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Home My WebLink AboutIR 7633 I I INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7633 op— July 28, 1992 1%,ATE To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Subject: VIOLATIONS AT MEACHAM AIRPORT 18 73 The City has been informed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of violations at Meacham Airport. A violation occurs when an individual either walking or in a vehicle enters an active aircraft movement area, i.e. taxiway or runway. Violations are usually spotted by FAA air traffic control operators and reported to airport staff. During the past few weeks, a total of twenty violations have been reported. 1 As a result of the violations, on July 2, 1992 the City received a letter of investigation from the FAA which staff has responded to. The City's response outlined the actions to be taken to prevent further violations. Because of additional violations, the City on Thursday, July 23, 1992 received a "Notice of Proposed Civil Penalty." The proposed penalty by FAA is $1.000 per violation. The City has the right to appeal the proposed civil penalty within thirty days. City staff Is moving ahead to implement the following measures to prevent future violations: 0101b, • Additional fencing and locked gates of restricted area which will bar access. This work will be done on an emergency basis; ■ New signing at all locations, warning Individuals they are entering a restricted area and will be cited if they proceed-, ■ Strict enforcement of restrictions by issuing citations to all intruders. The citation carries a penalty of up to a $500 fine per incident; ■ An intensive education campaign aimed at all Meacham tenants and their customers about the problems of intrusion and the seriousness of such incidents; ■ Maintaining In proper operating condition all automatic gates that allow access to the airport tenants areas. ■ Creation of an airport operators committee to analyze and develop additional solutions to the problem City staff has met with FAA officials and discussed the above mentioned measures. FAA agrees with staff that these actions are needed to prevent future violations. FAA has pledged their support to work with the City and airport tenants to eliminate the 001*- violations. o erne I L City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS 10-Err OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER 1000 THROCKMORTON STREET FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102 (817)871-6111 NEWS RELEASE July 23, 1992 For Immediate Release The City of Fort Worth is taking a series of actions to prevent pedestrians and vehicles from entering into restricted Meacham Airport areas , Mayor Kay Granger said Thursday . A rash of incursions into Meacham restricted areas has occurred since June which led the Federal Aviation Administration to issue Fort Worth a "notice of propose civil penalty" Thursday . The FAA notice cites 20 incidents between June 22 and July 22 , 1992 in which people or vehicles crossed the runway , taxiways or other safety areas at the airport . Mayor Granger said the Meacham Airport personnel began implement the plan in early July, which was outlined in a letter to the FAA on July 9 . It includes : --Additional fencing and locked gates of restricted area which will bar access . This work will be done on an emergency oow basis . --New signing at all locations , warning individuals they are entering a restricted area and will be cited if they proceed. low Printed on Recycled Paper --Strict enforcement of restrictions by issuing citations to all intruders . The citation carries a penalty of up to a $500 fine per incident . --An intensive education campaign aimed at all Meacham tenants and their customers about the problems of intrusion and the seriousness of such incidents . --Maintaining in proper operation condition all automatic gates that allow access to the airport tenants areas . --Creation of an airport operators committee to analyze and develop additional solutions to the problem. Mayor Granger said a majority of the incidents which the FAA cited the city for have involved persons who work or use the airport on a daily or routine basis and who are familiar with the restrictions . The airport is issuing citations to all violators . Plans for the emergency installation of additional fencing to restrict access are being finalized with anticipated work to begin this week . Mayor Granger said the city staff plans to keep the FAA informed of its progress and will review further whether the city will exercise its right to appeal the civil penalties . -30- NR-437 (NOTE TO EDITORS : If you need more information for your story , contact Assistant City Manager Ramon Guajardo at 871-6191 or Public Information Officer Pat Svacina at 871-6415 . ) U.S.Depoirrient Southwest Region Fort worih,Texas 76193-0000 of Transportation Arkansas,Louisiana. New Mexico.Oklahoma, F*d*Mi Avkfflon Texas AdrWnIstration JUL 2 3 1997 Case No. 92SW840038 HAND DELIVERED The Honorable Kay Granger Mayor of Fort Worth 1000 Throckmortion Fort Worth, Texas 76102 NOTICE OF PROPOSED CIVIL PENAL'T'Y Based on a report of investigation, it appears that: 1. The City of Fort Worth (the City) holds an airport operating certificate authorizing it to operate Fort Worth Meacham Airport (Meacham Airport) under Part 139 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) . 00"01 2. The City has adopted an approved airport certification manual (AACM) for Meacham Airport, as required by FAR §139. 201 (b) , that meets the requirements of FAR §§139. 203 and 139- 205. 3. Section E. 1. of Meacham Airport's AACM provides that the general public is protected from inadvertent entry on the airport. Subsection c. of Section E. I. provides that airport air operations areas (AOA) shall be patrolled and that persons making inadvertent or unauthorized entry thereon shall be challenged. 4 . Section E.2. of Meacham Airport's AACM provides that only ground vehicles necessary for airport operations are permitted access to the movement areas and safety areas. Section E.2 . of Meacham Airport's AACM also provides for procedures for the authorized operation of ground vehicles on the airport and the consequences of noncompliance. 5. Between June 22, 1992, and July 4, 1992 , the City failed to comply with its AACM when the following unauthorized deviations or incursions occurred on or into the AOA, movement areas or safety areas at Meacham Airport: a. On June 22, 1992, a truck belonging to Page Avjet, an airport tenant, crossed the approach end of Rwy 27 and proceeded down Taxiway Q where it crossed Rwy 09/27 and entered onto Taxiway C. The truck did not comply with Meacham Airport's AACM established procedures for operation of ground vehicles; b. On June 23, 1992, a vehicle crossed in front of a Cessna 152 airplane just as the aircraft was preparing for takeoff roll on Rwy 27; C. On June 26, 1992, 3 pedestrians walked across Taxiway Q, across Rwy 27, and Taxiway A; d. On June 26, 1992, a vehicle crossed the approach end of Rwy 27 and travel along Taxiway A; e. On June 26, 1992, a vehicle crossed the approach end of Rwy 27; f. On June 27, 1992, a vehicle drove down Rwy 27 to Taxiway Q and proceeded down Taxiway Q to the T- hangar ramp area; g. On June 27, 1992, a pedestrian walked down Rwy 27 to Taxiways Q and A; h. On June 27, 1992, a vehicle crossed Rwy 27 and proceeded down Taxiway Q to the T-hangar area; i. On June 27, 1992, a pedestrian walked across Taxiway Q, across Rwy 27, and then across Taxiway A; j . On June 28, 1992, a person riding a bicycle entered Taxiway A at Taxiway L and proceeded down Taxiway A onto Rwy 27. The person exited Rwy 27 onto Taxiway A and proceeded down Taxiway A onto Taxiway L; k. On June 29, 1992, a vehicle proceeded onto Rwy 27; 1. On June 30, 1992, a pedestrian walked across the approach end of Rwy 27; and M. On July 4, 1992, a vehicle crossed Rwy 09/27. 6. On July 2 , 1392, a letter of investigation was issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to the City's Director of Aviation, with a copy directed to the City's Assistant City Manager, advising the City of incidents a. through 1. above. Notwithstanding, the following unauthorized deviations or incursions occurred on or into the AOA, movement areas or safety areas at Meacham Airport: a. On July 11, 1992, 2 pedestrians crossed Rwy 27; b. on July 15, 1992, a vehicle crossed Rwy 27 ; C. On July 15, 1992, a vehicle traveled down Taxiway B and crossed Rwy 27; and 2 d. On July 16, 1992, a vehicle traveled from the Sand Piper ramp to the Broadie ramp crossing Rwy 27 in the process and 4 minutes later returned via the opposite route crossing Rwy 27 again. 7. On July 16, 1992, FAA personnel met with the City's Assistant City Manager and the City's Director of Aviation to discuss the continuing unauthorized incursions and deviations occurring at Meacham Airport and to express concerns for the potential impacts these incidents were having on aviation safety. Notwithstanding, the following unauthorized deviations or incursions occurred on or into the AOA, movement areas or safety areas at Meacham Airport: a. On July 21, 1992, a vehicle entered Taxiway Q and crossed Rwy 16L and Rwy 16R. It then drove east on Taxiway Q where it entered Rwy 16L. The vehicle proceeded south on Rwy 16L where it was stopped by Meacham Airport rescue personnel ; b. On July 21, 1992, a pedestrian crossed Rwy 27 ; and C. on July 22, 1992, 2 pedestrians crossed Rwy 16 R. S. By reason of the foregoing, the City failed to comply with its AACM for Meacham Airport in that it: 1) did not adequately protect the public from inadvertent entry on to the airport; 2) did not adequately patrol the airport operations area to challenge unauthorized or inadvertent entry; and 3) permitted unauthorized vehicular traffic access to the movement areas and safety areas. By reason of the foregoing facts and circumstances, the City of Fort Worth violated the following Federal Aviation Regulations: (a) Section 139-201 (b) in that it failed to comply with its approved airport certification manual; (b) Section 139. 329 (e) in that it failed to ensure that each employee, tenant, or contractor who operates a ground vehicle on any portion of the airport that has access to the movement area is familiar with the airport's procedures for the operation of ground vehicles and the consequences of noncompliance; and (c) Section 139.335 (a) (1) in that it failed to provide safeguards acceptable to the Administrator to prevent inadvertent entry to the movement area by unauthorized persons or vehicles. 3 Under Sections 901(a) (1) and 905 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended, (49 U.S.C. App. §§ 1471 and 1475) , the City is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 for each of these violations. After reviewing our investigative file, including the City's letter of July 9, 1992, we propose to assess a civil penalty in the amount of $20,000 for these violations. An Order assessing a civil penalty will be issued unless, not later than thirty (30) days after the receipt of this notice, the City elects to proceed in accordance with the enclosed information. C DONALD L. BACHMAN Acting Assistant Chief Counsel Southwest Region Enclosure 4