12-07-1983 Regular Meeting of La Porte City Council

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• . ,. _. ~ • US.Deportrrtent SOUTHWPST REGION oiTransportation Houston Airports District Office Federal Aviation 8800 Paul B. Koonce Dr. , Roam 225 Adrrdnistration Houston, Teaas 77061 November 16,.1983 Complaint of Discrimination - Ultralight Vehicles La Porte Municipal Airport, La Porte, Teaas Mr. Mike Braxner Rt'. ~., boa 725 _. ,' .Diekinacn, Te=as 77539 Dear Mr. Braxner: t1e~-have completed our investigation of the City of La Porte prohibiting >xltralight operations at the-La Porte Municipal Airport. A surveillance inspection xae conducted by our General Aviation District Office on September 30 3983, and the folloxing observations noted. • On frequent occasions both runxays 12 and 22 are used for~etudent crosaxind takeoff and landing pract3.ce._ During these time periods, there xould be no place for ultralight vehicles to operate since there ie no portion of the airport that xould accommodate a separate traffic pattern. for' ultralights since txo traffic patterns are already in urea Tt should also be noted that the La Porte Airport f.a partially surrounded by congested housing areas over ~rhich ultralighte are prohibited from operating. These areas are primarily to the south and eouthxest and to the zest and northxest of the airport. Moat persons ezpreased concern regarding the mizture of airplanes. and/or helicopters versus ultralights in using the same runxays and teaixays on the airport because of the incompatibility of the speed involved. As La Porte Airport nox eaiste in this present configuration of regard to runxays and taaixays, noeafe place for ultralight operation could be found Based on the above, xe have determined that the City of La Forte has sufficient ~uatification to prohibit ultralight vehicles from. La Porte Municipal based on safe and efficient use of the. airport and``that such action by the City is not discriminatory and/or in violation of their Grant Agreement obligations to the United States Government. • ;, i ~e 1781 IAU 16! ''+~E .~~`'~ Edward Warren: First American Alott,;; `.