Sarah Heard: Witham Field is under local control

Sarah Heard, guest columnist
Friday, January 9, 2009

The Martin County Commission has sent the Federal Aviation Administration a negotiated settlement proposal as a resolution to Witham Field issues. We await the FAA’s formal approval. The FAA must agree to all of the following provisions in order to guarantee Martin County’s formal approval.

Per the FAA’s requirements, the runway safety zones at both ends of Witham Field’s primary runway will be made compliant through the FAA-funded installation of the Engineered Material Arresting System. EMAS utilizes lightweight, aerated concrete at the end of a runway to stop an aircraft that overruns the runway. This will be a considerable safety enhancement for aircraft users and all users of Monterey Road, the YMCA and Martin County Golf Course.

As part of the proposed settlement, Martin County and the FAA have tentatively agreed on an official airport boundary — one that essentially tracks today’s airport boundary. Truly, the property boundary is the linchpin of the settlement. It cements local control of the airport. It permanently limits the size of the airport. It provides permanent protection for the YMCA, the golf course, Monterey Road and Monterey Commons. It removes all realistic threats of airport expansion: no longer runways, no new runways, and no new airport development beyond the existing boundary.

Of course, Martin County’s obligations to regulate the most community friendly airport possible extend beyond these federal requirements.

Noise is a top concern. As airport proprietors we have considerable authority to mitigate and abate noise impacts. Our Noise Compatibility Program has enabled us to purchase or sound-insulate homes that are most significantly affected by airport noise.

Through the adoption of flight tracks and noise abatement departure procedures, we are aggressively pursuing noise abatement solutions. Both changes are complex because flights leaving Witham Field must safely interact with the heavy air traffic to our south. Our flight track tests were highly successful. The new flight track will keep departing aircraft over the water and away from houses, initiating turns only after the aircraft are over the ocean. With the voluntary aid of our two fixed-base operators and a local charter aircraft company, we successfully conducted noise abatement departure procedure tests last year. This profile will guide the departing aircrafts’ vertical path to minimize noise on the ground. The FAA’s current schedule anticipates publication of all procedures by February 2010.

Further, the Board of County Commissioners is attempting to shape optimal airport operations through the adoption of a land use plan, business plan and master plan that will provide the most benefit to the proprietor: the taxpayers of Martin County.

We recognize that Witham Field is a county asset, if it is used and regulated properly. You have my word that Witham Field will be the benchmark for a community-owned, community-friendly airport in the country.

Heard is a member of the Martin County Commission.

Here is a link to the article: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jan/09/sarah-heard-witham-field-under-local-control/?feedback=1#comments

Commissioner Heard continues to mislead the public

Submitted by WAAM

January 13, 2009 

In her recent Op Ed claiming victory at Witham Field, Commissioner Sarah Heard glosses over some points that may be of interest to your readers. 

The claim that runway safety “zones” will become compliant with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements if her agreement is finalized is not correct.  More than one runway at Witham Field is not compliant, nor will they be, when and if the Heard / FAA “deal” is finalized.  We originally spent $400,000 to extend a runway at Witham Field when there was not enough land to do so safely.  Now to fix the problem we are told we will need to spend $7,000,000 for an Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) to make it safe for the pilots and passengers.  Not mentioned by the commissioner is the fact that “Runway Protection Zones” (RPZ’s) or “Crash Zones” will continue to include residential neighborhoods.  Apparently the commissioner does not understand that EMAS cannot be used to reduce RPZ requirements.  No problem!  We’ll just spend millions more to bulldoze the remaining homes in the RPZ, destroying even more neighborhoods.  A few more  “Sarah Heard Victories”  like this and we’ll be bankrupt and have made Stuart a wasteland! 

Skimmed over in the Op Ed is the fact that with the miracle of EMAS and the required ongoing maintenance, Witham Field forever becomes an “FAA Obligated Airport.”  The FAA and Washington do not give money away without strings, and in this case it means FAA control of the airport.  Think not?  Then ask Commissioner Heard or Director Moon about the probability of ever having a mandatory nighttime curfew at Witham Field. Despite Commissioner Heard’s claims of County control, going through with her solution puts Witham firmly in control of the FAA for all time.  

The question of airport boundaries is even more interesting.  There was never a question that Witham Field and the surrounding land was County property.  The question was never even raised until the County wanted to undue the damage done when it illegally extended the main jet runway with county money.  Then the FAA intervened and took the outrageous position that it owned the entire airport and surrounding properties.  As a result, Commissioner Heard went to Washington to “negotiate” a solution.  The result; Martin County can keep some of its own land as long as it gives the FAA control of the airport; so much for the commissioner’s leadership and negotiating skills.  

Let’s stop the propaganda and concentrate on having the county regain control of its airport with the objective of having it serve the legitimate needs of its residents.  Implicit in this is operating the airport for the benefit of the taxpayers, not the profit of the Fixed Base Operators and the desires of the FAA.  Until such time as this is achieved Witham Field will remain a financial drain on the taxpayers and a growing threat to its neighbors.