Skydive Laconia
Just a quick update.
We got a copy of the second ADO report today.
The report was basically a regurgitation of the original report, even produced by the same FAA agent at Airports. (Ironic, huh?)
Anyways, the good news is atleast this time the title wasn't biased.....lol
I'd have to write a book to explain the process, but the unabridged version is that the ADO continued to use an evaluation process that has nothing to do with our business or proposal.
Some items of note though:
1) They stated (on FAA letterhead) that jet pilots are just too busy in the cockpit on approach to have to be bothered with "See and Avoid" procedures. Really. Apparently the ADO has now gone on record stating that the pilot SOPs for landing that you are required to follow are now determined by the size of plane that you fly. Really? Wow. "See and Avoid" is a procedure EVERY pilot is supposed to do while flying.
2) They again stated that student pilots have a greater right to the airport than our business. That they keep putting this discriminatory statement on FAA letterhead is really odd. But they continue to do it none the less.
The list goes on and on, but you get the idea.
That's the bad news, but honestly, it was entirely expected.
These people at the ADO are engineers, not aviators. They have (and continue to) apply the wrong set of criteria in attempting to assert their role in this process.
The good news is that meetings are already scheduled with the FAA in Washington to address this (yet again) entirely biased and grossly inaccurate report.
So.......when the Citizen, Laconia Sun or Gilford Steamer report that the FAA again found the airport unsafe for skydiving, take it with a grain of salt. The "FAA" didn't find anything wrong with our proposal, the local ADO used inappropriate criteria to form a flawed evaluation. Again.
When this process is over, we will be vindicated and the FAA will have established a clearly defined process that allows for every aeronautical activity governed by the FAA it's rightful place in the sky and on the airport, even at the Laconia Airport.
Blue skies to all and to all a good flight,
Tom
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