Okaloosa County BOCC — January 21, 2014 — Action Item Printout

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: January 21, 2014 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Sunil Harman SUBJECT: Ratification of Chairman's Letter responding to Part 13 Complaint DEPARTMENT: Airport BCC DISTRICT: All STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The Board of County Commissioners is requested to ratify the signature action of the Chairman in executing a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in response to a Part 13 complaint by Attorney Alan Armstrong representing Emerald Coast and Timberview Helicopters, Inc. BACKGROUND: On October 31, 2013 the FAA's Airport Compliance Specialist, Ms. Deandra Brooks forwarded a FAR Part 13 Compliant letter dated October 23, 2013, from Attorney Alan Armstrong on behalf of Emerald Coast Helicopters Inc., in response to FAA's September 25, 2013 letter to Emerald Coast Helicopters, Inc., requesting additional information on location(s) and an operational plan at DTS on how the operator proposed to pick-up and drop-off banners at the airport. The Department of Airports conducted an aeronautical study of the site proposed through RS&H and found both the location and plan incompatible with safe operations at DTS. The Department of Airports through its legal advisor on FAA matters prepared a response letter to the FAA compliance specialist from the BCC Chairman accompanied by the aeronautical study rejecting the location and operational plan and reiterating that the County was not in violation of FAA Grant Assurance No. 22 and requesting that the FAA dismiss the Part 13 complaint. OPTIONS: Approve, disapprove or table. RECOMMENDATIONS: The Board of County Commissioners is requested to approve the Chairman's action in executing a formal response letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator