Wingtips Sep-Oct 1998

• September 8, 1927: The Cessna Aircraft Company is established in Wichita, Kansas.
• September 13, 1935: Howard Hughes sets an aviation speed record of 352.38 mph.
• September 24, 1929: James H. Doolittle makes the first recorded solo instrument landing.
• November 1, 1941: The Civil Aeronautics Administration begins to operate airport traffic control towers for the first time.
• November 21, 1977: The Concorde lands after having made its first flight from London, England.
• November 29, 1920: The start of the first regular mail service from the Twin Cities to Chicago.

Source: Minnesota DOT, Office of Aeronautics, 1998 Calendar. 

A poll commissioned by The Professional Pilot Magazine found among other results that the best Control Towers are as follow:

1. Chicago ORD
2. Washington DCA
3. Teterboro TEB
4. Atlanta ATL
5. Dallas Love DAL
6. New York La Guardia LGA
7. Van Nuys VNY
8. Dallas-Fort Worth DFW
9. Memphis MEM
10. Chicago Midway MDW
11. Houston HOU

The poll, in its 24th year, is administered by the Alexandria, Virgina, accounting firm of Minter, Morrison and Grant. The firm tallied and certified 5,820 ballots it received from Pro Pilot readers. Seven judges witnessed the tallying of the results and verified their authenticity ad resolved any ties. Consequently, the poll is generally recognized as the principal authority on who’s the best of the best in ground service.

Source: Flyer, April 3, 1998.

Asphalt pavement cracks and deterioration often start in the joints between the paving lanes. Continuous highway traffic runs parallel to the joints and kneads the flexible pavement into the joints, thus preventing cracks from starting. On airport pavements, however, joint density is especially important because airport traffic flows randomly and crosses joints, unlike traffic following a highway lane.

Engineers can extend the life of the airport pavement and reduce the likelihood of cracks by ensuring high density, particularly in the area of the joints. When constructing pavement, engineers consider both the size of the grains of aggregate (usually lime rock) and the amount of liquid asphalt.

To understand the engineer’s challenge, imagine pouring water into a jar filled with marbles. If all the marbles are the same size, the large spaces between the marbles allow plenty of room for water. If the marbles vary in size, smaller marbles can fill spaces between large marbles thus increasing the density of the jar’s contents. In the same way, engineers use varying sizes of aggregate thus filling as many spaces as possible to increase overall pavement density.

SOURCE: Florida Flyer, Winter 1998

The Regional Air Service Task Force and other interested parties met on Thursday, September 3 to review, discuss and approve a proposal for an in-depth statewide study on air service in Texas. The primary objectives of the study will be to identify existing air service levels at airports that wish to participate in the study and determine what airports could do to attract airline interest to their areas. Some airport officials, realizing that the results of the study can show negatively on their airports, nevertheless voted to commission the study and to begin gathering possible information on candidates for airport consultants. The research, additionally, will estimate the degree of leakage-passengers driving to larger airports for lower fares and better travel options-at participating airports. Most importantly, the study will analyze the potential for improved air service at Texas airports and perhaps assess the potential impacts on increased service.

More information on this task force’s progress will be reported in the next Wingtips newsletter.

By Jerry Daleiden, P.E. and Tim Martin, EIT, Brent Rauhut Engineering

AUSTIN-Non-destructive structural evaluations have proven to be a cost-effective tool for agencies to assess existing conditions of in-service pavements.

During a recent project at the Mesquite Airport, non-destructive testing practices were employed to evaluate a tie-down apron using an 8000E falling weight deflectometer (FWD) to conduct structural evaluations. The FWD test results allowed engineers to evaluate the structural capacity of the existing apron and locate areas of weakness in the pavement and subgrade. The joints of the concrete pavement were tested with the FWD to determine the joint transfer efficiencies, which indicate the effectiveness of the dowels to transfer the load from one slab to the other.

Geotechnical investigations were also conducted to ascertain the thickness of the pavement and determine the base and subgrade material properties. The geotechnical investigation provided site-specific conditions of the soils. This was valuable for determining the moisture content of the soil. The test results identified areas of weaknesses where moisture was pooling beneath the pavement surface. Once the extent of the weaknesses and their causes were determined, it was possible to recommend cost effective maintenance and rehabilitation strategies.

A remaining life analysis was also conducted to determine the amount of lightweight aircraft that could be applied before failure should be anticipated in the pavement. Failure of a pavement can be measured in many ways. In this particular investigation, failure was assessed on the basis of accumulated damage. This was calculated by determining the amount of damage applied by the stresses of one aircraft, before the accumulated stress exceeded the strength. Once the amount of allowable aircraft was determined, an estimate of the annual traffic was then med to calculate the number of years the pavement could be in-service before rehabilitation was required.

Hill County and Hillsboro – Hill County was created in 1853 out of a wilderness populated by small bands of Indians, horse soldiers, bear, antelope, buffalo, wild horses and deer.

Hillsboro was settled by strong-hearted pioneers who saw the value of the Cross-Timber Region as a natural resource of timber for homes and good soil conducive to cotton production. The abundant natural artesian 1 wells were attractive to both early settlers and native Indians, such as the Cherokees, Comanches, and the friendly Kickapoos.

The first Hill County Courthouse was constructed of elm poles, clapboard and dirt floors, and measured 12 feet square. Three more structures served as courthouses on this site until the present Second Empire Courthouse structure was built in 1890 for $83,000. Hillsboro Municipal Airport is owned by the City of Hillsboro. Airport attendance schedule is from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The airport manager is Bill Mclelland, P.O. Box 568, Hillsboro TX 76645, 254/582-3478.

POINTS OF INTEREST: (I) Market Depot, (2) Old Hillsboro Cemetery, (3) Hill County Cell Block Museum, (4) Old City Park, (5) Texas Heritage Museum, and (6) Residential National Register Historic District.

SOURCE: Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce.

Adam Liddell, 17 years old, from Fort Davis High School in Fort Davis, Texas won First Place International, Category 111, in the 1998 Art Contest. The international judging was held in England on July 1-4, 1998. Liddell received a Gold Medal from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI). Award ceremonies were held in France.

Last year, Texas also had a First Place International winner in Category Ill. Catherine Choi, 17 years old, from Clear Brook High School in Friendswood, Texas won the award.

Special thanks to our state judges for 1998 International Aviation Art Contest: Mel Brown, Texas Aviation Artists; Michelle Hannah, TxDOT Aviation Division; Rob Bishop, TxDOT Electronic Publishing; and Colly Kreidler of Rain Dog Studio.

Congratulations again to Adam Liddell!

Let’s keep the record going and go for another international award in 1999!

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. won the American Helicopter Society’s prestigious Igor 1. Sikorsky International Trophy in April 1997 because of native Texans John W. Williams of Arlington and Ron Bower of Austin. These pilots assured themselves a place in aviation history by establishing a new around-the-world-speed record in a helicopter.

The feat was accomplished in a Fort Worth-based, twin-engine Bell 430 helicopter that flew westward from London, England on August 17, 1996; returning to London on September 3. The world record of 17 days, six hours, 14 minutes, and 25 seconds is notably entered in the Guinness Book of Records. The flight covered 23,600 statute miles over 14 countries, including Russia, where, with a navigator-interpreter aboard, the pilots made 18 landings. The journey covered every state except Hawaii and was instrumental in the team gathering extensive data for a pilot-fatigue study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Williams is a senior test pilot for Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc, Fort Worth, Texas and Bower is president of Austin Jet International, Austin, Texas.

Of historical note, Williams comes from a family of Texas’ most active pioneers – a great-great grandson of an early Texas settler named Leonard Williams. Leonard Williams was a Texas pioneer; soldier; and Indian agent who made history in early Texas as an interpreter and negotiator for the ‘Texians’ with various Indian tribes. Arriving in northern Texas in 1819 with his family, the senior Williams quickly began his service for Texas Independence. Leonard Williams died on April 14, 1854 and is buried on private land in Limestone County. The U.S. Congressional Record of April 8, 1965 cites his service to Texas and by the Texas Legislature in May 1965. A historical marker on Texas 31 near Mount Calm is placed in his honor.

Source: Texas Highways, August 1998

Airport Grant Program Approved

On August 26, 1998, the Texas Transportation Commission approved the TxDOT Aviation Facilities Grant Program for Fiscal Year 1999 which will provide funding for airport improvement projects at 40 communities across the state. Most of the grant requests approved by the Commission were for airport planning or engineering design for future construction projects. As the design for each individual project is completed, a follow-up request will be made to the Commission for approval of the actual construction funding. Total grant funding for FY99 is expected to be between $37 million and $40 million; which includes $15 million in state funding and $22 million to $25 million in federal funding, depending upon the level of funding authorized by Congress. It is anticipated that Congress will pass legislation authorizing FY99 funding prior to October 1.

Increase In Funding for Routine Airport Maintenance

On August 29, 1996, the Texas Transportation Commission authorized a new program, the Routine Airport Maintenance Program (RAMP), to provide financial and technical assistance to communities to assist in preserving the investment being made in local airports. Beginning September 1, 1996, the Department provided, to each community that wished to participate in the program, a grant of up to $10,000 per year for routine maintenance on a SO/SO matching basis. District field personnel were also made available to provide recommendations as to what type of maintenance work was needed. Due to the success of the program, the high priority that TxDOT places on maintenance, and the fact that maintenance work frequently exceeds the $20,000 combined state/local funding; the Commission recently approved an increase in state funding up to $20,000 per airport per year for routine airport maintenance beginning September 1, 1998. This effectively doubles the amount of maintenance funds available for individual airports. In addition, the program has been given more flexibility as to eligible work items and in how the work is accomplished. If you would like more details on any aspect of RAMP call Karon Wiedemann in our office at 1/800-68-PILOT.

AUSTIN-When many of us think of general aviation airports, if we think of them at all, we may think that they have nothing to do with us. But the impact these facilities have on the lives of the average Texan might surprise you.

Another thing that might surprise you is the role the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plays in general aviation. In addition to building and maintaining the highway system we all enjoy and from which we all benefit, TxDOT also helps protect and enhance the investment in the state’s aviation system.

More than 300 Texas communities enjoy the benefits of a public airport. These airports are the base for more than 3 million flight hours per year – flights that provide services that might not be available without an airport.

General aviation airports basically provide the same services that commercial airports do, but on a smaller scale. More importantly, they are part of the community infrastructure that serves and benefits the entire community. General aviation airports are divided into four categories. Reliever airports attract general aviation traffic in metropolitan areas to reduce congestion at commercial airports. Transport airports provide access to turboprop and business jet aircraft and most single and twin-engine piston-powered aircraft. General utility airports provide access to smaller communities, and provide limited access to business jets. Basic utility airports provide access to communities for purposes such as agricultural or medical use.

Aviation has an impact on Texas economy of at least $45 billion per year and supports a variety of businesses large and small.

The ways in which a general aviation airport supports its community are manifold. When air travelers-businessmen, tourists, hunters, fishermen-outside a region use a general aviation airport, the entire community benefits. These travelers spend money throughout the community on accommodations, food, shopping and recreation. The money is then re-circulated by the residents on many of the same goods and services. Consequently, this increased business is called the “multiplier effect.”

Agriculture also benefits from aviation. Pest control was one of the earliest uses of aircraft within farming communities. Now, with high tech agricultural methods, such as hydro-seeding, aviation has become an integral part of the modern farmer’s tools.

Improved air access to a community also translates into other benefits. Travelling doctors provide critical medical services to residents of rural communities, and emergency air ambulances transport patients to trauma facilities in larger cities. And the speed and convenience that flying affords, also makes it a valuable tool for veterinarians.

Communities also benefit in ways not commonly associated with aviation. Law enforcement activities, such as aerial surveillance and apprehension of suspects are often overlooked. Using planes is increasing as law enforcement agencies recognize the efficiency and effectiveness of general aviation, particularly in remote areas.

To provide adequate air access to communities within the state, TxDOT has developed the Texas Airport System Plan (TASP). Its goal is to promote and improve the statewide system of airports similar to the interconnecting system of highways that serves our state so well. TxDOT Aviation Division provides technical assistance, including reviewing airport layout plans, evaluating obstructions and the location of proposed new construction, preparing zoning packages and obtaining environmental clearances.

TxDOT can help a community improve its airport through the Aviation Capitol Improvement Program. This program identifies specific projects for development during an upcoming three-year period. TxDOT Aviation Division programs projects for general aviation airports identified in the state system plan. Many communities will benefit from the program this year as the Texas Transportation Commission is expected to approve more than 37 million in grants for airports around the state.

Grants are used by communities to establish, construct, reconstruct, enlarge or repair their airports.

TxDOT also assists airport sponsors with the upkeep of their airports. Many communities partner with TxDOT in the Routine Airport Maintenance Program (RAMP). RAMP uses TxDOT resources to help with pavement repair and markings, drainage improvements and general maintenance.

Certainly, aviation plays a great role in the welfare of all Texans, and TxDOT is in the vanguard with its support.