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Five Airports Change IDs, 40 Change Magnetic Variation, 190 New Airport Managers
The latest update of the FAA airport database contained a number of changes that will impact pilots using the affected airports. Aviation data is subject to almost continuous change and the FAA database is updated every eight weeks to keep pilots current.
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October 19, 2009 (FPRC) -- On October 9th, 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pre-released the latest version of the official US airport database. Contained in the release were a number of changes that will impact pilots using the affected airports. The effective date for the changes is October 22nd, 2009. Aviation data is frequently updated to keep pilots and the rest of the aviation community apprised of new information. The update cycle for the airport database is every eight weeks.
Changes in airport identifiers affect the entire community and can affect the general public. The FAA airport identifier is a three or four character name using numerals and letters. The identifier is used by pilots and controllers to refer to a specific airport quickly and accurately. Five airports received new airport identifiers during this cycle.
Flying Feathers, Chilton, WI is now 11Y, was 06WI
Austin Executive, Austin, TX is now EDC, was 6R4
Washington Regional, Washington, MO is now FYG, was MO6
Golovin, Golovin, AK is now GLV, was N93
Jackson, CA airport is now JAQ, was O70
Four out of the five airports affected changed from identifiers that included numerals to ones composed only of three letters. "This type of change often indicates increased importance of the airport in the region," said Airport View administrator Ray Franklin. "The change may be due to a greater number of flights or the addition of commercial service."
Another important change that directly affects pilots is magnet variation. When navigating with a compass, pilots must compensate for the local variation from true north. At most places on the surface of the globe, a compass will point slightly away from true north. This difference, measured in degrees, is called the magnetic variation. Pilots use the value to adjust a compass to show a heading corrected to true north. In this cycle, 40 airports reported changes in magnetic variation.
The airports reporting the changes are 06A, 0J4, 19A, 4A6, 4V9, 5M9, 5T9, 79KY, 7S0, 9A3, BHM, BVS, BXA, CLP, D76, ELI, ELN, ENN, EPH, FBK, FCM, GSO, HNH, IDA, JER, KYU, LHX, LUG, LWL, M22, MAW, NGW, OOA, ORG, ORS, PLU, PSO, S87, SBX, SMS.
Pilots and controllers communicate using specific radio frequencies. The frequencies used by each location are published so pilots can quickly get information vital to safe flying. Ten airports changed their published frequencies for primary communications (Universal Communications or UNICOM and Common Traffic Advisory Frequency or CTAF). Those airports are 18I, 20A, 4MD, 61TE, AEG, O70, OTH, PCM, TPF and P99.
Most airports have managers. The manager could be a public servant in local government, or an employee of a corporation. As in most businesses, people change positions. In the latest cycle 190 airports changed managers.
All changes will be visible in the Airport View Airport Directory on the effective date of October 22, 2009. Reporters wanting specific details about the changes may contact Avionics Specialists, LLC.
About Avionics Specialists, LLC
Avionics Specialists, LLC has been serving pilots at the Fort Collins-Loveland Airport since 2004. AvSpec sells and installs avionics with the aim of matching equipment to a pilot’s flying needs. AvSpec is an authorized dealer for all leading avionics product lines, including Aspen (Evolution), Avidyne (Entegra and TAS), Garmin (aviation, marine and consumer), PS Engineering (audio panels), and Sandel (EHSI). In addition, AvSpec has created and maintains the web site AirportView.net, serving pilots with current weather images at airports, plus directories of airports and Automated Weather Observation Stations (AWOS). AvSpec also installs weather camera systems and maintains AWOS across the Rocky Mountains.
Contact
Jerry Stooksbury, General Manager
Avionics Specialists, LLC
6250 Aviation Circle, Loveland, CO 80538
970 203-0505
Send an email to Jerry Stooksbury of Avionics Specialists, LLC
970 203-0505
Keywords:
airports, pilots, frequencies
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