Whiteplains Runway Lights Notes:

(Whiteplains Pilots)
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