[JYO] Plans OK'd despite pilot disapproval

This article shows (locally) why it is important for pilots to get and stay 
involved with the Leesburg Executive airport, Support the airport director 
and airport commission, AOPA and the Airport support Network.

Ed
AOPA ASN @ JYO

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http://199.244.139.109/dcwww?-show:client/journal/PRG/j2002/q2/m05/t14/pa/s001/

005_001_001.dcs</A>

05/14/2002
Plans OK'd despite pilot disapproval 
By SUSAN GERVASI Journal staff writer

Despite safety issues voiced by local pilots, the Prince George's District 
Council Monday approved preliminary plans for 1,000 residences on a 
1,057-acre parcel between routes 50 and 450, near Bowie's Freeway Airport.

"There's incontrovertible evidence of a safety issue on this land," argued 
Mitchellville pilot Martha Ainsworth, who wanted development on 16 acres just 
north of the airport's Runway 36 to be specifically precluded from the 
Rouse-Fairwood residential development project. "We maintain that [the 
development] doesn't meet conditions of safety or compatibility with the 
conditions at Freeway Airport, which is an existing development."

Ainsworth and Thomas Paradis, former chief pilot and current chief mechanic 
for the NASA-Goddard flying club, who has used the airport for about 20 
years, said existing power lines force pilots who've attained heights of 
about 100 feet to abruptly turn east. That turn is in the direction of the 
parcel in question.Since 1965, at least five accidents have occurred in the 
16-acre area, accidents associated with the sudden turn."Freeway enjoys an 
excellent safety record," Paradis said. "However, over a period of time, some 
accidents will occur - and the locations of those accidents are 
predictable."`Sometimes things happen to your engine, no matter how many 
precautions you take," Ainsworth said, expressing concern about future 
accidents where some of those 1,000 homes might be placed. "Decisions have to 
be made in a matter of seconds to preserve life."But Edward Gibbs, an 
attorney for Rouse Corp., the land's developer, argued that the land's 1994 
rezoning had required a careful review. He said since no houses have been 
sited specifically yet, and several approval stages remain for the project, 
it was too premature in the planning process to exclude part of the 
development.

He also suggested if the developer loses anticipated density, that could spur 
a "takings" against the county - legal actions taken to financially 
compensate developers unable to build as extensively as planned.Both pilots 
testifying cited a study by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning 
Commission dated Nov. 10, 2000, which addressed safety concerns related to 
the Rouse development with respect to the airport.According to the report, 
titled Airport Land Use Compatibility and Air Safety Study, "Residences 
constructed under and near the takeoff leg of Runway 36 of Freeway Airport 
will be affected by ... the potential for a forced landing or crash by 
aircraft on attempted takeoff or landing."The study also referred to the 
quick turns necessitated by the high tension wires."This is not an ideal 
circumstance," the report stated. "Further, immediately forward of Runway 36 
is ... U.S. 50, which ... does represent a potential for a serious accident 
between aircraft and highway traffic in the event of an emergency situation 
immediately after takeoff from Runway 36 or on approach to Runway 18 
..."Councilwoman Audrey Scott, R-District 4, was the only council member to 
vote against approving the preliminary plan because of the airport proximity 
issue."There is concern about flight patterns and safety," Scott said. "Not 
just residents on land, but passengers and pilots on planes. The assumption 
is reasonable people would share that concern and want to include protections 
to assure we were not guilty of perpetuting an unsafe situation."Voting to 
approve the plan were Councilmen Ronald V. Russell, D-District 6; Peter A. 
Shapiro, D-District 2; Thomas R. Hendershot, D-District 3; Marvin F. Wilson, 
D-District 5; and Thomas Dernoga, D-District 1."I feel comfortable that these 
concerns will be addressed by future regulations," Dernoga said after the 
hearing.New regulations governing local airport safety currently are under 
consideration.

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