100th Fighter Squadron and was one of the four original all black flying squadrons from Tuskegee Army Air Base, AL. With the reactivation, two former Tuskegee units will call Randolph AFB home.
• NASM DONATION LARGEST IN SMITHSONIAN HISTORY-The National Air & Space Museum’s expansion plans took a giant leap forward this fall when American businessman Steven F. Udvar-Hazy announced he would donate $60 million to help build a museum annex. UdvarHazy is giving the money towards an annex to be built at Dulles International Airport. The $60 million gift is part of a $130 million campaign to pay for the Dulles annex, which will house NASM’s largest spacecraft and airplanes.
• HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AVIATOR: Aviator Evelyn Johnson turned 90 years young on Nov. 4, 1999. She was honored in November by Woman Pilot magazine as a recipient of one of its annual Woman Pilot Awards. The award recognizes the unsung heroines who are doing extraordinary things for aviation. Evelyn is a long time personal friend of TxDOT Aviation Division Director Dave Fulton, having served on his state aviation board during his tenure as director of aviation in Tennessee.
• JOHN GLENN-THE THIRD AMERICAN IN SPACE: Our oldest space traveler has published his autobiography on the anniversary of his return to space at age 77. “John Glenn: A Memoir” hit the bookstores recently and offers his take on how a “straight arrow” may have cost him the honor of being “First American in Space.” When NASA asked the original seven astronauts to vote on who should be in the first in space if they couldn’t go, Alan Sheppard won- and Glenn says he lost because he’d been scolding his astromates about their skirt-chasing.
• YOUNG-AT-HEART PILOTS IS OLD NEWS: Pilot Ralph Charles is still in flyable condition, too. Charles, of Somerset Ohio, celebrated his 100th birthday in October. Happy Birthday, indeed!
• “MASTER MECHANIC AWARD” PRESENTATION: Charles Taylor, from Ranger, Texas, was honored this fall during a fly-in sponsored by EAA Chapter 956 at Ranger Airport. This award was initiated by the Federal Aviation Administration and which recognizes mechanics-unsung heroes of aviation- who have been in aviation maintenance for 50 or more years. Bernard Mullins, FAA representative, from the Fort Worth regional office presented the award.
• EAA AIRVENTURE ’99 GRAND CHAMPIONS & MAJOR AWARD WINNERS FROM TEXAS:
  • l) Classic Aircraft-Best Custom Class D (236 hp & up): Dave Cole, Wilis, Texas, Cessna 195B (N195S); and Best Beechcraft: John Pinson, Harker Heights, Texas, Beech 35 (N3935N),
  • 2) Contemporary Aircraft-Outstanding In Type-Beech Multi Engine: Ronald Hyde, Kennedy, Texas, 1959 Beech El 85S (N3 l 7MH) and Cessna 310: R. Dean Callan, Southlake, Texas 1958 Cessna 310 (N6644B),
  • 3) Other Major Awards- Paul Poberezny Founder’s Award for Classic Homebuilt: T. R. Meyer, Lewsiville, Texas, Meyers Little Toot (N62TR), 4) EAA Aviation Foundation Scholarship AwardsTeledyne Continental Aviation Excellence Scholarship: Robert Rothman, Rockwall, Texas, and Spartan Scholarships: Phillip S. Hull, Canyon Lake, Texas; Roy Sagebiel , Willow City, Texas; Jeremy D. Spence, San Antonio, Texas; Alexander Rosado, San Antonio, Texas; Jackson Barroso, San Antonio, Texas, and John R. Rodriguez, San Marcos Texas.
• HARDIN COUNTY HAWTHORNE FIELD AIRPORT (Kountze/Silsbee): Southern Avionics Company of Beaumont donated and installed at no charge a nondirectional radio beacon which will emit a continuous identifier allowing planes to locate the airport. The beacon replaces a 20-year-old beacon.
• AERIAL FIREFIGHTERS: Carl and Carla Payne with their Air Tractor were recently staged at the Smithville Airport ready to respond to calls to drop retardant directly on a fire to help extinguish it, or in front of a fire to help prevent its spread. Their plane is classified as a “Single Engine Air Tanker,” which can carry 800 gallons of fertilizer and water mix that happens to work as a fire retardant. The Air Tractor was made in Olney by Leland Snow; it is powered by a 1,325 horsepower engine and a gross weight of 16,000 lbs.
• MASTER CFI-Carla Corrine Dedera of Giddings, Texas has been designated as a Master CFI (Certificated Flight Instructor) by the National Association of Flight Instructors. Congratulations Carla!

Originally published in 1999

On Oct. 28, 1999, the Texas Transportation Commission reappointed Mark Huffstutler from Uvalde to his second three-year term on the Aviation Advisory Board. The Commission also appointed a new member, Clyde Barton, from Brazoria County to a three-year term.

Mark Huffstutler is the airport manager at Gamer Field in Uvalde and is also the president/director of Uvalde Flight Center, Inc., and Sierra Industries, one of the leading Cessna Citation repair and modification companies in the world. Sierra Industries was recognized in 1991 by INC Magazine as one of the 500 fastest growing private companies in America. A 1979 graduate from Southwest Texas Junior College, Huffstutler is an Eagle Scout, and has received the National Aeronautic Association Exceptional Service Award, and the Exceptional Achievement Award from the Soaring Society of America. He is also the holder of FAI World Speed Record in Group III Class CI – Cessna Citation.

Huffstutler was team captain of the U.S. Soaring Team and traveled with the team this summer to Bayreuth, Germany to compete in the World Soaring Competition. His term expires Aug. 31, 2002.

Clyde E. Barton is a licensed commercial pilot; multi-engine-rated on land and sea. Barton formed his business firm, Barton Company, Inc., in 1983; and is currently on retainer as a primary consultant for the firm which purchased his company in 1998. In addition to managing a successful business, he is a former director of Chemical National Bank, Association of Builders and Contractors, Contractors Safety Council, and a former board member of the Texas Industrial Painting Company.

Furthermore, Barton is a Lone Star Flight Museum sponsor who donated an L29 Delphin in 1998 to the museum. He is also a member of the Seaplane Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, North American Trainer Association, and a lifetime member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Currently, Barton owns and operates a Grumman Albatross, North American T28, Cessna 421, and a Grumman F97 Panther Jet.

His term expires on Aug. 31, 2002.