Runway Report
February 2023
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Join us March 08, 2023 HPN AAB (Airport Advisory Board) Airport Conference Room.
Realign or approve 11/29 for better non-jet handling? More parking? More hangar space?
Other changes you would like to see?
This is your time to let your voice be heard and speak up for the changes you would like to see at the airport.
Your parking ticket will be validated for attending.
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BREAKWAY THRUST AND JET BLAST AT HPN |
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Article written by Scott Dyer
HPN Photos provided by Francisco Tejada and Andrew Bowser of HPN Operations
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You’ve seen the videos and pictures of tourists hanging onto the fence at the St. Maarten airport as transport jets depart just a few feet away, and that wonderful practice (NOT!) has resulted in deaths and serious injuries.
Jet blast is awesome power.
The NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) files are replete with reports of light aircraft being caught in the jet blast of taxiing or departing turbine aircraft and it’s been this way for years.
A recent report had a homebuilt aircraft taxi behind a Challenger, which was waiting to cross a runway, with ATC then authorizing the Challenger to cross that runway:
I was cleared to taxi from via Taxiway A to Runway XXR in my [Homebuilt Experimental] tailwheel aircraft. A Challenger 300 had been cleared from the West Ramp to hold at Taxiway A1, while waiting to cross XXR to get to XXL for departure. Just as I was taxiing directly behind [the Challenger 300], Ground cleared him to cross XXR. [The Challenger 300] applied immediate power to taxi. I was directly behind him; I tried to accelerate but was unable to get past his jet blast before we were blown in a violent 330 - 360 degree right ground loop. My aircraft suffered damage to the left wing tip, both wheel fairings, and the left gear fairing. There was no prop strike and no contact with any flight controls. Neither I nor my passenger was injured.
The cause of the problem was the Ground Controller not noting my position directly behind [the Challenger 300] when he cleared him to cross; I also believe [the Challenger 300] used excess power to begin his taxi roll. NASA ASRS ACN: 1100774
There are situations of light aircraft taxiing behind a jet doing a maintenance runup, being cleared either onto or across a runway, or being cleared for takeoff with the jet blast pushing landing traffic on another runway well off the runway heading while in a flare. We’ve seen some jet blast incidents over the years at HPN, and a memorable one in recent years occurred at Boston Logan as a C172 was flipped on its back while in line for takeoff behind an air carrier jet.
Anticipation of these incidents by the light aircraft PIC, the turbine crew and ATC, can help avoid them almost entirely. Good airmanship requires situational awareness in all phases of flight, including taxiing before departure or after landing. There is very little FAA flight training guidance on jet blast avoidance while taxiing, a situation that needs to be remedied.
How we can anticipate these situations is the purpose of this short article.
About The Author:
Scott Dyer is a Westchester Aviation Association Board member, coordinator of our quarterly ATC Seminars and an active CFI/II at the airport. For more information on Scott, check out his bio and meet the rest of the WAA Board here.
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Thank you to everyone who participated in this year's Food Drive for Feeding Westchester.
We also want to thank Scott Evans, GSE Mechanic for Atlantic Aviation and the staff at Million Air for dropping off over 300lbs of food!
Thank you again to everyone who joined in our efforts to help feed our neighbors.
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FROM SCHOLARSHIP WINNER TO FIRST SARGENT |
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Where are they now?
Alec Babkine-Osterrath
Winner of Safety Day 2022 Introductory Pilot Award
Interview with Luke Egan
In anticipation of this year's Safety Day, Luke followed up with our past scholarship winner, Alec,(Alexandre Babkine-Osterrath), to see what he has been up to since winning The WAA Safety Day 2022 Introductory Pilot Award sponsored by Academy of Aviation.
Below are Luke's (L) questions with answers provided by Alec (A).
L: What have you been up to since you won?
A: Since I won the award, I have earned many achievements related to aviation along with beginning flight training of course. In my Civil Air Patrol Squadron, I have been assigned the first sergeant position and won an award for being the cadet NCO of the year for the Westchester-Putnam area. I have been progressing rapidly in terms of flying, completing 1 out of the 4 stages of my flight training.
L: What made you think it was possible? Was there a particular person who encouraged or mentored you?
A: When I applied for the scholarship I didn’t think I was going to get anything. I thought that surely someone more qualified and experienced than me is also applying for this same thing. What pushed me to apply was the hope that I’d get it and the dream of being able to fly. I credit the senior member of my squadron who suggested that I apply for this scholarship with me getting it. Because if I didn’t know about it there was no way I could’ve won it.
L: What are your future aviation aspirations, and, in your opinion, what is the greatest barrier to overcome?
A: My short-term aspiration is to finish my private pilot’s license and to start working on other ratings, such as seaplane, IFR, and a tail dragger. My long-term goal is to become a pilot in the air force or to become a mechanical / aerospace engineer after college.
L: If you could share one bit of information with someone who is thinking about flying what would you tell them?
A: If I could share a piece of information with anyone looking to start flying it would be, just do it. Go book an introductory lesson or a flight and go fly. Immediately you’ll be able to tell whether you want to fly or not. And if you want to continue, use any opportunity you can to fly. There are so many things out there that will aid you in your journey to the sky and don’t back away from one just because you don’t think you would have a chance. You never know!
Thank you again, Alec, for your time. We can't wait to follow up with you again in years to come. We would also like to thank the Academy of Aviation for their continued support in our scholarship program. To learn more about the Academy of Aviation visit their website www.academyofaviation.com/
About The Author:
Luke Egan is a Westchester Aviation Association Board member, Senior Captain for Solairus Aviation, and our Scholarship Chair. For more information on Luke, check out his bio and meet the rest of the WAA Board here.
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Photo provided by Alexandre Babkine-Osterrath taken at his flight training. |
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ATC/Pilot First Quarter Meeting
Re-watch the first quarter ATC Meeting with WAA's own Scott Dyer, the new Farmingdale FSDO Safety Program Manager, Katherine Adrada, and Westchester Airport Operations Manager,
John Starace.
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Links shared by Katherine Adrada:
Topic: Importance of proper communications with ATC
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FAAST Blast — Week of Feb 06 – Feb 12, 2023
Article forwarded by our friends at ATC
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High-powered laser pointers can incapacitate pilots flying airplanes. To combat the threat, Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen requested laser manufacturers add a warning label to their packaging to make consumers aware of the safety risks and federal laws when using lasers.
Pilots reported nearly 9,500 laser strikes to the FAA in 2022. Two hundred and seventy-eight pilots have reported an injury from a laser strike to the FAA since 2010. People who shine lasers at aircraft face FAA fines of up to $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple laser incidents. The FAA issued $120,000 in fines for laser strikes in 2021.
Also, be on the lookout for an in-depth article on laser safety in the March/April 2023 issue of FAA Safety Briefing.
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THANK YOU AGAIN FROM WAA AND NBAA FOR YOUR SUPPORT! |
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Westchester Aviation Association (WAA) is proud to announce Governor Hochul's veto of the "Stop the Chop" bill (S7493).
We would like to thank all of our members who shared our communication to the governors office. Further, we would also like to thank Governor Hochul and her staff for reading our communications and standing in agreement.
While we are grateful for the veto, there are still concerns that similar legislation will be passed in New York City. We will be sure to keep our members posted as we learn more on the proposed legislation.
On behalf of WAA, NBAA, and fellow rotorcraft operators and enthusiasts, we thank you for your support and call to action.
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WAA Welcomes Comments on HPN Class C Proposal |
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The WAA has carefully reviewed Staff Study: Evaluate the Need for Class C Airspace at Westchester County Airport (HPN), a comprehensive document that analyzes the operators, adjacent airspace, passenger and flight statistics, traffic flow above and around the airfield, and many other factors to address limitations of Class D Airspace for arriving and departing aircraft. Beginning on Page 40, a handful of scenarios are described in which traffic conflicts occur and have prompted TCAS/RA events. We thank the HPN Tower for sharing and explaining the proposal.
The WAA is seeking to understand the adoption process and address concerns before Class C proposed rule making occurs, as this document is currently being reviewed by the FAA. We have shared several observations concerning the proposal with Curtis Brewington, Interim Air Traffic Manager in a letter written by Scott Dyer.
We are looking to establish a dialogue with all operators and pilots to collect your comments and concerns so that the path forward will be the safest option while not sacrificing utility for private aviation. A dedicated page on our website can be found Here and will be updated periodically as new information becomes available.
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Airport Operations Update |
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The Airport Operations Portal has been updated with a new layout and more comprehensive material. The portal contains loads of information for not only Westchester County Airport Operations personnel but anyone who uses the field. Here you will find aircraft familiarization charts and PowerPoints for private and commercial aircraft, driver training material, Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) resources and airport certification training. There is a particularly helpful page of links to NOTAMS, the National Airspace System Status page and the major weather and flight tracking sites.
The Veoci Tenant Dashboard has also been updated with additional information. Here you will find runway conditions, airfield advisories, weather reporting, NOTAMS, form to Request a PPR, and a Snow and Ice section.
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A big thanks to Airport Operations Supervisor, David Montiverdi for sharing these resources with us. You will want to bookmark these pages!
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Work has begun on the Airport Fuel Farm Oil Water Separator (OWS) Replacement Project. An 8,000 gallon OWS will be removed and provisions made for a new 10,000 gallon OWS. This will provide environmental protection between the fuel farm off-loading stations and Blind Brook. Heavy excavation equipment and construction personnel will be working near the Traffic Circle at the Main Terminal entrance so please use caution here.
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