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- From: PaulJYO@xxxxxxx
- To: FlyboyEd@xxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2006 09:43:09 EDT
Hello, Jim makes a lot of excellent points... I'm for commercial development. But I think residential development isn't realistic. I don't see why there would be an objection to a private developer creating additional airport facilities to host business aviation. It may be the only way for the town to see the adjacent properties made available for aviation use. I believe that allowing timely development of properties given access to the airport would allow the airport to grow faster than the town seems able to accomplish. This would allow an expansion of the airport and facilities at no cost to the town and provide faster benefit to the community. Such development might even lead to competitive and reasonable fuel prices and options for more flexibility in hanger arrangements and operations than is currently available through the town. All this could be accomplished without any costs to the town... and done right could have the developer helping pay for some improvements. Jim does make a few mistakes on the noise issue I think: >Noise and safety are two other issues that are being misrepresented. ...[edited]... >Lawn mowers in Crosstrail will make more noise than airplanes. >Noise contours compiled by the FAA confirm this. Lawn mowers may make more noise, but people view and perceive aircraft noise differently and will complain more often even if the aircraft are quieter than the lawn mowers. In addition people don't run lawn mowers as often as planes will be overhead. Housing anywhere near the airport WILL create noise complaints and endless future attempts to limit, restrict, or stop operations at the airport. To suggest otherwise ignores the wealth of history on this issue. No matter what you do to the residential contracts, covenants, notifications, and noise insulation there WILL be complains from people who move in. >As pilots you know that you do not fly inside the Greenway on a downwind to 35. >Your downwind leg is west of the Greenway. The typical required IFR departure off 35 is an immediate 180 degree right turn within 1 mile of the runway and direct to STILL intersection. This puts departure aircraft directly over the development and east of the Greenway. Pattern wise this is not true. When I'm in the typical small GA aircraft I usually fly inside the Greenway on downwind for 35 whenever possible. The wide patterns typically taught and flown at JYO aren't safe and goes against my flight training to remain within engine out distances of the runway. Properly trained small aircraft pilots will be east of the Greenway for all or most of the downwind to 35. >An occasional plane may fly over the airport to the downwind for 17, but this is rare and not the standard pattern. >These planes would be above pattern altitude and below the Class B airspace. I agree that it is rare, but suggesting that they are a meaningful amount above the pattern altitude isn't realistic. I don't the 300 feel left between pattern altitude and the Class B has any meaningful affect on any of the issues at hand. In my typical opposite side entry at leesburg puts me in an upwind to 17 at pattern altitude -- directly over your planned development. I'm for commercial development. But I think residential development isn't realistic. --Paul ------------------------- Every problem and situation has several sides and several potential solutions. Key to any situation is having the correct information and the real facts. I respectfully ask that you consider the following in your consideration of the Crosstrail property adjacent to JYO: The Leesburg Airport has a few problems - the largest of which is a huge financial drain on the Town of Leesburg. The airport lost $537,000 in 2005 which was an increase from $501,000 in 2004. The Town Council is concerned about this. Some have asked me how this loss could be turned into a profit, or at into least a breakeven situation. Their suggestion was that perhaps increasing the personal property tax on airplanes to the same tax rate for farm and construction equipment, etc., charging landing fees and other user charges might be a solution. I said I disagreed. My solution is Crosstrail. Crosstrail will make it possible for companies that own business jets to locate in the Class A office space that the Peterson Company is planning to develop. Their executives and employees can live in Crosstrail, shop in Crosstrail, and even walk or bike to work, eat in fine restaurants, and enjoy entertainment. Think Reston Town Center or Petersonâs Fair Lakes development. Neither of these communities is near an airport, which market research shows will be a strong selling point to major corporations. These are the companies that own and operate business jets. The Peterson Company has a Gulfstream. Two hundred or even 300 small airplanes will never make the Leesburg Airport profitable. A few business jets will. My business has given me the opportunity to work with almost every major general aviation airport in the US and many smaller ones. I understand what works and what does not. I have been following the Crosstrail development for over a year and have studied it carefully. I am convinced it will be the biggest boost to the airport since I negotiated the deal to bring the Flight Service Station to the airport the early 1980s. The Flight Service Station will be gone in February. The Peterson Companies does not want to see the airport stagnate or close as some have suggested. The airport is a key part of their marketing plan. Bringing major companies to our community will make the Leesburg Airport a center for business aviation. No longer will we have to wait 16 years for life-saving improvements like a glide slope and a control tower. Through the fence operations can be very successful if managed correctly. I have seen it work very well and not work well. I can say the same for airport management. Noise and safety are two other issues that are being misrepresented. As pilots you know that you do not fly inside the Greenway on a downwind to 35. Your downwind leg is west of the Greenway. An occasional plane may fly over the airport to the downwind for 17, but this is rare and not the standard pattern. These planes would be above pattern altitude and below the Class B airspace. You also know that an off-airport landing or accident is extremely rare. This has never happened on the Crosstrail property, at least in the last 30 years that I can attest to. Lawn mowers in Crosstrail will make more noise than airplanes. Noise contours compiled by the FAA confirm this. I urge everyone who has any interest in the Leesburg Airport to spend the time to study the facts as I have done. You are welcome to disagree with me, but please do so with knowledge and not just with emotion and conjecture. Finally a personal note - I spent 12 years of my life managing and developing the Leesburg Airport on a full-time basis. I did it 24/7. It was my only job. I poured hundreds of thousands of dollars of my own money transforming the airport from a bankrupt recreational airfield into an airport capable of handling business jets. This airport is in my blood. No one wants it to succeed more than I do. I will do everything I can to ensure success. Jim Haynes _jhaynes@xxxxxxxxxxxx (mailto:jhaynes@xxxxxxxxxxx) (703) 777-4142
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