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### Dea rMr , Cross , ThanRyoufbrtheopportunitytoadd^s^^^gationag^ ^ managemen t (MMI ) an d reinforc e m ypositio n a s t o wh ytni s allegation v » , i s factual . '[' ^

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i n m yallegatio n agains t th e managemen t o fth e McMin n Count yAirport , I woul d lik e t o documen t eac h occurrenc e a s i t actuall yhappened . Bu t firs t I woul d lik e t o stat e tha t I thin k tha t Mayo rGentr yi s a fin e youn g ma n o fhig h characte r tha t ha s use d ba d judgmen t i n som e area s o fhi s jurisdictio n an d tha t hi s cousin , Mrs . Krist i Gentry-Co xi s a fin e youn g lad ytha t ha s als o use d ba d judgmen t i n he rbusines s practice s i n he r managemen t o fth e McMin n Count yAirport , especiall ycustome rrelations . I n Mayo rGentry' s respons e lette rh e state d tha t I referre d t o hi m "...equat e hi s pas t battle s wit h Nort h Korea n an d Chines e communis t regimes... " tha t I fough t agains t durin g th e Korea n Wa ra s a Nava l Aviator . I a m sorr ytha t Mayo rGentr yperceive d tha t interpretation . Ironically , Mayo r Gentr ymentione d i n hi s response , abou t th e "Battl e o fAthens " tha t happene d i n 194 6 whe n th e Wori d Wa rI I veteran s cam e hom e an d foun d tha t th e Democrat s ha d take n tyrannica l contro l o f th e McMin n Count ygovernment . Th e veteran s countere d wit h a n al l ou t shootin g even t tha t pu t McMin n Count ybac k

i n perspectiv e o fusin g th e democrati cprocesses . Bil l Keyes , ou rwive s an d I wen t t o vie wa presentatio n a t Tennesse e Wesleya n Colleg e las t yea rabou t th e "Battl e o f Athens" . Avide o presentatio n b yMr . Steve n Pel l fo rth e Histor yChanel . Afte rth e presentation , Bil l Keye s an d I looke d a t eac h othe ran d said , "Doe s tha t ring a familia rbell" ? S o I migh t ad d tha t perhap s ther e wer e trace s o f"ove rcontrol " b yMcMin n Count ygovernment , an d th e airpor t management . Mayo rGentr yi s a goo d America n citize n an d w e a t th e Veteran s o fForeig n Wars , whic h I a m th e Even t Chairman , requeste d Mayo rGentr yfo ron e o fou rVeteran' s Da yCeremonies , t o b e ou rKe y Not e speaker . H e di d a grea t job . Mayo rGentr yi s a patrioti cAmerica n wh o i s a n avi d believe r i n ou rConstitution , i state d that , "Som e o fu s wer e takin g "hits " a s I di d durin g th e Korea n Wa r whe n m yNav yplan e wa s hi t b yenem yfire. " I n tha t war , th e enem ywa s "clea rcut " an d ou r fightin g agains t on e anothe rwa s wit h militar yoptions . I n thi s case , w e ar e duelin g wit h word s an d letter s a s ou rswords . On e o fth e problem s tha t w e have...Onl ya ver yfe whav e mad e al l o f th e decision s concernin g th e airpor t expansio n program . Wit h Mayo rGentr yhavin g littl e aeronautica l experience , h e coul d hav e use d a n advisor ycommitte e o fsom e type . Whe n I fle w wit h th e airiines , i t ha d bee n polic yi n th e eari yday s tha t th e Captai n ha d al l o fth e authorit yan d di d al l o fth e decisio n making . Du e t o a hig h numbe ro faccident s tha t involve d thi s kin d o f leadership , th e airiine s decide d t o star t usin g ai l o fth e pilot s i n th e cockpi t t o com e u p wit h a collectiv e decision , calle d Cockpi t Resourc e Management . (CRM ) W e als o incorporate d compan y dispatc h an d calle d the m i n thei rmai n Communicatio n Cente ri n Chicag o t o hel p u s wit h toug h decisions . Thi s i s wha t I wa s referrin g t o whe n I relate d t o th e Count yManagemen t a s t o a n elusiv e proponen t tha t di d no t wan t ou rsuggestion s o rinpu t int o hi s decisio n making . Thi s i s wh yw e ar e her e toda ywritin g ai l o fthes e letters . Ther e wa s a lo t o ftalen t tha t Mayo rGentr y chos e NO Tt o use . Mr . Keye s i s a n accomplished , brigh t enginee rtha t coul d hav e certainl ybee n a grea t asse t t o Mayo rGentry,bu t durin g th e constructio n proces s whe n Mr . Keye s attende d mos t o fth e meeting s betwee n McMin n Count yan d th e constructio n company , Mr . Keye s wa s considere d a "pest " tha t the yha d t o tolerate . An yo fu s woul d hav e bee n onl yto o happ yt o hel p i n anywa yw e could . Mayo rGentr ywa s determine d t o us e th e Count yEnginee rtha t blotche d u p th e entir e projec t eve n thoug h FA Aguideline s wer e availabl e an d shoul d hav e bee n strictl yadhere d t o i n buildin g an d establishin g a saf e runway . Whe n Mr . Witt , i n desperation , wen t t o th e medi a afte rexhaustin g communicatio n contac t wit h Mayo rGentry , th e Count yMayor , becam e ver y angry . I wa s a n ey e witnes s t o thi s anger . Thi s happene d afte rth e radi o host , Howar d Hil l o f Knoxvill e tol d o fth e "McMin n Airpor t Debackle" . I ha d alread ywritte n a lette rt o Mayo rGentr y concernin g wha t I though t wa s a ver yunsaf e runwa ytha t th e Count yha d built , an d wa s no t i n accordanc e wit h FA Aguidelines . Pag e 1 o f4I hav e hig h regar d fo rMayo rGentry . W e hav e bee n lon g tim e friends , an d I hop e tha t w e alway s

remai n friends . M yobjectiv e her e i s t o tr yan d en d thi s discriminatio n issu e tha t ha s take n plac e a t th e McMin n Count yAirpor t agains t Mr . Kenn yWitt , Mr . Bil l Keyes , an d myself . Mayo rGentr y may , o rma yno t b e awar e o fthi s discrimination , bu t I hav e documente d i t a s factual . M yrelationshi p wit h Mayo rGentr yi s good . Bu t m yrelationshi p a s a custome ran d use ro f Athen s Air , LLC . i s no t good . I n m yopinion , Mrs . Gentry-Co xi s i n a positio n tha t sh e i s no t qualifie d t o b e in . He rcustome rservic e skill s ar e inadequate . I though t whe n sh e becam e th e Fixe d Bas e Operato ro fth e McMin n Count yAirpor t tha t sh e woul d d o a goo d job . I wa s wrong . A s I state d i n m yverba l statemen t t o th e McMin n Count yCommissio n i n 2007, 1 recit e th e Pledg e o fAllegianc e t o ou rFla g probabl yfou rtime s a month , an d I stan d u p fo rtha t recital , "...FO R LIBERT YAN D JUSTIC E FO R ALLI " M ypurpos e fo rm yallegatio n i s t o en d thi s senseles s discrimination . W e ca n certainl ytr yt o d o better , an d tak e positiv e step s t o mak e thing s bette rfo reveryone . I t wil l tak e effor t an d compassio n o n everyone' s part . I hav e trie d t o solv e som e o fthes e problem s locally , bu t t o n o avail . I the n decide d t o g o t o 1 4 CF R Par t 16 , t o tr yan d pu t thi s behin d us . I n Mayo rGentry' s firs t respons e a s t o th e Fixe d Bas e Operator , Athen s Air , LLC , "No t rentin g th e compan yplan e t o Mr . Witt... " Mr . Wit t wa s no t th e on e wh o requeste d rentin g th e Athen s Air , LL C compan yplane , i t wa s myself . I talke d t o Mr . Ji m Gentry , wh o wa s standin g i n fo rhi s daughter , Krist i Gentry , an d aske d Mr . Gentr yi fth e airplan e wa s availabl e fo rrent , a s I wa s comin g u p o n m yBi-Annua l chec k flight, an d sinc e m yMoone y20 1 di d no t hav e a right sea t i n it , du e t o th e fac t tha t I tak e vertica l aeria l photograph s fro m a ST C mad e windo wa t tha t sea t position , an d th e instructo rshoul d b e sittin g nex t t o m e i n a n adjacen t seat . Mr . Gentr ytol d m e tha t th e airplan e wa s availabl e o n th e dat e tha t I requeste d it . I calle d Mr . Wit t an d relate d t o hi m tha t I ha d mad e preparation s t o ren t th e Athen s Air , LL C compan yplan e a t th e planne d dat e an d tim e o fou rbi-annua l chec k flight. Mr . Wit t me t m e a t th e airport , an d I walke d int o th e termina l buildin g t o d o th e require d pape rwor k t o ren t th e airplane . Mr . Curti s Bibl e wa s o n th e desk , wit h Mrs . Gentry-Co xa shor t distanc e awa ya t th e time . Mr . Curti s mus t hav e bee n pre-briefed , becaus e h e tol d m e immediatel ytha t th e renta l o fth e Athen s Air , LL C airplan e coul d no t b e rente d becaus e Mr . Wit t wa s no t o n thei rInsuranc e form . O fcourse , I wa s take n back , an d whil e Mr s Gentry-Co xwa s withi n "Ea rShot " o fth e conversation , an d eve n thoug h sh e wa s th e owner/operato ro fAthen s Air , LLC , sh e di d no t ste p forwar d an d explai n he rposition . Th e Cessn a 17 2 belongin g t o Athe n Air , LLC . i s use d fo rtraining . Muc h o fthei rtrainin g i s don e wit h aspirin g pilots . Whe n th e studen t pilot s ha s enoug h tim e t o d o hi s sol o flights a t perhap s 1 0 hour s o fflight tim e i n th e trainin g aircraft , the yar e permitte d t o tak e th e airplan e u p b y themselve s t o d o thei rrequire d sol o maneuvers . Thes e studen t pilot s AR E NO To n th e Athen s Air , LLC . Insuranc e For m (Mayo rGentry' s Exhibi t 2 ) I...NO TMr . Wit t requeste d th e renta l o fth e trainin g aircraf t I hav e a n FA AAT P Certificat e wit h typ e rating s o fBoein g 73 7 an d Boein g 727 , Commercia l privilege s singl e an d mult i engin e land , ove r26,00 0 flight hou s an d wa s a n airlin e Lin e Chec k

Airma n wit h m yairiin e befor e I reti\red . I hel d a curren t Secon d Clas s FA APhysica l Examinatio n Certificate . I t seem s strang e tha t unde rth e abov e circumstance s tha t I wa s denie d renta l o fth e Athen s Air , LLC' s Cessn a 172 . Pag e 2 o f4I fa Fixe d Bas e Operato rha s a n aircraf t renta l service , an d a certifie d FA Apilo t want s t o ren t th e

aircraft , th e norma l procedur e i s fo ra compan ypilo t t o tak e tha t pilo t out , an d giv e hi m a chec k ou t an d mak e sur e h e i s safe , an d qualifie d t o flyth e airplane , an d the n th e renta l contrac t ca n b e carrie d out . Thi s di d no t happen . I fMrs . Gentry-Co xha d calle d m e a t home , an d explaine d t o m e th e circustane s o fwh ysh e di d no t wan t t o ren t th e aircraf t t o me , I woul d hav e understoo d he r position . Thi s wa s a n inconvenienc e fo rm e an d Mr . Witt , an d highl yun-calle d for . Ther e wa s n o apolog yfo rth e misunderstanding , an d actuall yn o explanatio n excep t tha t Mr . Wit t wa s no t o n thei rinsuranc e for m whic h wa s irrelevan t sinc e Mr . Wit t ha d no t contracte d fo rth e aircraft . Therefore , Mayo rGentr yi s incorrec t i n thi s assumption . TH E ALLEGATIO N I S FACTUAL ! Afte rthi s incident , I wa s ou t i n th e parkin g lo t an d Mr . Bil l Johnson' s cousin , Ra y(unknow n las t name ) cam e u p t o m e an d said , "Jack , i fyo u continu e t o associat e wit h Mr . Witt , yo u wil l n o longe rb e welcom e a t thi s airport! " A s Mr . Johnson' s illnes s progressed , Ra yassume d th e majorit yo fth e da yt o da yoperation s o fth e airport , essentiall ybecomin g th e airpor t manage runti l contro l wa s passe d ont o Ms . Gentry . Ashor t tim e late rI notice d tha t m ypic k u p truc k

ha d bee n "keyed " dow n th e sid e a s stipulate d i n m ystatemen t t o th e count ycommission . Th e nex t Sunda yi n church , wher e Mrs . Gentry-Co xan d I bot h attend , Ms . Gentr ycam e u p t o m e an d said , " I lov e you , Go d love s you , bu t yo u ar e reall ymakin g i t difflcuit! " I use d t o ge t Email s fro m Athen s Air , LLC . tha t wer e disseminate d t o AL Lo fth e pilot s wh o flew ou t o fth e McMin n Count yAirpor t a s t o th e happening s a t th e airport , wh o ha d soloed , pilo t safet y brieflngs , rando m ge t togethe revents , etc . bu t tha t dramaticall ystoppe d wit h thi s incident . A t thi s time , almos t tw o year s later , I hav e no t bee n insid e th e termina l buildin g a t th e airport , o r receive d an yhin t o fa n apolog yfro m Mrs . Gentry-Cox . M yDocke t 16-08-1 3 ha d n o reference s o rcomplaint s concernin g Notam s o ran yo fth e airpor t facilities . I reall ythough t tha t whe n Mr . Wit t an d Mr . Keye s presente d th e Lin e o fSigh t proble m o fMcMin n Count yAirpor t th e t o th e Tennesse e Departmen t o fTransportatio n Aeronautica l Department , an d t o th e FAA , an d th e Lin e o fSigh t correctio n wa s made , tha t th e airpor t proble m wa s over . M yfriend , th e forme rFixe d Bas e Operator , Mr . Bil l Johnson , wh o die d shortl ythereafte ro f Cancer , sol d hi s interest s i n th e Fixe d Bas e Operatio n o fMcMin n Count yAirpor t t o Mrs . Gentry-Co xan d Mr . Newman . Th e McMin n Count yAirpor t i s no wi n shi p shap e condition . Th e ne wFi xBase d Operator s no wha d a greatl yimprove d runwa ywherea s corporat e je t aircraf t coul d operat e safely . I woul d thin k tha t Mrs . Gentry-Co xan d Mayo rGentr ywoul d b e foreve rgratefu l t o Mr . Wit t an d Mr . Keye s fo rdevotin g thei rexpertis e an d effort s i n accomplishin g thi s tas k a t n o benefi t t o eKhe ro fthem . Mr . Wit t ha d originall ybee n concerne d abou t th e safet yo fhi s flight student s flyin g i n thi s ver ydangerou s Lin e o fSigh t problem .

Pag e 3 o f4Upo n completio n o fth e runwa yexpansio n projec t I wa s delighted . Mr . Jerr yPoa t tol d

me..."Ther e i s somethin g tha t I wan t t o sho wyou! " H e too k m e dow n t o th e en d o frunwa y2 0 an d showe d m e th e Lin e o fSigh t problem . I wa s aghas t a t wha t I saw . Exhibi t Aan d Exhibi t B . I stil l d o no t kno wth e proble m tha t Mrs . Gentry-Co xha s wit h Mr . Witt . On e da ysh e tol d him , an d I wa s no t a witness , " I don' t wan t t o se e yo u bac k a t thi s airport! " I hear d thi s minute s afte rth e allege d inciden t occurred . I ca n onl yassume , tha t Ms , Gentr ywa s exercisin g he rwrat h upo n Mr . Wit t fo rbein g a "Whistl e Blower " o n th e Lin e o fSigh t proble m an d embarrassin g he rcousin . Therefor e m yALLEGATIO N i s reinforce d fo rDISCRIMINATIO N agains t Mr . Witt , Mr . Keyes , an d myself . Ver yrespectfully , Dewit t T . Ferrell , Jr . P.O . Bo x20 6 Athens , T N 37371-020 6



## MAR 0 ? 200 9

Pag e 4 o f4

### Federa l Aviatio nAdministratio n

80 0 Independenc eAvenu eS.W. , R M 923 M Airport s Law Branch , AGC-61 0 Washington , D C 2059 1 Attn : FAAPart

1 6 Airport

Proceeding s Docke t Subject : McMin nCounty Part 1 6 Complain t

Re : Docke t

16-08-1 3 Certificat e o f

Servic e Ihereb y certif

y that Ihav ethi s day serve dth e foregoin g McMin nCounty Part 1 6 complain t o nth efollowin g person s at th e followin g addresse s b y Unite dStat e Posta l Servic e mail : Mr . Joh nGentry , County Mayo r McMin nCounty Courthous e 6 Eas t Madiso nAv e Athens , TN3730 3 Mr . Davi dCrews , Chairma nMcMii mCounty Commissio n McMin nCounty Courthous e 6 Eas t Madiso nAv e Athens , T N3730 3 Date dthi s day o f

2"* * Marc h200 9

# SUPPLEMENT : EXHIBI T" C

DOCKE T16-08-1 3 Exhibi t "0 " clearl ystate s tha t a n Fixe d Bas e Operato rDOE S ren t hi s RENTA LAIRCRAF T WITHOU Tth e rente rhavin g t o b e o n th e FBO' s "Insuranc e Form" ! Dewit t T . Ferrell , J r Marc h 2 , 200 9

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www.aopa.or g ADDRESS ? you rne waddres s an d AGF

Amembershi p numbe rt o , 42 1 Aviatio n Way , Fredericl< , Marylan d 21701-479 8 301-695-237 5 www.aopa.org/coa-form.htm l I AI R SAFETYFOUNDATIO N 800-63S-310 1 www.aopa.org/as f 1 CREDI TCAR D PROGRA M 800-523-766 6 www.aopa.org/info/c c AIRCRAF TFINANCIN G 800-627-526 3 www.aopa.org/loan s AIRCRAF TINSURANC E 800-622-AOP A(622-2672 )

, www.aopa.org/aircraftinsurance.htm l LEGA LSERVICE S PLA N 800-USA-AOPA(872-2672 ) www.aopa.org/legalservices.htm i ONLIN E TRAVE L www.aopa.org/trave l i AOP AMEMBE R PRODUCT S 800-USA-AOPA(872-2672 ) www.aopa.org/memberproduct s 

# SWERSFORPILOT S im e K time upo nus , yo u ma y wan t t o take aloo k

at AOPA' s liiid e to Taxes (www.aopa.org/members/tax_guide . ) se e i f your flying activit

y migh t qualif y for adeduc - ;adu p o ntax concern s tha t affect aircraf t owners , larly thos e wh o us e thei r

aircraf t for busines s pur Jom e flight trainin g expense s ma y qualif y for atax the y are trad e o r

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aircraft , th e guid e will give l e general insight s witl i respec t t o th e ta x aspect s of leasing . Th e Q-and- Asectio nanswer s man y com - : questions , an dther e i s additiona l informatio no n dus e taxe s an dpersona l propert y taxes . Give th e Itechnica l specialist s i nAOPA's Pilo t Informatio n 1 call Monday diroug hFriday , 800-872-2672 . AOP Amembe rservice s tha t kee p yo u flyin g 

### Mor e tha n 200,00 0 enjo yhassle-fre e AOP Amembershi p renewa l Th e fastest , easies t

wa y t o rene w you r

AOP Amembershi p i s throug hou r

automati c annua l renewa l program . An dnow , mor e tha n200,00 0 members—nearl y hal f of AOPA's member ship—participat e i nth e program . Enrol l an dyou'l l ge t a$ 4 discoun t o nyou r initia l AOP

Amembershi p due s an dreceiv e tw o extr aentrie s int o thi s year' s sweepstakes . Plus , you'l l sto p receivin g repeate dnotice s i nth e mai l t o rene w you r member ship . You r credi t car dwil l b e charge dautomaticall y i nyou r renewa l month , an dyou'l l receiv e a narmua l statemen t an d ne w membershi p card . You r transactio ni s secure , an dyo u ca n cance l a t an y time . Enrol l onlin e toda y (www.aopa.org/aar) , o r cal l 800-USA-AOPA . 

### Thousand s o fpilot s unawar e the yar e flyin g withou t insuranc e AOP Aresearc hha s shovwi tha t mos t pilot s mistakenl y believ e the y ar e covere db y th e FBO' s insuranc e polic y whe nthe y ren t a naircraft . "Th e FB O carrie s insuranc et o protec t it s interests , no t yours , an dman y pilot s ar e surprise dwhe nthe y get th e repai r bill s after a nincident, " sai dBrend aJennings , senio r vic e presiden t o f th e AOPAInsuranc eAgency . "Evenaminor'fende r bender " ca nb e costiy. " Pilot s ca nprotec t

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families , an dthei r passenger s wit hcomprehensiv e insuranc efro mth eAOP A Insuranc e Agency , usuall y availabl e fo r considerabl y les s tha nyo u pa y fo r

aiit o insurance . AOP

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