Tower Request Sparks Ordinance Review

The Gogebic-Iron County Airport has learned that Verizon Communications is hoping to install a communications tower on top of Maple Hill in the township.

The Airport Manager Duane Duray has been contacted by SBA Communications Corporation

SBA is an independent owner and operator of wireless communications towers across North America.

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, SBA generates revenues from two primary businesses; site leasing and site development services.

The company leases antenna space on towers and other structures that SBA owns or manages. The towers have either been built by SBA or at the request of a wireless carrier or built or acquired based on SBA’s own initiative.

SBA owns, operates and or manages towers and building rooftops across North America.

A preliminary study was sent to the airport by Clinton T. Papenfuss , an SBA airspace analyst.

The study site is located nearly three miles south of the approach to the end of Runway 09.

According to Papenfuss, the proposed structure would not affect VFR flight operations at this airport.

However, the proposed site ground elevation exceeds the Michigan imaginary 50:1 slope surface by 256'. Again according to Papenfuss he has talked to Linn Smith at the Michigan Department of Aviation and was told that the proposed 155' AGL structure would likely be approved after the State conducts an extended study.

The conclusions stated by the SBA analyst were:
The proposed 155' AGL/1 ,861 'AMSL structure would not be considered an obstruction to air navigation by the FAA. FAA notice of proposed construction is required. If filed, the FAA would likely approve such a proposal without an extended study.
FAA notice is required. Marking and Lighting is not required ... Maximum no marking and lighting height is 200' AGL; however the State of Michigan may require lighting.

While an extended study is not required by the FAA it likely that the State of Michigan will require an extended study on their analysis.
The SBA preliminary report further concluded that the proposed structure would not be considered a hazard to IFR flight operations; the proposed structure is not within AM Broadcast Station interference radius. AM station Proof-of-Performance is not required; and that the proposed structure would not impact flight operations at private use airports or heliports.

The Airport management became aware of the proposed tower when they were contacted questioning if the tower was in compliance with airport ordinances.

As a result of that inquiry it was discovered that the Airport Ordinances have not been amended since 1980. Airport Board Member, Leroy Kangas believes that the ordinance was reviewed sometime in the 90’s.

The airport board will begin researching current airport ordinances for similar size airports and will review the local airport ordinance to see if it is compliance with current statutes. In any event, State and Federal statutes take precedence over local statutes.