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Airport manager reports radio and infrastructure problems, T-hangar delivery and runway joint schedule
Summary
At an Elkhart City Board of Aviation Commissioners meeting, airport staff reported unresolved radio interference tied to an AWOS transmitter, ongoing repairs from a lightning strike, arrival of new T-hangars, staffing changes and a planned runway joint-repair schedule that may require paint work to be deferred until spring.
The Board of Aviation Commissioners heard a report from airport management on radio and infrastructure issues, arrival of new T-hangar buildings and scheduling for runway joint repairs.
Airport Manager said the airport has been operating with a temporary backup radio after a lightning strike damaged radios, consoles, antennas and some airfield lighting. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is assisting with diagnostics after controllers reported degraded transmissions; airport staff said they suspect a transmitter on the AWOS (Automated Weather Observing System) may be causing interference. "They think they tracked it to the AWOS," the manager said.
The manager told the board the new T-hangar building delivery is scheduled for tomorrow and that three of the new units are already leased. "We've got our T Hangers building arriving tomorrow," the manager said, and representatives from BFNS will oversee delivery and assembly.
On capital projects, staff described the 9/27 runway joint-repair project schedule and said work is set to begin Oct. 6. Because paint and marking require warmer ground temperatures, staff proposed encumbering funds to defer striping until spring so markings can be applied at the recommended minimum ground temperature of roughly 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The manager said this would reduce the risk of new markings being quickly worn or obscured by winter operations and snow handling.
Staff also reported buying backup radios that allowed the field to reopen intermittently but said feedback and audio quality issues remain. The airport is assembling quotes for equipment replacement related to the lightning strike and intends to submit them to the insurance company for payment once scope and costs are confirmed. "We're gonna review that with emergency radio on Friday with the air traffic controllers," the manager said.
Personnel and outreach updates: the airport recently hired a new air traffic controller, Dylan Lewis, who started this week and will train under the chief controller. Staff also noted an Indianapolis meeting with the FAA (INDOT office) set for Oct. 21 at 10:15 a.m. to review the airport's five-year capital improvement program (CIP).
Board members asked questions about temporary radio range, insurance submissions, and whether paint deferral would affect safety or operations; staff replied that joints could be completed and markings applied in spring to avoid poor striping results in cold weather. The manager closed the report by saying staff are continuing diagnostics with FAA and working on insurance claims and contractor quotes.
Ending: Board members acknowledged the report and moved on to other agenda items. The manager said staff will continue coordinating with FAA and with BFNS contractors on deliveries and repairs and will return with updates on diagnostics, insurance submissions and schedule adjustments.
