PORT OF FRIDAY HARBOR

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List of news stories about the Port of Friday Harbor

Scenic air tours approved

posted 06/17/02
Friday Harbor Port Commissioners had their first chance to use the recently approved scenic air tour operator standards at their June 12, 2002 meeting. The commissioners gave the go-ahead to two tour operators - Richard Drury of Vintage Air Tours and Dane Armstrong of FLI. Armstrong will be giving helicopter tours.

Armstrong was a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee which worked on drafting some voluntary guidelines for scenic air tour operators. The Port Commissioners were limited on what they could require, they cannot regulate aircraft in flight.

Citizens Airport Advisory Committee makes suggestions

posted 03/15/02
A coalition of Friday Harbor Airport neighbors, scenic flight operators, commercial and general aviators and others presented initial recommendations -- including limits on scenic flights -- to the Port of Friday Harbor Wednesday, March 13.

The diverse Citizens Airport Advisory Committee formed in response to the Port's plans for minimum standards for scenic flight operators. The voluntary group's primary mission will be "educating and promoting responsible aircraft operations and airport policies, management and operations." It also plans to offer advice to other island airports.

Port Commission Chair Greg Hertel told CAAC members the Port appreciates dealing with one group "instead of two or three warring groups."

After hearing the coalition's initial recommendations, Hertel said, "I applaud you for building communities instead of building walls."

"I love having a group to bounce ideas off of," said Port Commission Brian Calvert.

Dane Armstrong, CAAC co-chair and owner of Friday Harbor Helicopters, told the commissioners the coalition plans to become a permanent participant in Friday Harbor Airport's development of procedures, policies and plans. CAAC will provide "input and direction as to the economic well-being as well as the neighborhood considerations relating to the operation of airport islands." The committee's involvement when issues develop should lead to "streamlined" processes for the Port, Armstrong said.

CAAC initial recommendations are:

• Review the Port's and the neighbor's work regarding the regarding noise abatement procedures. Re-familiarize the pilots and operators with proper procedures and where necessary, expand and improve these policies to include the entire San Juan Island area. The members are already working on expanding and enhancing the existing printed material and will be looking for administrative and financial assistance from the Port to finalize and distribute the updated educational information.
  
  
• Request that the Port upgrade the existing AWOS (Automated Weather Observing System) system it to include such information as traffic patterns and noise abatement procedures.
  
  
• The members have reviewed the proposed minimum standards for the scenic operators as distributed by the Port as well as operational policies provided by the two island-based companies (Vintage Air and Friday Harbor Helicopter). In addition, Rod Magner of Orcas Island has provided an outline of his operation and indicated his willingness to be involved in the group even though he is not based at the Friday Harbor Airport. While the group is aware that any additional airport operations pose potential noise considerations, we recognize the FAA's controls. We do intend that the air tour operators, through their participation in this group, will provide adequate voluntary self-policing and operate ina responsible manner to minimize any nusiance. The Port is encouraged to set minimum standards that do not impose unreasonable economic requirements on these small businesses and deal only with the Port's status as a landlord. The Port should review its existing policies and procedures that address business operations, security, airport safety and access, which appear reasonable and adequate, with minor modification and to facilitate the utilization of the airport by responsible businesses. Since the initial scenic operators are relatively small operations, 6 or less flights per day, 30 or less flights per week and a maximum 500 estimated annual flights, the Port's standards should provide for the possibility that if the business were to increase substantially beyond that now anticipated, additional requirements and policies might become necessary.
  
  
• The members have also expressed their interest in being involved in the long-term planning and utilization of the Friday Harbor Airport and associated properties. The improvement of existing facilities and future development of the properties offer both opportunities to enhance the viability and compatibility while posing challenges as to the impact on adjoining owners.
  
  
• The members request that the agenda of upcoming Port meetings and minutes are posted in advance on its Web site as well as sent directly to the committee. This will help ensure that all interested parties are fully informed by actions by the Port and assist the Port by providing community input on agendas and issues at the time they raised thus avoiding misunderstandings and unnecessary delays in actions. The posting of environmental checklists of new land-use proposals would also provide better communications.
  
  

"It's great that you came up with some basic suggestions that we can look at," Hertel said.

Scenic Air Tour public hearing set for February 27

posted 02/15/02
Friday Harbor Port Commissioners will hold a public hearing on proposed regulations for Scenic Air Tour Operators Feb. 27 in San Juan Island Yacht Club. The regulations set ground rules for the pilots who wish to operate such a business out of Friday Harbor airport. The commissioners are limited by the FAA about how much they can restrict the pilots.

Port Director Steve Simpson told the commissioners at their Feb. 13, 2002 meeting the port would exceed its jurisdictional powers if it attempted to regulate aircraft in flight. The Port can ask for voluntary compliance with noise abatement and other programs that are intended to protect the airport and the island according to advice from the port's attorney. The Port Commission cannot require SATO pilots to attend an orientation class.

PROPOSED MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR SCENIC AIR TOURS FROM THE FRIDAY HARBOR AIRPORT

Minimum Standards for Scenic Air Tours

General. A Scenic Air Tour Operator (SATO) is an entity engaged in the business of providing air transportation to the public for hire, for scenic tour purposes, as defined by the Federal Aviation Administration, or if not so defined, as determined by the Friday Harbor Port Commission (the Commission). Scenic tours may either depart from and return to the Friday Harbor Airport (the Airport), or be a one-way trip, with either the departure from or return to the Airport for the purpose of sightseeing and not for transportation from one airport to another. Operators desiring to engage in a scenic air tour service must hold appropriate FAA certificate(s), with ratings appropriate to the service to be offered. SATOs utilizing more than one Aircraft at the Airport, or conducting more than three (3) scenic flight takeoffs from the Airport per calendar day, shall comply with the requirements of this Section. Scenic Air Tour Operators which conduct three (3) or fewer takeoffs of scenic flights from the Airport in any calendar day shall instead comply with the requirements relating to Aircraft Charter and Air Taxi Service for the Friday Harbor Airport.

Scenic Air Tour Service Must Have Sufficient Space. Scenic Air Tour Operators must be either a lease tenant or a sub-lease tenant of the Airport for a land base or lease space in the Airport Passenger Terminal. SATOs may apply to the Commission to construct a facility in an area designated for commercial uses on the Airport so long as the Operator can meet Minimum Standards for that type of operation. The Port Commission shall permit SATOs to operate on the Airport only to the extent that they can do so under the Minimum Standards for Scenic Air Tours.

Ground Space and Improvements. The Operator shall lease from the Airport (or sub-lease from another land lease tenant with the approval of the Commission space designated for its exclusive use and suitably provided with heating and lighting, and with accommodations for a customer lounge to include restrooms and a public telephone. The Operator shall lease from the Airport (or sublease from another lease tenant of the Airport) hangar space or adequate facilities to park its Aircraft in an area segregated from other Aircraft operations.

The Scenic Air Tour Service shall provide a clearly identified and adequate hard surface on leased premises for a vehicle parking area of sufficient size to accommodate both customers and employees, but in no event having fewer parking spaces than the number of passenger seats on the largest passenger capacity Aircraft of the Scenic Air Tour Service.

The Operator shall provide a suitable entrance from the Airport Operating Area (AOA) for the conduct of its operations which shall comply with all applicable FAA and Airport security and safety requirements.

Scope of Service. Operator shall:

• Have airworthy aircraft which meet the requirements established by the FAA for such operations.
  
  
• Have in its employ, and on duty during the required operating hours, trained personnel in such numbers as are required to meet the standards set forth in these Minimum Standards in an efficient manner including pilot(s) with current FAA certification to permit the flight activity offered by the Operator and one (1) additional person who need not be certified.
  
  
• Have available qualified Operator crews and a satisfactory number of personnel for the checking in and out of its tour passengers.
  
  
• Provide service during regular hours of operation and operate Scenic Air Tours in accordance with Friday Harbor Airport noise abatement guidelines.
  
  
• Have and provide evidence of appropriate FAA certificates for the services offered.
  
  

Multiple Commercial Aeronautical Activities. A person or entity desiring to engage in multiple Commercial Aeronautical Activities must, as a condition for authorization to engage in any combination of Activities, meet the most restrictive Minimum Standards for each such activity. The Minimum Standards for each Commercial Aeronautical Activity proposed shall be reviewed by the Port Commission to insure that the combined ground space operations and the improvements required for the proposed Activity adequately serve the needs of the Airport and its patrons.

Requirement to Abide by Community Standards of conduct The Friday Harbor Airport Sponsor, the Friday Harbor Port District, has determined San Juan Island has the characteristics of a noise-sensitive area as defined by FAA Circular 91-36C, due to very low background noise levels, the proliferation of endangered species and the presence of National, State and local Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries and due to a pattern of airport noise complaints and legal challenges from residents of San Juan Island. A person or entity conducting Scenic Air Tours is expected to follow the guidelines and voluntary practices in AC No. 91-36C in order to avoid complaints to the Friday Harbor Airport and the FAA, to build support for aviation and to forestall possible regulatory action and to avoid interference with other aviation operations and businesses at or about the Friday Harbor Airport. SATO pilots are expected to be aware of the locations of National Parks, Monuments, Seashores, Lakeshore, Recreation Areas, National Wildlife Refuges, Big Game Refuges, Game Ranges and Wildlife Ranges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Wilderness and Primitive areas administered by the U.S. Forest Service in the vicinity of the San Juan Islands. In addition SATOs are requested to follow additional National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Region Whale Watching Guidelines, which recommend that aircraft, avoid flying lower than five hundred (500) feet over any marine mammal and not hover or circle over marine mammals.

Training provided for SATO Certification for San Juan Island. Pilots for and owners of Scenic Air Tour services shall be offered a training course provided by the Airport Operator to instruct SATO personnel as to the location of National Parks, National and State wildlife refuges, National Marine Fisheries Service regulations and airport noise abatement guidelines that apply to the Scenic Air Tour operations.

Failure to maintain minimum standards. Failure to adhere to Airport Minimum Standards or to follow FAA airspace advisories for the operation of aircraft over the region's land and water which result in repeated complaints against a specific SATO shall result in requiring the identified SATO to attend a hearing with the Commission and the persons making such complaints to review the SATO's operations in relation to the Minimum Standards and the recommendations in AC 91-36C. If the Commission finds that the SATO has repeatedly and without excusable cause or has otherwise failed to maintain Airport Minimum Standards, and has compromised the ability of other pilots and aviation businesses to operate at the Friday Harbor Airport, the Commission shall have the right to withdraw the SATO's operating agreement for the Airport after three such hearings during any one (1) eighteen (18) month period.

Scenic air tours proposed for San Juan Island

posted 10/11/01
Flyers posted around Friday Harbor announcing scenic air tours are a bit premature. Any such business would need to follow minimum standards set by the Port of Friday Harbor Commissioners. The commissioners are in the process of drawing up the standards.

The port cannot stop an aeronautical operation from using the airport but can control aeronautical activities by establishing standards. Two companies have expressed interest in operating scenic air tour businesses from the airport so regulations are being drafted by staff.

"We looked at the Yellowstone airport standards," Port Director Steve Simpson said at the Oct. 10 port meeting. He noted there are limitations to what the port can require. "We can't create any new community standards because the FAA controls the airspace...These are about as tight as you can create."

Commissioner Greg Hertel said, "I want to make it as restrictive as possible."

The draft standards would require a scenic air operator to establish a business by leasing space at the airport, having a minimum of two aircraft with at least four seats in each, employing two pilots and one other person.

The flights would have to follow all airspace restrictions regarding National Parks, Recreation Areas, National Wildlife Refuges, Big Game Refuges, Game Ranges and Wildlife Ranges adminstered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Wilderness and Primitive areas administered by the U.S. Forest Service and airspace over and around protected Marine Mammals. In those areas the aircraft must be 2,000 feet above the terrain. Over other parts of the San Juan Islands aircraft must remain 1,200 feet above the terrain.

The commissioners will discuss the proposed minimum standards at another port meeting. A public hearing will be held before any standards are adopted.