dans2992
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Dans2992
Major municipal power grab going on at Phoenix Deer Valley airport.
Is there any way the FAA can bring the hammer down on these guys, or is this unfortunately legal?
===========
A must read: for all KDVT (Dear Valley Airport) tenants and advocates.
IMPENDING LOSS OF MAINTENANCE AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTION AT KDVT
DVPA NOTAM
Deer Valley Pilots Association
NOtice To Active Members
May 19, 2019
As of May 19, 2019
The Deer Valley Pilots' Association is deeply concerned about the new interpretation and enforcement taken by City and airport management of the City of Phoenix's existing "Specialized Aviation Service Operators" (SASO) regulations. It has become clear that while the current SASO rules were implemented over a decade ago, they are nuanced in ways that most pilots do not fully understand and thus are likely to have been violated frequently. There is a critical shortage of maintenance and flight instructor services openly available to aircraft owners and pilots based at KDVT. For safety as well as operational efficiency, it is very important that we work with the City and airport management to broaden the SASO regulations to allow additional properly qualified purveyors of maintenance and flight instructor services at the airport.
The Background:
The new enforcement actions began with the unannounced deactivation of several tenants' airfield access cards. These deactivations happened to both aircraft maintainers and the owners of the aircraft being serviced. When the tenants approached KDVT Operations, they were told they were evicted, effective immediately, from the airfield and would not be permitted to return. Since the tenants were not permitted to return to the airfield, the eviction was also in essence a seizure of their aircraft and other personal property. When the tenants attempted to resolve the issue, both the airfield management and representatives of the City did not allow for a compromise. Instead, they were told their only regress was to appeal the eviction.
Additionally, one of the tenants being evicted is accused of participating in an "illegal" flying club. The tenant is, in reality, a member of a fractional aircraft partnership. This was cited as cause for eviction.
The Issue:
Most tenants and Association Members are not aware that the current City regulations prohibit SASO approved mobile mechanics from doing any repairs or maintenance other than "Preventative Maintenance" as defined by the FAA in FAR Part 43 Appendix A. Annual inspections, engine maintenance other than oil changes, electrical maintenance beyond replacing landing and position light bulbs, and the dressing of propeller nicks are examples of common maintenance work that would be prohibited under the current interpretation of the City's rules. KDVT's only fixed based operator, Cutter, does not provide on-field comprehensive repairs or maintenance. In addition, the flight schools at KDVT limit their work to maintaining only their own aircraft based at KDVT. As the City appears to be moving in a direction of strict enforcement of their maintenance regulations, it appears that annual inspections, maintenance, and other repairs will no longer be available on the field at KDVT.
The City is moving in the direction of defining all flight instructors including independent instructors, as "Flight Training Operators." Currently, City regulations require "Flight Training Operators" be registered and approved by the City, pay a per-training-hour tax, and maintain a comprehensive insurance policy with a $3 million liability minimum. While these requirements may be reasonable for large flight schools, it is likely not possible or economically realistic for independent flight instructors. It is common knowledge that AeroGuard and Westwind will not perform Bi-Annual Flight Reviews, Instrument Procedure Checks, or participate in WINGS phase instruction. If the City strictly enforces this regulation as planned, it can be expected that independent flight instruction will no longer be available at KDVT.
While the DVPA Board does not condone violation of the City's regulations, it steadfastly believes compliance with FAA regulations should be the overriding priority in developing the City's regulations. The Board believes that the City's regulations on aircraft maintenance and flight instruction need to be revised in order to ensure that FAA mandated services are readily available at KDVT.
The Current Status:
When the tenants were unable to resolve the situation with KDVT management, they sought a public meeting with the Phoenix Aviation Department. On Friday, May 17th, a public meeting was held with Mr. James Bennett, Director of the Phoenix Aviation Department. About 20 pilots were in attendance and an unknown number called into an open conference line. Mr. Bennett began by saying that the meeting was an opportunity for the City to hear KDVT pilots' concerns. Mr. Bennett did state the public meeting was not the appropriate forum to address the evictions that are in process and that are being appealed. After hearing statements for all who wished to provide them, Mr. Bennett agreed to establish a working group to review and potentially revise the regulations. Details for the working group were not provided.
On the same day, Mr. Ed Faron, KDVT airport manager, contacted DVPA Board member Mr. Richard Schmidt via email that he was in the process of reviewing some of the airport's "rules and regulations." Mr. Faron requested a meeting with the DVPA Board to get their input. That meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 24th at a time not yet determined. Our AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer, Mr. Bob Mittelstaedt, will also attend.
DVPA's position is that the City's current regulations regarding aircraft maintenance and flight instruction are fundamentally flawed and has created an environment that is detrimental to safe flight operations. The City must allow mobile maintainers to provide not just preventive maintenance but the full scope of inspections, maintenance, and repairs as authorized by their FAA certifications. Additionally, independent flight instructors must be allowed to instruct without City registration, approval, per-hour taxes or City-mandated insurance. The DVPA believes that by making these changes, the City will move from an adversarial position at KDVT to one that expands availability of maintenance and flight instruction services, encourages economic development, and creates a positive partnership with all tenants. We are hopeful that we can get the City to move in this direction.
As this action by the airport management and the City will affect every tenant at KDVT, the Association asks that its members and all the tenants at Deer Valley become engaged in this effort. All tenants must be prepared to step forward and advocate for fair and reasonable treatment. The Board will continue to keep its members updated on our progress. Please pass this information to all tenants and those with interests in the Deer Valley Airport. We welcome all comments and suggestions.
PLEASE GIVE THIS THE WIDEST POSSIBLE DISSEMINATION
Contact DVPA
E-mail comments to communications@dvtpilot.com
Is there any way the FAA can bring the hammer down on these guys, or is this unfortunately legal?
===========
A must read: for all KDVT (Dear Valley Airport) tenants and advocates.
IMPENDING LOSS OF MAINTENANCE AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTION AT KDVT
DVPA NOTAM
Deer Valley Pilots Association
NOtice To Active Members
May 19, 2019
As of May 19, 2019
The Deer Valley Pilots' Association is deeply concerned about the new interpretation and enforcement taken by City and airport management of the City of Phoenix's existing "Specialized Aviation Service Operators" (SASO) regulations. It has become clear that while the current SASO rules were implemented over a decade ago, they are nuanced in ways that most pilots do not fully understand and thus are likely to have been violated frequently. There is a critical shortage of maintenance and flight instructor services openly available to aircraft owners and pilots based at KDVT. For safety as well as operational efficiency, it is very important that we work with the City and airport management to broaden the SASO regulations to allow additional properly qualified purveyors of maintenance and flight instructor services at the airport.
The Background:
The new enforcement actions began with the unannounced deactivation of several tenants' airfield access cards. These deactivations happened to both aircraft maintainers and the owners of the aircraft being serviced. When the tenants approached KDVT Operations, they were told they were evicted, effective immediately, from the airfield and would not be permitted to return. Since the tenants were not permitted to return to the airfield, the eviction was also in essence a seizure of their aircraft and other personal property. When the tenants attempted to resolve the issue, both the airfield management and representatives of the City did not allow for a compromise. Instead, they were told their only regress was to appeal the eviction.
Additionally, one of the tenants being evicted is accused of participating in an "illegal" flying club. The tenant is, in reality, a member of a fractional aircraft partnership. This was cited as cause for eviction.
The Issue:
Most tenants and Association Members are not aware that the current City regulations prohibit SASO approved mobile mechanics from doing any repairs or maintenance other than "Preventative Maintenance" as defined by the FAA in FAR Part 43 Appendix A. Annual inspections, engine maintenance other than oil changes, electrical maintenance beyond replacing landing and position light bulbs, and the dressing of propeller nicks are examples of common maintenance work that would be prohibited under the current interpretation of the City's rules. KDVT's only fixed based operator, Cutter, does not provide on-field comprehensive repairs or maintenance. In addition, the flight schools at KDVT limit their work to maintaining only their own aircraft based at KDVT. As the City appears to be moving in a direction of strict enforcement of their maintenance regulations, it appears that annual inspections, maintenance, and other repairs will no longer be available on the field at KDVT.
The City is moving in the direction of defining all flight instructors including independent instructors, as "Flight Training Operators." Currently, City regulations require "Flight Training Operators" be registered and approved by the City, pay a per-training-hour tax, and maintain a comprehensive insurance policy with a $3 million liability minimum. While these requirements may be reasonable for large flight schools, it is likely not possible or economically realistic for independent flight instructors. It is common knowledge that AeroGuard and Westwind will not perform Bi-Annual Flight Reviews, Instrument Procedure Checks, or participate in WINGS phase instruction. If the City strictly enforces this regulation as planned, it can be expected that independent flight instruction will no longer be available at KDVT.
While the DVPA Board does not condone violation of the City's regulations, it steadfastly believes compliance with FAA regulations should be the overriding priority in developing the City's regulations. The Board believes that the City's regulations on aircraft maintenance and flight instruction need to be revised in order to ensure that FAA mandated services are readily available at KDVT.
The Current Status:
When the tenants were unable to resolve the situation with KDVT management, they sought a public meeting with the Phoenix Aviation Department. On Friday, May 17th, a public meeting was held with Mr. James Bennett, Director of the Phoenix Aviation Department. About 20 pilots were in attendance and an unknown number called into an open conference line. Mr. Bennett began by saying that the meeting was an opportunity for the City to hear KDVT pilots' concerns. Mr. Bennett did state the public meeting was not the appropriate forum to address the evictions that are in process and that are being appealed. After hearing statements for all who wished to provide them, Mr. Bennett agreed to establish a working group to review and potentially revise the regulations. Details for the working group were not provided.
On the same day, Mr. Ed Faron, KDVT airport manager, contacted DVPA Board member Mr. Richard Schmidt via email that he was in the process of reviewing some of the airport's "rules and regulations." Mr. Faron requested a meeting with the DVPA Board to get their input. That meeting is scheduled for Friday, May 24th at a time not yet determined. Our AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer, Mr. Bob Mittelstaedt, will also attend.
DVPA's position is that the City's current regulations regarding aircraft maintenance and flight instruction are fundamentally flawed and has created an environment that is detrimental to safe flight operations. The City must allow mobile maintainers to provide not just preventive maintenance but the full scope of inspections, maintenance, and repairs as authorized by their FAA certifications. Additionally, independent flight instructors must be allowed to instruct without City registration, approval, per-hour taxes or City-mandated insurance. The DVPA believes that by making these changes, the City will move from an adversarial position at KDVT to one that expands availability of maintenance and flight instruction services, encourages economic development, and creates a positive partnership with all tenants. We are hopeful that we can get the City to move in this direction.
As this action by the airport management and the City will affect every tenant at KDVT, the Association asks that its members and all the tenants at Deer Valley become engaged in this effort. All tenants must be prepared to step forward and advocate for fair and reasonable treatment. The Board will continue to keep its members updated on our progress. Please pass this information to all tenants and those with interests in the Deer Valley Airport. We welcome all comments and suggestions.
PLEASE GIVE THIS THE WIDEST POSSIBLE DISSEMINATION
Contact DVPA
E-mail comments to communications@dvtpilot.com
