Airport GPS system still uncertified due to tower
By Chris Eakin
The recently installed GPS navigation system at the Fairview Airport to help pilots doing instrument approaches, take-offs and landings is now having problems getting certified at a useful level. The main problem is one the M.D. and Town of Fairview were previously told wasn't a problem -- the Telus communications tower beside the airport.
The tower stands nearly 107 metres high but regulations say there should be nothing taller than 45 metres high within four kilometres radius of the airport.
Local pilot Don Wieben looked at the situation for the M.D. and showed that a pilot taking off from the airport could easily find themselves nose-to-nose with the tower if they pulled a left turn after take-off without sufficient power applied (given the rate of climb for light aircraft).
The system was installed by Ed McDonald of JetPro Systems, who is qualified as a commercial pilot and very experienced with navigational systems. McDonald is currently representing the M.D. in discussions with Telus, Nav Canada and Transportation Canada.
According to M.D. CAO Ben Boettcher, Telus is not totally opposed to moving the tower but is upset that the M.D. gave them a development permit to put the tower there back in around 1995 and is now asking them to move it.
Telus' has stated that if the M.D. can prove that the tower is a hazard to flight with today's aircraft and today's guidance systems, it will enter into negotiations to move the tower. Boettcher said the cost of moving the tower was estimated at between $400,000 and $450,000 and the M.D. has proposed a 50/50 split with Telus for moving costs.
Boettcher said that also Transport Canada "has the ultimate hammer", but they aren't particularly interested in regulating smaller airports like Fairview's and so McDonald is dealing mainly with Nav Canada.
He added that McDonald has said he could improve the GPS system so that it could be certified at a more useful level for about $40,000 and could also install a system that would almost guarantee no collisions with the tower for about $1 million.
Boettcher said the situation right now is that communications are open between the M.D. and Nav Canada but he does not expect anything to happen quickly.
According to Boettcher though, the M.D. is committed to moving the tower if humanly possible and affordable.
