[TowerTalk] Tower planning

[Stan or Patricia Griffiths]

Ed Sleight wrote:

> Stan or Patricia Griffiths wrote:
> > I would really love for someone to point to the exact part
> > of the FCC rules that allows my friends to enjoy their
> > "exemptions".
> >
> > Stan  w7ni@teleport.com
>
> Well, the reason you cannot find the "pie" rule is that it is an FAR
> definition, not an FCC one. Try to find an approach plate for a runway
> and you will find the information on it in terms of altitude.

Hi Ed,

There is no doubt in my mind that we have to comply with Part 17 of the FCC
Rules and Regs.  These do not include any references to FAR definitions.

> And since you doubt the sideways rule, how do you explain the LARGE
> hangers located ON the airport, and the multitude of motels within less
> than 2000 ( and sometimes closer ) horizontally from the airport?

Easy.  These structures have been registered with the FAA and have been
approved.  There is nothing in the rules that say you absolutely cannot have
a structure that penetrates the "slope barrier".  You just have to bring it
to the attention of the FCC and/or the FAA for approval.  You may well be
able to HAVE a ham tower that is off to the side of the runway that exceeds
the height defined in Part 17.  The rules just say that the FAA has to be
made aware of it so they can approve or deny it.

There is also something in the rules about structures that exist before the
runway does being exempt.

> Maybe the FCC has gotten more tight assed about it now, but I flew for
> 33 years, over 25 of them commercially, and at one time had a tower up
> about midway between the 2 east west runways in Atlanta. My best buddy
> was the son
> of the head of the local FCC office, and he said "don't worry about it",
> and don't bother me with paperwork.

I would not take great comfort in any bureaucrat who wants to reduce his
workload by overlooking part of his job . . .

> Guys, here you have to apply logic. The absolute minimum altitude an
> aircraft may descend to on a non precision approach is 300'. For a
> precision approach,
> such as an ILS, variations allowed BELOW the glide slope are calculated
> on a distance from the runway formula. i.e., you can be perhaps 50'
> below the glide slope at some point, AFTER you cross the initial fix
> point, but at say 1000' from the runway, your deviation is greatly
> reduced, and get way low, and the cockpit sounds like a teenagers car
> radio with all the alarms going off, including one audible one saying
> "glide slope" repeatedly. Go a little more below it, and you start
> getting the "PULL UP!" warning along with the others.

This is a LEGAL ISSUE.  Logic does not apply . . .

> And by the way, almost every FAA office I have ever spoken to is more
> than willing to discuss it with you. In spite of their being the "bad
> guys" to pilots, there's pretty nice guys.

Yep, that's what registering your tower is all about . . . opening up the
discussion with the FCC and FAA . . .

>
> 73
> Ed

Also 73
Stan




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