CAA: GA News, "Idaho airport AWOS equipment not in compliance"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Friday, September 27, 2002

Airport equipment not in compliance 
By KEITH KINNAIRD 
The Bonner County (ID) Daily Bee


SANDPOINT - A plan was set in motion Wednesday to bring a vital piece of
navigational equipment at Sandpoint airport into compliance.

Bonner County commissioners voted unanimously to enter into a
maintenance contract needed to certify the airport's automated weather
observation and reporting system and to start looking for a replacement
unit.

The AWOS system is functioning, said Jorge O'Leary, manager of Sandpoint
Airport. However, the unit does not comply with Federal Aviation
Administration regulations because it has not been routinely inspected.

Pilots use the AWOS data to assess takeoff and landing conditions at the
airport. It is essential during instrument approach landings in bad
weather.

"If that (AWOS) system goes down, the instrument approach is unusable,"
O'Leary told commissioners.

A Sacramento, Calif., company called Qualimetrics was to inspect and
service the unit, but the company ended up balking. The county then
turned to a Kansas company which maintains other navigation equipment at
the airport, but that company refused to maintain Qualimetrics' unit,
said O'Leary.

Meantime, Qualimetrics has essentially gone bankrupt, according to
O'Leary. However, the company has reorganized, renamed itself All
Weather Inc., and wants to re-establish a relationship with the county.

But the company wants a one-year maintenance contract. O'Leary said the
company thinks it can get a technician here sometime in October to
maintain the unit.

"That's quite a wait," said Commissioner Brian Orr.

The AWOS deficiency was a point of concern for Salmon Air, which is
considering the idea of operating a commuter service from Sandpoint
Airport.

"Salmon has been into Sandpoint and they brought that up immediately,"
O'Leary said.

Without a certified AWOS system, the airport is supposed to be
off-limits to commercial flights.

Despite a spotty record with Qualimetrics, O'Leary said the county has
little choice but to enter into a maintenance contract to bring the unit
into compliance. He also recommended the county seek bids for a
replacement unit, which could cost up to $59,000.

Commissioners Orr and Jerry Clemons agreed, though Clemons expressed
doubts about the extent of Qualimetrics' reorganization.

Carol Mueller of Sagle had her doubts, too. She questioned the logic of
hooking up with a company that has already let the county down.

O'Leary, however, feels the terms of the contract should keep All
Weather from dropping the ball again.


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