Weight Limit Policy
There has been a long-standing policy
limiting the weight of aircraft using DeKalb-Peachtree
Airport (PDK) to 66,000 pounds. The 11th Circuit
Court based its ruling in 1988 on assurances that the runway
extension was for safety not to accommodate planes
over the 66,000-pound weight limit. Here are key
dates and references to this weight limit policy.
1987 from DeKalb County’s
Environmental Assessment for runway extension:
“The
largest aircraft capable of operating on Runway 2R-20L is
the Gulfstream II/III corporate jet. The runway’s
weight bearing capacity is sufficient for the operation
of this aircraft at gross weight (65,000 lbs.).”
1987 from FAA’s review of
Environmental Assessment for runway extension:
“The
runway extension is neither designed nor intended to
accommodate operations by aircraft larger than the ones
presently using the airport. The extension would enhance
the safety and efficiency of operations by these
aircraft. The runway would not be strengthened and
aircraft would not be allowed to depart with a gross
takeoff weight above the current limitation of 66,000
pounds.”
1988 from 11th Circuit Court of
Appeals decision on Runway Extension:
“Furthermore,
the proposal expressly maintains the current weight
limitation of 66,000 pounds. The proposed runway
extension is not designed to accommodate operations by
aircraft larger than the ones currently using PDK.”
1991 from PDK Master Plan
inventory:
“[Runway
2R-20L] and parallel taxiway is constructed of concrete
with pavement strengths of 45,000 pounds gross single
gear load, 66,000 pounds gross dual gear load,. . .. ''
1991 in letter from DeKalb County
CEO Manuel Maloof to Noise Abatement Advisory Committee
Chair:
“...there
shall be no lengthening, increase of weight-bearing
capacity, or widening of any PDK runway for any reason
without an EIS [Environmental Impact Study/Statement]
from this time forth. This is, as you know, our policy.
There is no intent to change the present capacity or size
of the airport.”
In May 1991 the Board of Commissioners
(BOC) approved the policy mentioned in this letter.
1992 from information packet
given to PDK Airport Advisory Board members:
“Aircraft
weighing over 66,000 lbs. prohibited.”
1993 from Becoming a Better
Neighbor, a DeKalb-Peachtree Airport Brochure:
“The
‘mix’ of aircraft that use PDK is limited to
the capacity of its runways. The largest runway at PDK
has a 66,000 pound weight bearing capacity.”
1997 in letter from FAA’s
William Albee:
“...the
stated purpose of the extension was a safety overrun area
in case an aircraft had to abort its takeoff run. It is
my understanding that the runway thresholds were not
changed, and thus no larger or noisier aircraft were
enabled to operate from the airport.”
1997 from FAR Part 150 Noise
Compatibility Study Update:
“Aircraft
weighing more than 66,000 pounds are prohibited from normal
operation at PDK.”
1999 from Pilot Information on
the PDK website:
“Rwy
02R-20L Weight Bearing Capacity: Single-46,000 lbs.,
Dual-66,000 lbs.”
THEN.....
In a January 27, 1999, letter to the FAA,
Airport Director Lee Remmel cited the 66,000-pound limit as
incorrect. He requested that the FAA change two publications
to show 105,000 pounds rather that 66,000. It was learned
that Mr. Remmel routinely allowed aircraft certified to carry
weight above the stated limit to operate out of PDK.
Airport Director Remmel announced to the Airport Advisory
Board at their meeting on March 10, 1999
that the county staff had recently found a reference to
weight in the county code. Section 6-93.
titled Dirigibles, blimps, gliders, etc.
states, "Prior authorization is required before
airships, dirigibles, blimps, gliders, free balloons,
motorless aircraft or aircraft with a total gross weight in
excess of seventy-five thousand (75,000) pounds land or take
off at the airport. (Code 1976, § 6-4077)."
In a memo dated April 7, 1999, CEO Liane
Levetan, attempted to clarify "the CEO's administrative
weight limitation", but succeeded in confounding the
issue further. She also said she "can find no rational
basis to deny prior authorization for corporate and private
aircraft which have been designed to comply with the federal
aviation noise levels of stage II or greater, and which may
exceed 66,000 pounds." PDK Watch came up with several
reasons to deny heavier planes the use of PDK.
- The 66,000-pound weight limit was mandated in
longstanding county policy.
- An FAA memorandum stated, "In general, .... the
lower the maximum weight of an airplane, the lower
the noise."
- County policy required an environmental study be
conducted before any change in weight limit.
The county legal department wrote an ordinance purportedly
to address regularly scheduled service at PDK but instead
wrote an ordinance that would gut the longstanding 1976
county ordinance and give the Airport Director free reign to
allow any plane to use PDK with no effective controls over
such actions. On October 12, 1999, the BOC
voted to table indefinitely this proposed ordinance due to
its numerous flaws.
September 6, 2000, Airport Director
Remmel stated that he had "made a determination that the
75,000 pounds will be defined as the Maximum Gross
Certificated Takeoff Weight for that type/model/series
aircraft."
December 27, 2000, in response to an
inquiry from Senator Max Cleland, the FAA incorrectly said
"the [11th Circuit] court made a statement in its ruling
that the weight bearing capacity of the runway was 66,000
pounds." In fact, the entire court ruling was
based on the fact that the proposed runway extension would
maintain the current weight limitation of 66,000 pounds dual
wheel.
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