CAA: GA News, "California's Fallbrook airport slated for $900K in upgrades"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thursday, January 10, 2002

Fallbrook's airport slated for $900K in upgrades
BY ERICA WARREN 
The North County (CA) Times


SAN DIEGO ---- The Fallbrook Community Airpark may get more than
$900,000 worth of upgrades, principally to its runway but including
additional security fencing, under a plan approved by the San Diego
County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday. 

To fund the improvements, the county will seek $825,000 in Federal
Aviation Administration grants; $41,250 in state Aeronautics Program
grants; and $50,417 from the county Airport Enterprise Fund. 

The $750,000 runway project calls for the design and installation of a
new overlay composed of one- to two-inch thick asphalt. County officials
say the 2,165-foot runway built in the late 1960s badly needs the
overlay because of cracking and water retention. 

Security fencing would cost $166,667 for design and installation of
4,500 feet of fencing intended to prevent people from having direct
access to aircraft and the airport ramp. 

The Federal Aviation Administration did not call for the fencing, and
county officials said it was not being sought in response to Sept. 11's
terrorist attacks. The airport now has fencing around its 290-acre
perimeter. 

Both projects, in addition to a $316,470 water-line extension project
authorized by the county supervisors in December, highlight a series of
improvements under a master development plan being prepared for the
airport, said county airport director Rick Jenkins. 

Jenkins said P&D Aviation of Orange County will likely sign a contract
with the county next month and produce a 20-year development plan. 

"We want an interim solution to the runway and safety problems that
won't cause conflicts with the long-range plan," Jenkins said. 

Private pilots use the airport built in the 1960s much as they do eight
other county-owned airports. The airport was largely run by the
nonprofit Fallbrook Community Airpark Inc. until November 1997, when the
county reassumed control. 

Since the takeover, the airport has cost the county more money than it
has generated, Jenkins said. Users such as Tom Aberle said the county
has paid little attention to the airport, which in the last four years
has seen owners of about 50 planes move them to other airports. 

Aberle said the county should do more to attract additional aircraft by
enacting measures such as installing an aviation fueling station, a
feature removed from the airport more than a year ago when the private
company that operated it discontinued the service. 

But Chandra Wallar, assistant director with the Department of Public
Works, said San Diego County does not operate fueling stations. That
service is left up to the private sector, she said. 

Jenkins also said that bringing back fuel service is being explored. 

"We're looking at ways to make sure fuel is again provided," Jenkins
said. "We may look into companies who may want to provide (the airport)
fuel."


   Post your opinion on this story in the CAA General Aviation Forum
http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID2

*****************************************