=========
Tony:
I don’t think that is simply a situation in that "nobody cares." I have talked to people and they do.
But consider where we have been over the last 6 plus months.
First, we had the Master Plan Crisis. The idea that was presented was to go look at the old 1995 master plan, make some recommendations for changes to it, and thereby avoid paying for a new one. I did not agree with that and said so – and I had other people tell me that as well. It is clear to me that the Authority is being prudent and reasonable in accomplishing a new master plan. And since, in reality, rather than Master Plan being purchased the Authority was acquiring the services of some engineering firms, the best we could hope for was to get the COI Master Plan stopped while the money was spent anyway. I recommended a constructive engagement approach to the master plan effort – to influence it, and that is the way we are going now. Unfortunately, since the initial response for the plan was to kill it, we now are less well prepared to participate in the process than we might have been.
Then we had the Self-Service Fuel Issue. This was prompted by the sharp increases in the price of Avgas, and the Authority readily agreed to create such a facility. Unfortunately, the current plan is to have it operated by the FBO, which clearly will limit the benefits of competition. So it is not clear that this constitutes any kind of a victory. The recent fuel price increase by the new FBO is an opportunity for us to request that the Authority’s chosen approach should be revisited.
Next was the Mike Powell Compensation Issue. We got a letter back in response that was an excellent example of Pentagon-style "Thank you for you interest, now go away" writing. And it even had a good point: our representative, Ken Rivard, did not support the increased compensation. We may have endeared ourselves to Mike Powell to some degree but other than that we did not accomplish anything.
Then came the 50 Training Airplanes Crisis. I talked to as many BAA members as possible about how we should handle this. But in the end, it was a non-problem; the airplanes were mere phantoms. We at worst damaged our credibility by our letter to the Authority, and at best did nothing useful.
Now comes the Hangar Rent Crisis. This looks like a real problem, finally. But people have seen us spinning our wheels and I don’t think they want to waste the time and effort to address it. I am not personally aware of any cases in which the tenants have successfully rolled back a hangar rent increase. I have some ideas how to address this – but I do not think that a massive letter writing campaign will be of much use, and neither will demanding that the commercial rents be increased to a like level of the T-hangars.
We need to pick out battles carefully. You are no
doubt aware of the story of the little boy who cried wolf.
Wayne Eleazer
===================================================
December 25, 2007
WOW!! 2007 is about gone.
I have had a good year. I and have accomplished many things, and even got an award or two.
Now let me tell you how all this happened –
The Good Lord has taken me under his arm by giving me FRIENDS like you. You are the ones that gave me the support, the guidance, the input, the caring, your prayers and your friendship. With out each of you, all of this could have never happened. I wish my wife could also thank you, but she can’t.
So with out taking anymore of your time,
A Team leader is only as good as those supporting him.
Thank you for being my Friend and all you do for me!
May God Bless you.
Have a Very Merry Christmas and the best New Year you have ever had.
Tony
Tony,
Good morning, sir. I apologize for my delay in response, but I have been tied up in meetings. It is always my pleasure to provide any information you or anyone else requests. I am sorry you were unable to attend the public open house meeting last Thursday at 4:00 p.m. where we discussed the Master Plan for Space Coast Regional Airport . The consultants, The LPA Group, Inc. gave a detailed presentation in which much of what you are asking was addressed.
The primary goal of a Master Plan is to provide guidance for the future operation and improvement of the airports. The elements of a Master Plan provide a comprehensive analysis of current airport facilities, determination of trends, and the activities affecting the airports. The study also identifies and analyzes potential sectors of the aviation industry that have a likelihood of continued operational activity at the airports or new opportunities for expanded activities. An updated plan provides alternatives for airside and landside development, provides a financial plan, and provides a current Airport Layout Plan (ALP) meeting FAA and FDOT criteria to guide future development.
You are correct in that a Master Plan, Master Plan update, ALP update, etc... is not absolutely required - if you never plan to attempt to acquire any grants for any projects, but the most important thing to remember is the entire process of requesting and obtaining grant funds for development is highly competitive. Depending on the length of time a master plan has been out, without updating, the more inaccurate it tends to be. Meaning, it is very unlikely that a ten (10) year old master plan’s numbers are accurate (costs for projects, numbers of operations, priority of projects, etc.) since going that far out from the time the master plan is written is merely a projection based on historical data (trends) and/or the will of the Authority at that time.
The good folks that kindly work with us in acquiring grant funds to improve our facilities need as up-to-date information as possible to assist in their planning process as well. They only have a finite pot of money and they must determine the best way to distribute and disperse the funds based on what information they have before them. Priorities of airports easily change based on the current environment that very easily could bring about the need for at least a master plan update based on project priorities changing. An example would be since Staff came up with the formal report on alternatives for small aircraft hangar development, those new areas identified for hangar development must be reflected in order to get the grant funds. A Master Plan is simply a twenty (20) year business plan that allows everyone (the Airport Authority, tenants, FAA, FDOT, and the general public) to have an idea of where the airports wish to go regarding future development.
Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5070-6B “Airport Master Plans” and AC 150/5300-13 “Airport Design” (I believe – Change 8) would provide much more detail regarding the process and why you need it. Even the guidance/requirements regarding the process of development changes from time to time, which is another reason for an update.
I may be wrong and please forgive me if I am, but I was under the impression that one of the main reasons the good folks at the Valkeria Airport conducted their Master Plan, which I thought cost $75,000 from FIT, was to get the 80/20 FDOT grant ($800, 000) to construct the 20(?) unit hangar building, with office space. That itself is another perfect example for the need to conduct an update to acquire the necessary funds to provide better service to the tenants.
I hope this information proves helpful, and please do not hesitate to contact me if I may be of further assistance. I can assure you that I will always work tirelessly to ensure the best products and best service possible for the Board and tenants I serve. I am always very appreciative of your support as well as the good folks in the BAA, EAA, the rest of the tenants, and the traveling public.
Take care and enjoy the rest of your day.
Best Regards,
Michael D. Powell,
C.M., ACE
Executive
Director
Titusville-Cocoa
Airport
Authority
Office: (321)
267-8780, Ext. 203
FAX: (321)
383-4284
Email: mpowell@flairport.com
Website: www.flairport.com
================================================================================
September 18, 2007 - the following is a letter from Tony Yacono to Randy
Means:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brevard Aviation Association
Tony Yacono, President
900 Airport Road
Merritt Island , FL. 32952
Office of the State Attorney
Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida
Attn: Mr. Randy J. Means
415 North Orange Avenue
POB 1673
Orlando , Florida 32802
June 5, 2007
Dear Mr. Means,
By way of introduction I am Tony Yacono, President of the Brevard Aviation Association (BAA). We are an association of pilots and tenants using three of Brevard County 's airports: Titusville-Cocoa; Arthur Dunn; Merritt Island . These airports are managed under the auspices of the Titusville- Cocoa Airport Authority. Given the significant investment by our membership in both aircraft and hanger rents you can imagine our intense interest in the fiscal management of these facilities.
Recently we have become aware of some peculiar business dealing that appears to be irregular. The chronology below attempts to explain the irregularity. In addition, I have attached 5 documents for your perusal.
The facts as I know them are as follows:
1) The Airport Authority applied for and received a TOP (Transportation Outreach Program) grant to build a corporate terminal at Space Coast Airport in 2002.
2) During the period from 2002 to December 2005 the Airport Authority expended $420,000 for the terminal project. We cannot determine what the Airport Authority got for these funds nor can we find any records detailing same.
3) On Dec. 31, 2005 Haskell Company billed the Airport Authority (enclosure 1 and 2) totaling $1,580,000.00. On Jan 6, 2006 a check was written to the Haskell Company and signed by the airport director (Mr. Carr) and the Airport Authority chairman (Mr. J. Schenck) apparently without the knowledge of the remaining Airport Authority members.
4) After a new member of the Airport Authority started to question the financial status of the Corporate Terminal and construction completion status it came to light that no physical work has been accomplished to date and yet Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority was billed for 48% of the project being completed (see enclosure 2). At some point the Airport Authority requested Haskell Company return their grant monies, which they did in the amount of $1,350,375.00.
5) The Haskell Company has now declared it cannot build the terminal for the agreed price and the Airport Authority has agreed to pay an additional $500,000.00 for this project.
6)
At enclosure 3 you will find copies of checks from the Airport
Authority to Haskell. The names penciled below the signature block are the names
of the Board Member co-signing the check along with Mr. Scott Carr, the former
executive director.
7)
At enclosure 4 you will find a copy of the check from Haskell to
the Airport Authority in the amount of $1,350,375.00.
8) At enclosure 5 is the roster of the Board of Directors of the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority.
Our requests for accountability for the nearly five million dollar project have largely been ignored. That makes us even more concerned. While we are not alleging any criminal activity we are pointing out that about two million dollars of taxpayer money has been spent (and about half returned) based on a billing for work not done. Sir, you may not call this illegal but you surely will admit it is wrong and exhibits a lack of common sense business practices. Our hard working taxpayers deserve better.
Please look into this matter on our behalf and the taxpayers of Florida . Below is my contact information and I request you keep me informed of the investigation progress and I will, in turn keep my members informed.
Sincerely,
Tony Yacono
FAX 321-453 1727
Home Phone 321 453 5388
Cell Phone 321 302 225
Cc:
Governor
Charlie Crist
The Capitol
Tallahassee
, FL 32399-0001
Office of Attorney General
Attorney General Bill McCollum
State of Florida
The
Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee
, FL 32399-1050
Good afternoon, folks. I wished to inform the Board Members that Staff received the attached letter from the FDOT at the end of the day on Monday, June 18, 2007. The letter explains the FDOT's intent to initiate an audit regarding the corporate building project. Currently, Staff has no way on knowing how long the process will take.
To date, Staff has returned over 1.4 million dollars to the FDOT, as requested by FDOT, once the funds were received back from the Haskell Company.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Take care and I will see you in the morning.
Best Regards,
Tony Yacono
Question: What happens if you inadvertently fly through a temporary flight restriction (TFR) and how long does this infraction remain on your pilot record?
Answer: If the FAA's investigation results in a finding of
violation against you for flying through the TFR, and if a suspension of your
pilot certificate is recommended, the
violation will stand on your record for five
years
. If it has not been longer than 10 days since the
infraction, you can file a
NASA
form as part of the aviation safety reporting system (ASRS) in
an effort to avoid being grounded for the duration of the FAA's suspension
order. Additional insight into how the FAA conducts enforcement investigations
can be reviewed in the Pilot Information Center's
FAA enforcement subject report
.
Tony
Tony
On December 20, 2002, a pilot and his four passengers flying in a Piper Cherokee Six left Columbus, Ohio, on an instrument cross-country flight. Three hours into the flight, the pilot called Atlanta Approach and declared an emergency. He was told that Macon Regional Airport was at 12 o'clock and 15 miles. The pilot responded that he could make it to Macon. He was given a direct heading.
He then told Atlanta Approach that he was having engine trouble and had smoke in the cockpit. ATC then suggested Herbert Smart Airport, which was at 11 o'clock and 13 miles. The pilot told ATC that he was trying to hold altitude at 4,500 feet but was descending.
Five minutes after declaring the emergency, the pilot was told that Interstate 75 was off to his right. He answered that he was at 2,200 feet, had a "total loss of engine power," and wasn't going to make the airport. Two minutes later, the flight disappeared from radar. The pilot and three of the passengers were killed when the Cherokee Six hit trees in a heavily wooded area. One passenger sustained only minor injuries.
In post-crash interviews, the surviving passenger remembered the engine stopping and the pilot desperately trying to restart it. After all restart efforts were unsuccessful, the pilot told the passengers to brace themselves because they were going to crash into trees below. The passenger was able to escape before the aircraft burst into flames.
The inside of the engine case had scoring damage, and the connecting rods and pistons showed signs of heat distress. About a half quart of engine oil was recovered from the 12-quart oil system. A line mechanic who had serviced a gear strut before the accident flight had told the pilot that there was oil leaking from under the engine cowling onto the nosewheel pant. The pilot responded that he would look into it later.
The NTSB determined the cause of this accident was the loss of engine power because of oil starvation.
The engine is the heart of an airplane. If you suspect any mechanical problems, its far better to delay your flight and have a mechanic inspect the engine than to depart and chance a major mechanical failure. It's possible this accident could have been prevented if the pilot had asked the mechanic to look more closely for the source of the oil leak.
Take the AOPA Air Safety Foundation's Engine and Propeller online course to learn more about engine and propeller operation and maintenance. A better understanding of engine and propeller operation can help minimize dangerous wear and costly repairs and prevent future accidents.
Tony
====================================================================
December
12, 2006 - The Brevard Aviation Association has made an impression on the TICO Board in the past two
years. Many of the needed items were corrected. Many
were redone and in some cases the TICO Staff asked for our assistance. We
must keep on growing and challenge the TICO Board as needed. As all of you
know, for the most part, the TICO Board feels they need not answer to
anyone. They do, however, need to answer to the public. The BAA
can be the strong arm in getting this done. I must, however, say that at
the last two meetings, the TICO Board seems to have changed their attitude
somewhat. In January of 2007 they will draft a plan to share with the
county commissioners as requested at the county work shop. The BAA has
asked to be put on the agenda of each and every TICO meeting, without a time
restriction. We can relate to the TICO Board and the TICO Staff the
concerns, needs and feelings of the airport tenants. This will also
include the commercial tenants. This will also establish a respectful and
meaningful relationship with the TICO Board, the TICO Staff and all the airport
tenants. The Brevard Aviation
Association can only do this if we work, think and research together as a
team. Please understand, you all railroaded me into the President's seat
again for the 2007 year. I will do the job at hand only with the support
and assistance of the entire BAA team. Together we can get the job done.
WE CAN DO IT!!! So "LET'S GET ER DONE"
We will continue to meet every other month, however, the BAA Board
will meet each month. Please share your thoughts and comments with me or
any of our board members. We will evaluate each and every one.
HAVE A
GREAT CHRISTMAS, remember it's true meaning and share the
blessings.
Tony