A conversation with a local professional civil planner indicated that a question has come up on occasion about how large of an aircraft could use our local airport.
Santa Ynez Airport has a runway of 2,805 feet long by 50 feet wide. By most standards, this represents a short runway appropriate for operations by single and twin-engine aircraft. Although many aircraft could get off the ground within the confines of the pavement, there are many factors that would make operations unsafe for some aircraft.
Most single engine aircraft such as the ubiquitous Cessna 172 can take off and land if lightly loaded in about 700-1,000 feet. Larger and heavier singles such as a Beechcraft Bonanza would use 1,000-1,500 feet for take-off and landings. Small and medium size twin-engine aircraft also use Santa Ynez Airport.
The most important issue that any pilot contends with is the safety of the operation of his or her aircraft. All aircraft have performance charts that predict take-off and landing distances under various conditions that include the altitude of the airport above sea level, the temperature at the airport, and the weight of the aircraft. Additional computations are provided if the braking action of the runway is less than optimal in conditions of rain or snow on the runway.
Larger twin-engine and jet powered aircraft have performance charts that provide a "decision speed" during take-off. That "decision speed" is a speed that the aircraft can obtain; abort the take-off, then stopping within the confines of the runway. A recent incident clearly illustrated the need to accurately compute the runway required for a safe departure.
On June 9, a Dassault Falcon 900, a medium sized business jet attempted a take-off from Santa Barbara's runway 25. With 6,052 feet of runway, this business jet can be operated at a maximum gross weight of 45,000 pounds, and should be able to easily operate off Santa Barbara runway 25.
With 13 passengers and a crew of two, the tri-engine jet experienced an indication of a problem before reaching V1, the "decision speed," and the pilots aborted the take-off. Applying reverse thrust and maximum braking slowed the jet, but not enough to bring it to a stop before running off the end of the runway, causing the nose wheel gear to collapse.
No injuries were reported, but the airport was closed for several hours while equipment was brought in to move the aircraft.
Although the aircraft will be in the shop with several thousands of dollars of repairs, the conservative decision by the pilots to abort the take-off resulted in only some scraped sheet metal.
Pilots flying into and out of Santa Ynez Airport must also make similar decisions on every take-off and landing. Will the distance needed for take-off or landing be sufficient considering the conditions, is a question all pilots ask themselves before and during each operation.
In general, the largest aircrafts that operate at Santa Ynez Airport are turbo-prop and jet powered aircraft that have a maximum weight of about 14,000 pounds. Although some larger aircraft may be able to use the runway, considerations of safety, the ability of the runway to support higher weight aircraft, and insurance restrictions will be a limiting factor.
Airport Authority Meeting
The Santa Ynez Valley Airport Authority met June 7 to conduct the business of the airport. Authority Chairman Willy Chamberlin, Board President Jim Kunkle, and members Garth Carrier, Dave Romero, Gerry Foxwell, and Albert Margolis attended the meeting. Ex-officio member Kim Joos attended.
After the reading and approval of the minutes of the May meeting, secretary Margolis moved an agenda item to the beginning of the meeting on the nomination and election of a non-user board member. Local resident Bob Leite was the sole nominee for the position and the board unanimously approved his election for the remainder of the term that will last two and a half years.
The board then elected member Romero to fill the vacated position of treasurer for the membership.
Website development was discussed with Eric Cobb who had provided a sample of the proposed Website and improvements that will include a live feed web camera that will provide a view of the fuel island gas price sign. Links will additionally be provided to rental car agencies, as well as to local businesses. The members approved of the proposed improvements to the Website and Mr. Cobb will continue to work on a final version for Board approval at a future meeting.
Keegan Bailey, the onsite airport manager, reported that officials of the Federal Aviation Administration and the State Aeronautics Board visited the airport and were favorably impressed with the condition of the airport. Their only suggestion was that the eucalyptus tree at the glider port should be topped to the height of no more than the windsock at that location. The board directed Bailey to obtain estimates from local tree surgeons for the project.
Grover Beach resident and professional parachute instructor David Major asked that the board again place his request to start a parachute business at the airport on the next month's meeting agenda. Mr. Major provided a letter that complained the board was treating him unfairly and denying his constitutional rights by denying his request.
Chairman Chamberlin agreed to hold a meeting with Major and Board President Kunkle before the July meeting to further discuss the issue and bring it up as an agenda item at a future meeting.
Treasurer Romero reported on the budget process. Chairman Chamberlin explained that the Board’s budget was not a spending document, but more used as a planning document.
During the report on the conditional use permit process, Chairman Chamberlin indicated that the Central Coast Board of Architectural Review, having reviewed the airport plans, found that a finding of a Negative Declaration should be in order there, avoiding the expensive process of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
An engineering review is currently taking place and will be completed shortly with Bethel Engineering. Chairman Chamberlin received permission from the board to have the president and chairman sign mitigation measures for the Airport Authority.
During other agenda items the board discussed the approval a five-year lease for Windhaven Gliders with an option for five additional years, a review of T-hanger rules, the rehabilitation of hanger G-9 for Santa Ynez Aviation, the land lease hanger list status, the U.S. Forest Service administration building plans, the Santa Ynez Water District application for service, and the status of airport grants.
Membership Committee Chairman Margolis reported that five new airport user applications had been received and the board accepted those applications and approved membership. Currently the airport membership has 215 members, of which 82 are airport users and 133 are non-users. The mandate for the authority membership is a 40-60 user to non-user ratio.
Interested community members are encouraged to contact the authority through the airport office for membership applications. Membership must be obtained by Aug. 15 in order to vote in the October election of Board officers.
The board voted to move the date of the July meeting to the 12th instead of the 5th in order to allow families to celebrate the Independence Day holiday.