"Palm Springs airport manager disputes safety criticisms"

Thursday, September 7, 2006

Palm Springs airport manager disputes safety criticisms
By Keith Matheny
The Palm Springs (CA) Desert Sun


Palm Springs International Airport's Director of Aviation Richard Walsh
defended the airport's safety record Thursday, as the issue became political
in the 45th Congressional District race.

"It is my obligation to ensure that this facility is run in a safe, secure
and efficient manner with the least disturbance to the traveling public,"
Walsh said, adding that "a host of dedicated professionals ensure the safety
and security of the traveling public on a daily basis."

La Quinta Democrat David Roth, running against incumbent Rep. Mary Bono,
R-Palm Springs, in the Nov. 7 general election, on Wednesday criticized Bono
for not securing the full $20 million necessary to fund replacement and
relocation of the airport's nearly 40-year-old tower. The tower is now
considered too short and its location does not provide air traffic
controllers good views of the end of its main runway, according to airport
officials.

Roth also cited the Palm Springs airport's record of having the second-most
runway collision hazards, known as incursions, in the state in the past
year. Roth also decried the possible loss of the airport's Terminal Radar
Approach Control system, or TRACON, operations to San Diego.

Walsh noted the incursion data in Palm Springs is affected by the airport's
unusually large amount of non-commercial general aviation - half of all
airport operations, compared to just 2.3 percent of activity at Los Angeles
International Airport and 17.2 percent at Ontario International Airport.
Walsh added that Palm Springs also has two flight schools, adding
inexperienced student pilots to the airport's operational mix.

"The issue of runway incursions at PSP isn't simply attributable to a
decrepit air traffic control tower," he said. "The incursions are not the
result of inadequate facilities or a lack of safety protocols, as the FAA
has already confirmed through its runway safety action team annual review of
PSP facilities."

Walsh said he's worked to secure new tower funding since becoming airport
manager in 2004 - and his predecessors worked on the issue for years before
that. The tower's replacement "will not happen overnight, as some have
implied," he said.

Walsh also disputed a claim by National Air Traffic Controllers Association
president Jim Corey that the possible loss of TRACON operations will affect
the airport's arrival and departure performance. 

Walsh noted the airport has received more than $30 million in FAA funding
for various capital improvements since 2004.

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