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FAA changes mind, CATF frequency to stayBy Sharon Kivisto posted 07/22/03 2:35 p.m.
Friday Harbor Port Director Steve Simpson said, "We are extremely happy, surprised and very pleased." The Port Commissioners, staff and local pilots had raised concerns about air traffic safety if the CATF was taken away. The area served by the CATF includes 33 airstrips. Pilots and Port Commissioners from Friday Harbor and Lopez contacted Rep. Rick Larsen's office. On July 9, 2003 Larsen convinced FAA Deputy Director of Airways and Facility Service to reevaluate the situation in light of the pilots' concerns. The FAA agreed to stay the decision for five years. At that time it will be reevaluated. Larsen said, "I applaud the FAA and appreciate its understanding of the local pilots' concerns." Larsen said the change would not have happened without the work of local pilots and elected officials. He noted his Senior Legislative Assistant Evan Schatz worked hard on the situation. At a Port meeting earlier in the year, Schatz had won praise from the Friday Harbor Port Commissioners and a standing invitation for dinner whenever he's in the islands. Fight re frequency change far from finishedposted 06/12/03
The commission has been lobbying against the removal of the CATF. First they were told it was mistakenly assigned to the area. Then they were told it was going to be assigned to the East Coast. Last week they were informed the frequency had been traded to Canada as part of an international treaty. Port Director Steve Simpson asked FAA Northwest Mountain Region Executive Staff Officer Diane Fuller for documentation about the treaty. "She sent us reference material and we couldn't make heads or tails of it," he said. "We have to take it as truth for now." San Juan Island resident Will Hamilton also reviewed the documentation and couldn't find any references to the frequency. Hamilton asked Fuller for an explanation. She replied that the FAA was drawing up a concept paper which would be shared with the Port Commission and the San Juan County Board of Commissioners. Dissatisfied with the answer, Hamilton contacted Evan Schatz, senior legislative assistant to Congressman Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) Hamilton was in Washington, D.C. last week and met Schatz. He was impressed with the legislative assistant's knowledge of the issue. In a sharply worded email to Fuller, Schatz wrote:
Port Commissioner Greg Hertel called the quick response from Larsen's office "amazing." He offered to treat Schatz to dinner if he visits the island. Hamilton said, "I want to personally congratulate Larsen for his efforts in this regard." Calvert, a Republican, said, "As much as it pains me, I agree." The text of the emails are posted below. Email from San Juan Island pilot Will Hamilton to Diane Fuller, FAA Northwest Mountain Region Executive Staff Officer, ANM-4Hi Diane I am working with a group of concerned stakeholders who are taking a closer look at the proposed CTAF change in the vicinity of the San Juan Islands. We have researched Title 47 (Frequency Allocations and Treaty Matters), Section 87 of the FCC Regulations, the 2002 Federal Register Notice on updates to the International Table, and the June 3, 2003 FCC Frequency Allocation, and nowhere can we any reference that continued use of this frequency would violate international treaty. I was told that you would be able to provide the necessary details and supporting references. Can you help me here? Please advise. Thank you. Will Hamilton Fuller's email reply to HamiltonMr. Hamilton, based on the outcomes of a meeting held at the end of May between FAA, State Aviation Director John Sibold, and Rep. Larsen staff, it was determined that FAA, with the assistance of FCC, would develop a concept paper that will address the San Juan Islands common frequency issue background, FCC rules and scope, impacts of not changing the frequency, proposed implementation plan to effect the change, benefits to users, impacts to users and mitigation of impacts, responsibilities, and timeline for implementation. FAA will use this information to brief the Commissioners of Port of Friday Harbor, San Juan County, and Port of Anacortes sometime during the July-August timeframe. Airport managers will be invited to these commission meetings. The concept paper will be made available to the meeting attendees. When the concept paper is finalized, we will provide you with a copy. The paper will address the international aspect of the regulations and our responsibilities under the regulations. I want to emphasize that no change to the frequency will be made until the end of December 2003. Diane Fuller Email from Evan T. Schatz Senior Legislative Assistant Congressman Rick Larsen's Office to FullerDiane: The Congressman was wondering if you could explain the nature of the agreement that granted the frequency for use in Canada. Where it will be used? How was the decision was made? When was it was made? which agency and agency office made it? And where is the process is as far as the transition? At the meeting at the end of May the use of the frequency in Canada was discussed as a potential problem not something that had been decided. From talking with FAA staff out here the international treaty issue seemed to be based on the type of frequency in relation to Canadian airspace, it appears now the international issue was that Canada has been granted the frequency. Can you outline the situation for me. When our office first approached the FAA we were told the change had to take place because the FCC mandated the change and that it was the wrong frequency assignment for the area. That has now led to the fact that the FCC had passed the frequency off to Canada. To start with I would appreciate a straight story on why the change is happening - our constituents and our office have been told a variety of reasons and I think it would help all parties involved if there were a clear understanding of the situation. You and I are in the same business of building trust in government - having multiple stories out there on this issue counters our objective. Finally, let me be very clear on the Congressman's position as it seems to be misrepresented in the email (from Fuller to Hamilton). There was a meeting among the FAA, the FCC, WSDOT and Rep. Larsen's staff, however our office believes that neither we nor WSDOT agreed on any benefit or positive impact from the change. Furthermore, the FAA agreed to further discuss these issues, which included the topics listed in your email. The concept paper is solely the output and position of the FAA and FCC and does not and will not represent the Congressman's views. As of right now we have extreme pressure from local stakeholders who feel that the change threatens the safety of aviators in the region. No one has made the argument why this change needs to take place except for bureaucratic reasons. And the Congressman cannot support something that puts lives in danger just to make the frequencies line up properly. The FAA has been unable to date to demonstrate a scenario where aviation safety and integrity would be maintained while the frequency was changed. Until the FAA demonstrates that ability and willingness, the Congressman stands opposed to the frequency change. Evan T. Schatz Local air traffic frequency given to Canadaposted 06/10/03
The Friday Harbor Port Commission and local pilots have been lobbying for the continuance of the CTAF after learning the FAA was planning to take it away. The commissioners noted there are 33 airports, seaplane landings and private airstrips in the county. The issue of the treaty was not known until last week. Representatives of the FAA frequency management office plan to visit the islands to discuss safety alternatives. No date has been set. Port seeks congressional help re radio frequencyposted 02/28/03
The Port of Friday Harbor Commissioners sent a letter asking for help to U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray, and state Representative Jeff Morris. The text of the letter appears below. | |
February 13, 2003 Letter to U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray, and state Representative Jeff MorrisDear Senator, The islands of San Juan County encompass a greater concentration of airports in a twelve mile radius than in any other area of the Pacific Northwest and perhaps anywhere in the lower 48 states. We are aware of 33 airports, seaplane landings and private airstrips in the county, plus the Anacortes airport. All of these airports are referred to as uncontrolled, in that there are no control towers. Aircraft maintain their separation of traffic at all of these airports and the island area by the usual 'see and be seen' method and by announcing intentions by radio. Since our area airports are in such close proximity, it is essential for pilots to be able to communicate on a common radio frequency. Through the cooperation of the FAA, airport sponsors and operators, and pilot organizations, we were able to establish a special radio frequency unique to the islands that did not receive "spill over" radio traffic from other airports in the Puget Sound region. This Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) using an Air Traffic Control (ATC) frequency has been remarkably effective. It took about five or six years for pilots to recognize and use the new frequency, but now it is firmly established as normal operational procedure. Pilots report intentions on the islands' CTAF and all pilots in the area understand where others are, allowing them to avoid traffic conflicts. There have been no accidents in our area resulting from conflicting traffic despite the large number of airports, traffic patterns and the high frequency of flight operations, especially during favorable weather. We were recently told by the FAA Northwest Mountain Region Frequency Management Section Supervisor that we can no longer use our assigned CTAF frequency of VHF128.25 and would instead be given a Unicom frequency. When we studied the situation in 1992 and 1993 we determined that the Unicom frequencies did not accomplish the needed objective because they are not discrete and are affected by interference from distant sources. The FAA contends that VHF128.25 was issued by mistake and we should never have been assigned an ATC frequency. When the frequency was assigned, the people we worked with made the decision to provide a CTAF using this ATC frequency in our area in full recognition that this is an atypical area with an unusually high concentration of airports that requires an nonstandard solution. Unfortunately, there has been a complete turnover in the department that manages this branch of the FAA and there is no institutional memory for the conditions that led to assigning this CTAF to the San Juan Islands. Our experience is that there is a much higher potential for accidents when changes are made to operational procedures. We have invested years of effort to have the islands CTAF used by all pilots as standard operating procedure. We know the risk of an accident will be higher during a transition period if a frequency change is imposed on the islands. We understand it is not normal to assign an ATC frequency to an area with uncontrolled airports. The FAA knew this when they made the assignment, but the unusual concentration of airports in this small area required an unusual solution. We strongly oppose the change because change itself creates a hazard and because what we have works. Because keeping the islands' CTAF frequency is represented to us by our FAA contacts to run counter to either Federal laws or rules, we are asking for your assistance for legislative relief to maintain the existing safe situation and keep the islands' ATC frequency of 128.25 for a Common Traffic Advisory Frequency for the San Juan Islands' airports.
Greg Hertel, President |
San Juan Islands Public and Private Airports and Private AirstripsSan Juan Island Friday Harbor Airport, public Friday Harbor Seaplane base, public Roche Harbor Airport, private Roche Harbor Seaplane base, private Friday West, private airport Todd Roberts' private strip Henry Burden's private strip Denny Martel's strip Pile Point, private strip Orcas Island Eastsound Airport, public Rosario Seaplane base, private Westsound Seaplane base, private Deer Harbor Seaplane base, private Lopez Island Lopez Airport, public Fishermans Bay Seaplane base, private Lopez Sound/Mud Bay (Paul Allen's) Seaplane base, private Windsock Farms, private Airports on other islands Anacortes Airport, public Decatur, private Shaw, private Cypress, private Johns, private Jones Island, private Stuart, private Stuart West, private Waldron, private Speiden, private Blakely, private Center, private Sinclair, private Obstruction, private Jones, private Eliza, private Crane, private |
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