' • m 

Mdllshinn(g),aol.com 

480-231-7605 (Cel) 

DAVID M- SHEVN 

6264 East Saddleback Street 

Mesa, Arizona 85215 

March 6, 2010 

Docket Management Facility 

US Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

West Building Groimd Floor 

Room W12-140 

Washington, DC 20590 

Subject: Change of Airspace Classification 

Attachments: Falcon Field Airport, 10,000 Ft, Picture 

Phoenix Area Chart 

Phoenix Class 'B' Airspace Depiction 

Anchorage SID Initial Departure Depiction 

Anchorage Visual Arrival Depiction RWY 25R 

Honolulu Initial Climb Depiction 

Honolulu SID Text 

Falcon Field Proposed Traffic Pattem(s) 

Dear Sir or Ma'am: 

I respectfully request the airspace over-lying Mesa, Arizona's Falcon Field Airport 

(KFFZ) be reclassified to Class 'B' airspace fi-om Class 'D'. This change in airspace 

classification will provide safer operations to and from Falcon Field, and provide an 

impetus to effectively control aircraft operating into and out of Falcon Field. This 

increased control would result in a significant reduction of aircraft operating over housing 

developments in close proximity to Falcon Field without having an appreciable impact on 

Falcon Field operations. 

Operations at Falcon Field have increased over the years to a current level of over 

320,000 flight movements annually. Most of these operations are of flight instruction 

category but significant Part 135 operations, jets, turbo-prop and military aircraft also use 

this facility. By establishing this airspace as Class 'B', specific departure procedures 

could be established that would enhance safety and move aircraft traffic patterns to 

uninhabited desert area. Over the past year, approximately 4 aircraft operating fi-om 

Phoenix area airports have either lost power or been involved in mid-air collisions and 

crashed. Moving traffic patterns to be over uninhabited areas would enhance safety and 

possibly provide an opportunity to have future mishaps not involve victims on the 

ground. 
I have previously communicated with the Falcon Field control tower supervisor, Mr. 

Harold Sharp, as well as Captain Sylvia Stinson of CAE Flight Training (who trains 

foreign students for foreign air carriers). I've addressed my concerns and offered 

suggestions with regard to traffic pattern discipline. I've been told that under Class 'D' 

airspace pilots can do what ever they want without regard to operations over anything. 

This airspace reclassification will most likely result in employment of more air traffic 

controllers, a benefit to a sluggish economy. This airspace classification will not have an 

impact on any Part 135 operation, private or commercial flight operations, and I would be 

an advocate and support waivers if necessary to continue flight operations and training of 

student aviators. THESE OPERATIONS JUST NEED TO BE CONTROLLED! 

Attached with this letter are a number of attachments including an aerial photograph 

(courtesy of Google Earth) of Falcon Field taken from approximately 10,000 feet. 

Visible in the photo is the desert land to the north of Falcon Field and the Boeing 

Helicopter manufacturing plant. The fi^eeway nearby to the north is the Red Mountain 

Freeway (202). I have included a copy of the Phoenix area depiction and Phoenix Class 

'B' airspace. The depictions I have included from Anchorage are offered to provide an 

explanation of airline operations with 'Heavy' category aircraft (B-747 and MD-11). On 

departure firom ANC on RWY 32 (the normal departure runway), an immediate turn is 

made at 600' MSL. A similar procedure could be easily implemented at Falcon Field. 

On departure from all runways in Honolulu, you can see that ALL aircraft make 

immediate turns of up to 140 degrees to south. 

CAE has stated they use long patterns to simulate airline operations and their students 

should be familiar with patterns flown by transport category aircraft, rather than being 

proficient in energy management (getting to the runway safely and managing descent 

rates). As you'll notice on the ANC RWY 25R visual arrival procedure, energy 

management, runway proximity, traffic boundaries are all significant when operating a 

large aircraft visually. Falcon Field does not have an ILS precision approach instrument 

procedure, or an RNAV GPS non-precision approach procedure. A long straight in 

approach only simulates a lack of traffic pattern proficiency. 

I believe acceptable solutions might include: 

1. RWY 4L/R Departures: At 600' HAA, or 2000' MSL, begin a left turn to 360 

degrees, staying west of Recker Road. 

2. RWY 22L/R Arrivals: Normal traffic pattern entry on a 45 degree downwind 

north of Falcon Field over the desert and uninhabited area, with the base leg flown west 

of Recker Road, and south of the Red Moxmtain 202 Freeway. 

3. RWY 22/L/R Departures: Commence a right turn to 360 degrees (north) at 600 

feet HAA or 2000' MSL to either depart the VFR pattern, or preparation for a right turn 

and closed pattern touch and go landings. 

4. RWY 04L/R Arrivals: Normal traffic pattern entry on a 45 degree downwind 

entry south of the Red Mountain 202 Freeway, commencing a left turn to base leg not 

farther west than Lindsay Rd., 

~^ 
5. No traffic pattern operations south of Falcon Field (south of McKellips Rd.) 

except for those corporate turbine powered aircraft requiring a 'stable approach' 

communication within the cockpit, prior to 500 feet or 1,000 feet, as appropriate. 

I've offered solutions to the City of Mesa Falcon Field persormel (Mr, Jeffiey S. Tripp, 

A.A.E., Airport Projects Supervisor), the tower supervisor (Mr. Harold Sharp), and CAE. 

I believe an amicable solution can be made without any significant degradation to airfield 

operations. I believe it's important to be good and courteous neighbors. After several 

years of bantering however, I believe the only real solution is the reclassification of 

airspace and the development of specific pattern arrival and departure procedures. 

Thank you for your time and your consideration. I am, 

Vei-jTlespectfully, 

David M. Shinn 

MD-11 Captain 

Copy to: Mesa City Council Member, Dina Higgins 

Falcon Field, Mr. Jeffiey S. Tripp 

Falcon Field Tower Supervisor, Mr. Harold Sharp 

CAE Chief Pilot, Captain Sylvia Stinson 

Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ) 

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Changes: Editorial 
Arrivals RWY 22L/R 
Departures RWY 04L/R