Wingtips Volume 2 - Number 1

West Texas and the Panhandle saw major projects completed recently at Slaton Municipal, Post- Garza County, Seminole-Gaines County, Levelland and Dimmitt Municipal Airports. The projects included environmental assessments, when required; acquisition of land; runway overlays; major reconstruction or extension of runways, aprons and taxiways; installation of fencing; and lighting improvements.

The City of Hillsboro opened a brand new airport on October 23, 1993. The airport project included purchase of the land, construction of the runway, taxi- way, and entrance road. The airport has a modern terminal with a large parking lot, and an automatic fuel facility dispensing both jet fuel and AVGAS, which can be accessed by transient pilots. The airport’s dedication ceremony attracted area dignitaries, musicians from Hill Community College Band, many aviation enthusiasts, and a number of classic aircraft.

Fredericksburg-Gillespie County Airport construction project included extension of the runway, construction of a parallel taxiway, reconstruction of an apron, lighting improvements, and rehabilitation of pavement markings. The project also required the acquisition and relocation of recreational facilities (four baseball fields, restrooms and a concession stand) at a neighboring park, as well as relocation of the entrance road to Lady Bird Johnson State Park.

Because of the long lead time involved in the state and federal airport improvement funding process, it is important that airport sponsors anticipate needs and plan ahead. From the time a request for funding is received by the Aviation Division to the time a project may actually be implemented, five years can elapse. The Aviation Division often receives sponsor requests for projects that are “needed yesterday” but we cannot accommodate them. We recommend that every airport sponsor anticipate both routine maintenance projects and other capital improvements so that they can be programmed in the appropriate year-when they are really needed.

A lot of things are currently happening that will affect the future of aviation in Texas, some good, some not so good. From time to time, I’ll pass information on to you about the changes ahead. Currently, some of these are:

The Global Positioning Satellite System: The FAA appears to be making good progress implementing the Global Positioning Satellite System (GPS) for instrument flight rules use. On December 8, 1993, the FAA approved the GPS system for Initial Operational Capability (IOC) which signifies that the satellite component of the system is ready for use. This step had to be taken before any GPS receivers could be used for airborne navigation. Two companies have developed receivers which have been approved for “supplemental” use in enroute navigation. This means that the GPS system can be used for navigation as long as another approved system is available onboard the aircraft. The next step in the process is approval of a receiver for independent enroute and instrument approach use. Once receivers have been approved in accordance with FAA TSO C129, Class A1, which is anticipated to occur soon, they can be used to fly both enroute and NDB, VOR, VOR-DME, or RNAV approaches using GPS alone. Finally, it is expected that GPS system will become usable for precision approaches at some time in the future; however, no firm dates as to when this will occur are available at this time. The GPS system is a giant step forward in support of instrument flight, particularly for general aviation airports.

Delay in Federal Funding: The Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program which is administered by our Division expired on September 30, 1993. Congress has been working on reauthorization of this program and it is anticipated that the new funding program should become available within the next month or two. Unfortunately, it appears that Congress will probably pass another one year program, instead of a more desirable three or five year program, which means we will probably be experiencing another delay this time next year. More seriously, the total federal funding authorization nationally is being reduced by about one hundred million dollars, compared to last year’s allocation. This means that instead of Texas receiving an entitlement of approximately fifteen million dollars for general aviation airport development, we will receive only about thirteen million. Fortunately, the FAA has promised us some additional discretionary money; however, it is clear that future federal funding for general aviation airports will likely continue to decline. Obviously, now more than ever, we must significantly increase the amount of state funding in our airport grant program.

Texas Airport Operator’s Conference: Plans are well underway for this year’s conference to be held in Austin on April 20-22. Whether you are an airport operator, a city or county official, an aircraft owner or pilot, or simply someone who is interested in the future of aviation in Texas, I would encourage you to attend. If we are to move forward in improving airport facilities in Texas, we must join together and begin working toward a common goal. This conference provides an excellent opportunity to start consolidating our efforts.

In the first project of its kind for TxDOT, the Aviation Division and the Lufkin District Office have become partners to facilitate the extension of the runway at Center Municipal Airport from 4000 feet to 5000 feet. The extension requires relocation of a county road which is maintained by TxDOT. The District is conducting an environmental assessment on the impacts of the road relocation, the results of which will be incorporated into the environmental assessment for the runway extension. The Division and the District are looking forward to working together to produce a first class project.

The Aviation Division was presented with a “Certificate of Recognition” by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for TXDOT’s administration of the State Block Grant Program in Texas. The program is a unique arrangement between the FAA and state aviation agencies which gives the state a greater role in the administration of federal airport improvement funds. Texas was one of only seven states selected to participate in the FAA program. The award was presented to the Division by Otis Welch, Manager of the FAA Texas Airport Development Office during the January 27th Texas Transportation Commission meeting.

Bill Gunn grew up living and learning aviation. Like his father, Bill is a highly decorated US Air Force combat veteran and career officer. With his diverse experience from work as an air show display pilot in the British Isles to currency as a corporate pilot, he has made a career of “giving” to the aviation community. As a flight instructor, he has successfully trained pilots for FAA ratings from private pilot through airline transport pilot. Gunn has worked tirelessly as an advocate of aviation safety and promoter of general aviation.

In December, the FAA “gave back” to Bill Gunn by presenting him with the designation “Flight Instructor of the Year for the FAA Southwest Region.” Owen Russell, Accident Prevention Program Manager for the FAA San Antonio Flight Standards District Office presented Gunn with a plaque and letter from the FAA Regional Administrator noting; “Mr. Gunn was not only selected as the instructor of the year for the states of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, he was also selected as “runner-up” for Flight Instructor of the Year for the United States.”

Mr. Gunn has been a CFI instructor for the TxDOT Flight Instructor Refresher Clinics for the last five years. Mr. Dave Fulton, Director of TxDOT’s Aviation Division was present to congratulate Mr. Gunn on the well deserved award.