Kalaeloa Airport (JRF) AOB Meeting

[Rob Moore]

#2443

The quarterly Airfield Operations Board meeting was on July 25, 2018 with all major organization attending except for State of Hawaii, Airports Division.  Major points that were covered and effects GA:

• GACH again asked when the airfield survey will be accomplished by the State.  The lack of a survey limits instrument approaches (currently the GPS approach is limited to daytime only).  The lack of airport surveys is State-wide and it affects operations.  Unfortunately, there was no State representative present at the meeting to answer the question.  The issue will be at the next meeting.  Recommend GACH and the USCG write a letter to DOTA asking when the surveys will be accomplished.
• The land use issue for the placement of the radar site is still pending.  ECD is unknown.
• The primary crash notification system in the control tower is still inoperative.  A State fix is unknown.  Crash notification is done via land lines.
• The following equipment is inoperable: approach lights for 4R, REILs for RWs 29, RAPIs, feet remaining board lights, pilot control lighting.
• Airfield markings and signage discrepancies from the FAA Safety Team inspection are still not completed by the State.
• The State is hoping to issue a contract to control the growth near the weather reporting station.
• Status of the new hangar construction was reported by HCF (since DOTA was not present and HCF heard the info at an earlier meeting) at 99% completed for the first set of hangars and 54% completed for the second set of hangars.  The status of returning hangar 111 to aviation is still unknown.
• Airfield improvements (repairs/vegetation removal) is waiting money from the State.
Next meeting will be in October and GACH will keep on pressing for the State to act.

Rob Moore

[Rob Moore]

#2650

I attended the July 17, 2019 Airport Operations Board (AOB) Meeting today.  Here is a brief summary:

Jeff Sawyer will be the new DOT Airport Manager for Kalaeloa Airport (JRF) and also Dillingham Airfield (HDH) effective July 22, 2019.  Sawyer has NO previous aviation experience.

Current Airport Manager Blalock updated the group that some progress is being made to do the airport survey in order to eliminate any restrictions for the RNAV (GPS) RW 4R approach.  There was no date or action plan provided.

We are still waiting for funding to have a “operational crash phone” that will handle quick accident notification.

There are problems due to lake of DOTA funding: inop ALS, RW 29 REIL, no PAPIs, missing RW distance remaining markers, , inop PCL, missing Airport Signage and a situation where the windsock is unlighted and the ASOS is inop (so winds at night cannot be determined and reported)

The trees/bushes near the Airfield weather station is overgrown and needs trimming.  Thus, the winds are unreliable.

Hangar 110 is in phase 4 (of 5), hangar 111 is still empty and disposition is unknown (rumors have the hangar being used by HHS.  All the T Hangars on the Airfield are completed.  The airport manager reported 3 or 4 Hangars are empty.  The manager did not know if any more Hangars are funded (there were planned a total of 140).

The backup electric generator is still not automated to start in case of an electric power loss.  The 297th ATCS/CMR reports their equipment is mostly operational and that the portable radar unit should be able to be used by civilian pilots in VMC only situations to gain proficiency.

 

Rob Moore

 

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