Kalaeloa Airport (JRF) AOB Meeting January 2020

[Rob Moore]

#2707

I attended the quarterly meeting.  Jeff Sawyer is back as the airport manager after quitting 2 months earlier.  Jeff said that Roy will look into the required airfield survey that is currently preventing full use of the GPS approach.  Ray Simpson said the new radar pad construction is starting soon with ECD of July 2020.  Afterwards, they will get a flight check in the next 18 months.  Jeff said that RW 4R pavement rehab to include rubber removal and painting will occur soon.  Also, the PCL is now working.  Jeff said that the weather reporting station at JRF is being studied and the plan is to relocate the station–18 months now in planning.  THE BIGGEST NEWS THAT JEFF SAID IS THAT HANGAR 110 IS BEING LOOKED AT BY NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH FOR USE.  I voiced much dismay how DOTA can defy FAA rules and give the hangar to a non-aviation function.  I said the aviation will put in a ch 13/16 complaint if they proceed.  There is also planned a solar farm to be located to right of RW 4R departure end–there was NO public review or input.  Ray Simpson is retiring from his position on Jan 20.

[Patrick E. McNamee]

#2708

Hangar 110 is a perfect location for an A/P mechanic and Auto Mechanic Trade School. Plenty of space for on campus dormitories for off island students.

We can not afford to lose anymore Airport Concrete to non-aviation ventures.

What can we do? Any ideas?

Pat McNamee

President – GACH

[Claudio Friederich]

#2712

This PV farm – is this a second phase of the one that was built several years ago (which at the time Rob, then GACH president, solicited GA input on), which is located near the approach end of RW 11, or is it a completely separate proposal?

[Claudio Friederich]

#2713

Regarding non-aviation use of airport property: At the meeting several months ago (I forget the date), regarding the transient aircraft parking rates, the presenters from DOTA explained that historically, due to budget shortfalls, DOTA defined “aviation use” of a facility as a use of the facility that generates funding for DOTA.  So technically, if DOTA wanted to turn hangar 110 into a nightclub with exotic dancers, they could do it so long as it generates revenue for DOTA.  They also admitted that “when a state government official from another branch requested use of an airport facility, DOTA officials felt disinclined to say no, because such a government official typically works next the them in the same office cubicle.  In other words, airport facility use is dependent on cronyism and what get DOTA money.  This is indeed a very strange definition of aviation use.  I would think that in an official complaint, the FAA would agree.

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