(Whiteplains Pilots)
Dennis, et al.
Dennis, et al.
Sorry that I missed the meeting. I had it on my calendar but, to be honest, I simply forgot...
The
last couple of months have been tough for the lighting system A
lightning strike took out four components simultaneously: it severed a
ground wire, fried the microprocessor in the radio receiver, fractured a
switch, and burned out the coil on a relay in the day/night controller.
Repairing any system with four independent failures is tough, but
eventually, we found them all.
The problem with
the west loop of lights is even worse. There is an underground short
circuit somewhere (probably at an underground splice). When the ground
gets wet enough, the circuit breaker pops and half of the lights go out.
When the ground dries out some, all works as normal. The return of
the lights a couple of weeks ago was not due to any action on my part...
the ground dried out. I had Steve Fuller try to help me, but all was
working when Steve came out, and thus we couldn't troubleshoot. Next
time we have a failure of this kind, I'll try to get Steve sooner.
I
sincerely appreciate the offer of money, but this isn't something that
can be bought. We have to find and fix every underground splice until
we've got them all. Of course, there is no way to know when the last
one has been found. Wholesale replacement of wiring isn't at all
cost-effective, in my view.
On the subject of
lights... last year, we fabricated large heavy rubber mats around each
runway light base to keep the vegetation away from the light fixtures.
Unfortunately, centipede grass likes to creep, and has foiled the plan
to a degree. While the rubber mats allow the tractor to be driven right
up to the fixtures, there is still a need to weed-whack or otherwise
clean up around the fixtures... all the way to the perimeter of the
rubber mat I hope that the mowing team will consider this in making
landscaping assignments.
While I have
everyone's attention.. please be sure to tell me right away if the
tractor (or anything else) hits a runway light. More importantly, tell
me if the tractor impacts one of the legs of a VASI box. I can re-aim
the VASI syatem pretty easily, but not if I am unaware that they have
been disturbed. A mis-aimed VASI could be fatal at night.
Ken
On Aug 21, 2012, at 10:17 AM, DPerry6671@aol.com wrote:
BOD of Whiteplains
At the Pilots meeting last night we reviewed the runway lighting
issues. Unfortunately Ken Plesser was not there to make comment.
Two issues were brought up and a motion was (by myself) presented but not followed up on.
First I must say, it was said at last night Whiteplains pilots
meeting that this has no negative direction at Ken's volunteer work on
the lighting system! He has done and does a great job in keeping the old
infrastructure working with what he has to work with!
When the lighting system is down or acting up for one week or two
weeks that is not so bad in my opinion. But when it goes into week
three, four and so on the pilots start to ask why does it take so long
to repair our lights? Also our liability for an accident increases to a point of real concern.
With that said, a motion was brought up last night by myself and others agreed, but was not followed up with,
1.If we can not fix the lights turn them off until they are.....Half the lights working at night is not acceptable.
2. This was not a motion at last nights meeting, but was discussed, that the BOD of Whiteplains take acction and fund the repairs of the runway lights.
In closing, It is not fair to ask Ken to do all of this by himself
and it is also not acceptable for the pilots of Whiteplains to go such a
long time with runway light problems. So I am asking the BOD to resolve this problem.
Thank You
Dennis Perry
Whiteplains Pilot
