Sat, Jul 10, 2010
City Government, Public Were Not Notified
For a period of time earlier this year, Ocala International
Airport (KOCF) in central Florida was operating without an Airport
Operating Certificate allowing part 139 operations. The FAA pulled
the ticket when it found numerous safety violations ranging from
inoperable taxiway edge lighting and faded hold position signs to
failure to address wildlife hazards and depressions in one of the
airport's runways.
But airport management, and the city manager, failed
to notify the city government, and the airport ran without its Part
139 operating certificate from February 17th to June 25.
The airport avoided problems during that period because not a
single Part 139 flight, an unscheduled aircraft with at least 31
passenger seats operating for hire, attempted to land or take off
from the airport during that time.
The issue was finally brought up on a City Council agenda on
July 6th. The Ocala Star-Banner reports that a written statement
from City Manager Ricky Horst appeared on the agenda informing the
council that the violations had been addressed. The council's
reaction was "what violations?"
No regularly-scheduled airlines serve the airport, and GA was
not affected by the ruling from the FAA, so the issue literally
slipped under the radar. Assistant City Manger of development
Services John Zoblar told the paper that there were only two Part
139 flights at KOCF last year.
Council members seemed to be mostly forgiving of the oversight.
Most said that while they should have been informed, it wasn't a
major concern. However one, John Priester, said he thought Horst
had deliberately covered up the problem. Most wondered how it
escaped attention when the airport's new control tower opened May
17th.
The City of Ocala is working hard to develop the airport
property with new roads and other infrastructure, and it is
considered a key to the city's overall redevelopment efforts.
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