FAA Recommends Against Mixing Aircraft And Skydivers

After more than a year of waiting, the Laconia Airport Authority (LAA) has finally given Tom and Mary Noonan an answer on their plans for a skydiving facility at KLCI: the answer is "no".  The authority voted unanimously last week to deny the application for Skydive Laconia based on feedback from the FAA.

As reported previously by ANN, the Noonans applied for permission to open a skydiving facility at KLCI in 2008.  The couple has experience running a tandem parachute business and thought the beautiful NH scenery that would attractive upwards of 1,000 customers in their first year.  There are also no other skydiving facilities in the local area to compete with their planned $225 jumps.

Aerial view of KLCI courtesy of LAA

On December 21, the Tracey McInnis of the FAA's Burlington, MA, office issued a letter responding to LAA's request for an airspace analysis.  The letter stated "this proposed landing area would adversely affect the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace by aircraft and the safety of persons and property on the ground."

"FAA must protect for the potential corruption of the glideslope, the Runway Safety Areas (RSA), as well as preclude the possibility of debris being inadvertently dropped on the operating surfaces," wrote McInnis.  "The potential for these occurrences are the basis for the objection to the parachute landing areas."

The report stated that the mix of aircraft, ranging from LSAs to bizjets, and the prevalence of non-radio aircraft such as ultralights would present "significant challenges" and "increase the likelihood of skydiver/aircraft conflict."  The letter concluded "additional distraction of looking for skydivers while operating in the traffic pattern or on the surface is also cause for concern."

Although the Noonans did not attend the LAA meeting, they do still have the option to appeal the decision or submit a new application.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.laconiaairport.com/laa/