Letter to Ms. Martinez, FAA - FAA Approval Urgently Needed in Order for Perry-Warsaw Airport to Begin the Process of Getting a New Weather Tower System

Letter

Dear Ms. Martinez:

I write to urge the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to swiftly complete the agency's pending review and approval of materials submitted by the Perry-Warsaw Airport (01G), without which the airport will be shut out of applying for its Automatic Weather Observing System (AWOS-II) construction grant this year (FY18), thus delaying the entire project timeline by a year. Specifically I ask that you prioritize the swift completion of the weather tower airspace case application (2017-AEA-26-NR) submitted by the Airport on October 24, 2017 which is the key component in order for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to set and approve the specific location site at the airport where the new weather tower must be erected. According to the Airport, the remaining required materials that are predicated on the FAA's determination of the weather tower site location, such as the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) update, the Construction Safety and Phasing Plan, and other plans and specifications for the NY Airport District Office review have either already been submitted or will be finalized and submitted once the FAA approves the site location.

Located in between the Villages of Perry and Warsaw, Perry-Warsaw Airport is integral to the regional economy of Wyoming County, New York. This new system is critical to this airport and the community for several reasons:

As agreed to and emphasized by FAA NYADO, the Airport must begin capturing accurate wind data as soon as possible, to promote the widening of Runway 10-28 project for winds. This project is key to maintaining safe operations at the airport and is currently shown as beginning in FY2019 with an Environmental Assessment. Delay of the AWOS project will in turn delay these important future capital projects.
The establishment of instrument approaches is paramount for the safety of current airport users, particularly in light of the often windy conditions experienced at this airport, and to help establish new businesses in the region. In addition to providing enhanced weather information, the AWOS-II is needed so that the airport can begin gathering wind data for the purpose of making further improvements such as widening their main runway, as well as to ultimately add an instrument approach capability to the airport that will help the airport attract new businesses. The lack of an instrument approach has already forced Perry-Warsaw to turn away three businesses in the last five years that had interest in building hangars at the airport.
I ask that the case be reviewed as quickly as possible to allow for Perry-Warsaw airport to submit a pre-application by January 31 for a Fiscal Year 2018 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) construction grant for the AWOS-II. It is my hope that the FAA will prioritize this review so the proposal may swiftly proceed to implementation phase. The timely completion of this airspace case is integral to the long-term growth and economic development of the airport. In order for the airport to move forward with AWOS-II on time, the airport must be able to apply for Fiscal Year 2018 construction grants. Thank you for your consideration of this important project. Perry-Warsaw Airport plays a key role in the regional economy enabling residents and businesses access to travel across the area. Should you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact my staff.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

Source