Ramona Control Tower Could Close—AAF Submits Comment to FAA

March 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment

CLEAR THE RAMP AREA!!

From Mike Archer’s Wildfire News of the Day— FAA has proposed closing the Air Traffic Control tower at Ramona, California:
Ramona Air Traffic Control Tower Could Close | NBC 7 San Diego

AAF Chariman Walt Darran responded to the proposed closing:

Airtanker operations from Ramona airport are  critical during the nearly year-round aerial fire suppression activity in Southern California. The tempo of First Responder Initial Attack and extended wildfire operations, especially during Red Flag and Santa Ana conditions, combined with other local and transient flights, create an environment that calls for the order and discipline of a control tower.
Two mid-air collisions involving wildfire suppression aircraft in the Ramona airport traffic pattern, resulting in four fatalities and three aircraft destroyed, combined with other non-emergency traffic conjestion, prompted FAA to build the current tower in 1995:
Grumman S2A airtanker N405DF and a student pilot flying a PA-38 (1 fatal) collided in the Ramona traffic pattern 9/10/79 (LAX79FA079).

Douglas C54 airtanker T19 and Lead 56 (Beech Baron) collided in the Ramona traffic pattern 6/21/95 (LAX95GA219A & B). (3 fatal).

Maintaining an operational FAA control tower at Ramona is essential not only for the safety of pilots and aircraft, but also to maintain an orderly and efficient flow of aerial firefighting aircraft to protect lives and property subject to wildfires in the surrounding area.
Sincerely,

Walt Darran
Chairman, Safety Committee
Chairman, Board of Directors
Associated Aerial Firefighters

Initial response from FAA:
Thank you for your input.  All submissions will be reviewed and we expect to make a final determination on or about March 18.Note: This is an automated response to your message “Ramona tower closure” sent on 03/13/2013 03:52:58 PM.

 

And more   “Air Traffic Tower Closures Due To Sequestration Strip Extra Safety Net For Pilots During Takeoff, Landing.” This is a critical time for any flight operation, but made more so when non-First Responders mingle with Air Attack, helitankers,  and Large airtankers  during high frequency, high stress wildfire suppression operations.

From Huff Post Politics, 16 May 2013:   Air Traffic Tower Closures Due To Sequestration Strip Extra Safety Net For Pilots During Takeoff, Landing

 

 

 

 

 

 

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