[JYO] Gaithersburg NDB Approach--Your Input Desired

GAI and DC Area Pilots:

The FAA is  proposing to cancel Gaithersburg's NDB Runway 14 approach as part

of a  cost savings plan, along with hundreds of other NDB approaches  
nationwide.  See the AOPA website http://www.aopa.org/ which contains  an
article on the FAA's proposed action and links to further  information.  The
Martin State NDB approach is the only other Maryland  airport approach on the
cancellation list.  Cancellation of the GAI  approach would not mean
decommissioning of the NDB but it could no longer be  used for instrument
approaches.

The Montgomery County Airport  Association (MCAA) Board intends to send 
comments to the FAA before the  April 4 deadline supporting retention of the
approach and hereby solicits  pilot community input for use in that effort.

Specifically, MCAA would  like to know:

1. Do you or others you know use the GAI NDB 14 approach  for instrument 
approaches?  About how frequently?

2. Do you or  others you know use the GAI NDB 14 approach for training 
purposes?   About how frequently?

3. If you were unable to use the GAI NDB 14  approach for training purposes, 
how far would you need to go in order to  obtain NDB approach practice?
York?  Culpepper?  Where else?   

4. If GAI were to fall outside the ADIZ in the future (wishful  thinking, 
perhaps) would your answers to any of the above change?   How?

Our purpose here is not to attempt to retain an approach just for  the sake
of retaining an approach.  Instead, we wish to determine the  extent to which
the approach is used and is useful and the extent of harm  (e.g., cost,
training difficulties, etc.) that may be incurred if the  approach is
cancelled.  In fact, if it turns out there is significantly  less support for
retaining the approach than we currently believe there is,  we will seriously
reconsider our plan to file opposing comments with the  FAA.

Rather than cluttering this site with replies I would appreciate  replies 
directly to my email address sinkellis@xxxxxxx

Steve  Inkellis
Vice President
Montgomery County Airport Association
GAI
XM  Satellite Radio Inc.
http://www.xmradio.com

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