Joh n M . Gentr y

Count y Mayo r 

## Offi ^ oft L Count y ^oyo T 6 Eas t Madiso n Avenu e Athens , Tennesse e 3730 3 Phon e (423 ) 745-763 4 February 12 , 200 9 FAA : Offic e o f

th e Chie f Counse l RoomtS^'" ^ ^ ^ '^''^°' ^ Proceeding s Docke t (AGC-610 ) Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Ave. , S.W . Washington , D.C. , 2059 1 Re : Docke t

No . 16-08-1 3 Dear Mr . Cross , 

# €(EEW ranin, PARTi e DOCKET

S

foh n M . Gentry McMin n County S^layo

r

— H

-I. JANSWE RAN D MOTIO N T O DISMIS S

McMin n County offer s th e followin g Answe r an dMotion t o Dismis s i n respons e t o th e 1 4 CF RPart

1 6 complain t

filedb y Mr . Dewit t

T . Ferrell , Jr . an ddockete db y th e Federal Aviatio n Administration , Offic e o f Chie f Counse l a s Docke t

No . 16-08-13 . McMin n Count y receive dthi s complain t o n January 26,2009 . Complain t

1 : McMin n County ha s violate dSectio n IV , Assurances , C-Sponso r Certification , Paragrap h 22-Economi c Discriminatio n o f th e Term s an dCondition s o f Acceptin g Airpor t

Improvemen t

Progra mGrant s Whil e Mr . Ferrel l i s not

explicitl y o r

concisel y clear

i n hi s complain t

ho w McMin n County violate dthi s gran t assuranc e w e assum e i t

revolve s primaril y aroim dth e curren t FBO , Athen s Air , LLC , no t rentin g th e compan y plan e t o Mr . Kenn y Witt an dhimsel f

t o conduc t abi-annua l flight

review . Mr . Ferrel l make s othe r accusations , suc h a s not

bein g personall y invite dt o publi c airport function s an dbein g remove dfro maprivat e company' s emai l list . W e reques t clarificatio n ho w thes e woul dviolat e federal gran t assurance s i f

the y wer e accurate . Th e FB O doe s not sponso r regular monthl y safet

y meetings . Ou r assumptio n tha t

hi s complain t

i s centere do n th e plan e renta l situatio n i s take n fi^om hi s attache dope n lette r

t o th e County Commission , a s i t i s no t actuall y liste di n hi s Decembe r

22,200 8 complain t

t o th e FAA . Th e actua l lette r t o th e FA A provide s a narrativ e o n alitan y o f

issue s involvin g th e pas t runwa y extensio n project , rathe r tha n a distinctiv e allege dactio n correspondin g directl y t o th e violatio n charge . Th e claim s o f allege ddiscriminatio n h e doe s mak e i n th e lette r involv e othe r

partie s an dno t

th e claimant . W e challeng e whethe r Mr . Ferrell' s complain t

meet s th e rule s o f

procedur e fo r filing aPar t

1 6 Complaint . Mr . Ferrell' s contribution s t o thi s country ar e appreciate dan dhi s accomplishment s applauded . W e ar e somewhat disturbe dh e woul dequat e hi s pas t battle s with Nort h Korea n an dChines e communis t regime s t o aprivat e company' s policie s involvin g th e rentin g o f aircraf t t o conduc t

bi-annua l flight

reviews . I t

i s ironi c Mr . Ferrel l reside s i n McMin n Coimty , Tennessee , hom e o f th e infamou s "Battl e o f

Athens, " wher e i n 194 6 citizen s ros e i n arm s t o overthro w thei r loca l government . Th e freedo mlovin g action s o f thi s community change dho w local government s wer e later organize dfor

th e entir e stat e o f Tennessee . I f

ther e eve r

wa s acorrmiunity that

doe s no t tolerat e tyraimy o f

smal l tow n America , i t

i s thi s one . W e believ e Mr . Ferrell' s letter i s erroneou s o n numerou s premises . McMin n County neve r refuse dt o execut e FAA orders . Delay s onl y occurre dwhe n th e drawing s for th e nmwa y an dtaxiwa y closin g marking s ha dt o b e submitted , approve dan dultimatel y executed . McMin n Count y ha dt o wor

k wit h th e FA A an dth e Tennesse e Aeronautic s Division t o ensur e prope r closings. Th e complainant' s perceptio n o f an ignore dFA A orde r seem s confiise dwit

h th e responsibl e action s use db y McMin n County whe n closin g portion s o f

it s nmwa y an dtaxiway .W e agai n deny , a s w e filedi n Docke t No . 16-08-12 , that

ther e hav e bee n any willfii l act s o f discriminatio n o n behal f o f McMin n County o r

it s contracte dFBO , Athen s Ai r LLC , agains t Mr . Ferrell , Mr . Keye s o r Mr . Witt . Whe n Athen s Ai r LL C wa s contacte db y McMin n County concernin g Mr . Ferrell' s complain t abou t th e renta l o f

on e o f thei r planes , w e wer e tol dMr . Witt wa s not liste do n thei r

insuranc e polic y t o fly thei r plan e a s h e wa s no t

on e o f thei r contracte demployees . Mr . Witt was not an dneve r

was a n employe e o f

Athen s Ai r

LLC . H e was acontrac t flight instructo r

for th e former

FB O Bil l Johnso n before Mr . Johnso n terminate dMr . Witt' s services . Thi s allegatio n an danswe r wer e mad e a

t apubli c meetin g o f

th e McMin n County Commission . Th e Commissio n foun dth e explanatio n t o b e plausibl e an dtoo k n o correctiv e actio n o n th e claim . A s a matte r o f note , McMin n County doe s no t requir e th e FB O t o offer

plan e rental o r

flight instructio n services . Also , a s state di n th e Answe r t o Docke t

No . 16-08-12 , Kenn y Witt neve r ha s been , no r

i s h e currentl y barre dfro mth e us e o f th e McMin n County Airport . W e deman dwritte n proo f o f thi s fals e claim . THEREFORE , thi s allegafio n i s DENIED.

Complain t

2 : McMin n Count y ha s violate dSectio n TV , Assurances , C-Sponso r Certification , Paragrap h 19

- Operatio n an dMaintenanc e Mr . Ferrel l doe s no t

offe r an y specifi c instanc e i n hi s Decembe r 22 , 200 8 complain t

t o support thi s allege dviolation . W e d o no t kno w wha t

instanc e w e ar e requeste dt o explain . I t

can b e deduce dtha t

Mr . Ferrel l refer s t o th e sam e allegatio n include di n Mr . Keye s complain t

foun di n Docke t

16-08-12 . Thi s wa s th e delaye dissu e o f aNO T A M concernin g adamage dPAP I light . I f so , w e offe

r th e sam e respons e an dDEN Y th e allegation . FOLLOWIN G I S TH E ANSWE ROFFERE D T O MR . KEYES ' ALLEGATIO N I N FA A DOCKE T 16-08-1 2 Complain t

2 : Sectio n IV , Assurances , C-Sponso r Certification , Paragrap h 1 9 - Operatio n an dMaintenance . Thi s allegatio n addresse s th e installatio n o f anew PAP I syste mt o replac e th e origina l VASI system . McMinn Count

y ha s encountere dnumerou s problem s wit h th e ne w PAP I system . Th e Tennesse e Divisio n o f

Aeronautic s (TAD) i s awar e th e origina l contracto r (JACO ) who installe dth e syste mwen t

ou t o f busines s shortl y afte r

completin g th e installation . McMinn Count

y experience dnumerou s problem s wit h th e contractor s durin ginstallation . Problem s wit h th e syste moperation s manifeste dshortl y after completio n o f th e project . Portion s o f

th e lightin g syste mals o ha dt o b e reinstalle ddu e t o th e correctio n o f

th e lin e o f

sigh t issue . Quit e frankly , w e hav e neve r bee n satisfie dwith th e syste man dcontinu e t o battl e problems . TA D di dapprov e emergenc y fundin g t o repai r th e syste mafte r

McMin n Count

y ha dathir dpart y contracto r loo k a t th e syste man d declar e th e caus e o f

it s malfunctio n t o possibl y b e alightenin g strike . Afte r tryin g numerou s "fixe s " suggeste dby athir dpart y electrician , th e motherboard s fo r th e syste m ha dt o b e returne dt o Siemen s fo r rebuildin g an dhav e no w bee n reinstalled . Th e syste m ha s continue dt o suffer

malfunction s sinc e th e motherboar dreplacemen t an dTA D ha s allowe du s t o keep th e emergenc y fundin g reques t open . Currentl y bot

h PAPI' s ar e operational . A reques t

ha s bee n mad e ye t

agai n fo r ane w compan y (Guardia n Electric ) t o evaluat e th e system . McMin n Count

y an dTA D investe dheavil y t o hav e ane w an dsaf e lightin g syste m installed , whic h was a n upgrad e fro mth e origina l VASI system . W e hav e learne d"ne w " doe s no t equa l "quality , " a s w e hav e obviousl y experience dsignifican t issue s wit

h th e ne w system . However , i t

i s m y understanding , pe r

TAD , tha t

PAPI' s ar e above th e minimu mlightin g standard s fo r operatin g agenera l aviatio n airport . Therefore th e recen t problems , whic h hav e i n goo dfait h bee n addresse dan dcontinu e t o b e addressed , shoul dno t

i n McMinn County' s opinio n violat e th e gran t assurances . McMinn County woul dneve r

knowingl y operat e an dmaintai n a n unsaf e airport . W

e ar e inspecte d annuall y b y TA

D an dhav e n o safet

y violations . I t

i s importan t

t o note tha t

TA D ha d thei r mos t vetera n projec t

manager , Mr . Ronni e Fitzgerald , assigne dt o thi s projec t an d neve r wa s McMinn County cite dfo r violation s du e t o th e PAP I operations . McMin n Count

y ha s neve r

faile dt o ac t

regardin g th e PAPI' s malfunctions . There ar e literall y mile s o f

wirin g undergroun da t

th e airpor t

wit h numerou s connections . The PAP I syste mi s muc h mor e comple x tha n th e ol dVASI system . Part s hav e ha dt o b e ordere dfro mGerman y an dloca l technician s ar e no t experience din PAP I repairs . Obviously , repair s hav e take n time . Thi s shoul di n n o way b e interprete da s gros s negligenc e o f

asyste mw e requeste dan ddesire da s a n upgrad e o f ou r facility . NOTAM' s hav e bee n issue ddurin g al l repair s sinc e th e initia l malfunctio n an dth e FB O ha s bee n issue dSectio n 3 (C ) 7. 0 o f Volum e I I o f th e Airpor t

Manasemen t

Guide . Issuin g NOTAMS , t o ensur e aprope r NOTAM i s issue dwhe n condition s affect aeronautica l us e o f

th e airpor t Therefore , thi s allegatio n i s DENIED .MOTIO N T O DISMIS S

Fo r al l o f th e foregoin g explanations , respons e an dreasons , McMin n County woul d respectfull y mov e tha t

thi s complain t

filedwith th e FA A b e dismisse dan dth e matte r officiall y close da s McMin n Count y continue s t o tak e positiv e step s towar dupgrading , improvin g an dsecurin g it s airport . It i s McMin n County' s positio n th e Complainan t doe s no t siifficientl y defin e th e specifi c action s o n whic h hi s gran t assuranc e violatio n claim s are based .

EXHIBIT S 1 . McMin n County Respons e t o Mr . Ferrell' s Par t 1 3 Informal Disput e Resolutio n Request . 2 . Athen s Air , LL C Aviatio n Insuranc e Binder/Confirmatio n o f Coverag e (insure dpilots ' persona l informatio n withhel dfor confidentiality )CERTIFICAT E O FSERVIC E

I HEREB Y CERTIF Y tha t o n February 12 , 2009, 1 cause dt o b e place di n th e Unite d State s mai l (firs t

clas s mail , postag e paid) , atru e cop y o f th e foregoin g documen t addresse dto : FAA : Offic e o f

th e Chie f Counse l Attention : Par

t 1 6 Airpor t

Proceeding s Docke t

(AGC-610 ) Roo m92 5 Federa l Aviatio n Administratio n 80 0 Independenc e Ave. , S.W . Washington , D.C. , 2059 1 Dewitt T . Ferrell , Jr . P.O . Bo x 20 6 Athens , TN 3730 3 Mr . Davi dCrew s Chairman , McMin n Count y Commissio n Chairman , McMin n Count y Airport Committe e McMin n Count

y Courthous e 6 E . Madiso n Avenu e Athens , T N 3730 3

Joh n M . Gentr

y McMin n Coimt

y Mayo r 6 Eas t Madiso n Avenu e Athens , T N 3730 3

### (Dlj-Lc ao f iks , Count u ^^A/{cUjo

% T«K « \/ f r'^,,*^, , 6 Eas t Madiso n Avenu e „ . Joh n M . Gentr y . , ^ ^^ ^ Phon p Count y Mayo r Athens , Tennesse e 3730 3 ^^23 ) 745-763 4 Jun e 20,200 8 Mr . Harol dG . Oliphant , Jr . Transportatio n Planne r Divisio n o f

Aeronautic s TDO T P.O.Bo x 1732 6 Nashville , T

N 3721 7 Re : Mr . DeWit

t Ferrell' s Lette r

o f Complain t Dea r Mr . Oliphant , Than k yo u fo r th e opportunity t o addres s th e Reques t fo r a n Informa l Disput e Resolutio n requeste db y McMinn Count y residen t DeWitt (Jack) Ferrell . I receive dyou r lette r and attachment s on Ma

y 29 , 2009 . Thi s lette r

o f complaint

i s apparentl y associate dwit h th e previou s letter

o f complian t

filedwit h you r

offic e b y Mr . WilliamKeye s afew month s ago , i n whic h letter

Mr . Keye s reference dMr . Ferrell . McMin n County' s respons e t o Mr . Ferrel l allegation s wil l likewis e b e similar t o th e on e submitte din respons e to Mr . Keyes ' letter . A s apartne r i n th e McMin n County Airpor t improvemen t

project s cite di n Mr . Ferrell' s letter , th e Divisio n o f Aeronautic s (TAD ) i s wel l awar e o f

th e difficultie s endure db y al l partie s durin g th e initia l constructio n process , a s wel l a s durin g th e correctio n o f th e lin e o f

sight issue . Somewhat

complicatin g th e matte r was th e los s o f

ou r fixedbas e operator , Mr . Bil l Johnso n (operatin g a s Athen s Air , Inc. ) t o cance r

durin g thi s period . Mr . Johnso n wa s belove db y fello w pilot s an dman y wer e ver y protectiv e o f

Bil l a s h e bravel y battle dhi s diseas e whil e maintainin g hi s positio n a s FBO . Th e curren t contracte dFB O i s Athen s Air , LLC . I wil l d o m

y bes t t o addres s th e allegation s o f whic h 1 a

mfamiliar , a s som e o f

thos e cite d occurre ddurin g th e decedent' s managemen t term . I hav e spoke n with th e managemen t o f Athen s Air , LL

C concernin g thes e allegation s a s well . A s I rea dMr . Ferrell' s letter 1 understan dhi s issue s t o b e th e following : A ) McMin n Count

y violate dSectio n IV , C-Sponso r Certification , Paragrap h 19

- Operatio n an dMaintenance , whe n Mr . Ferrel l was allegedl y tol db y a n employe e of

Athen s Air , Inc . ". . .yo u wil l n o longer b e welcom e a

t th e McMin n County Airport. "Pag e 2 Respons e I f thi s inciden t

di doccur , it

di ds o unde r

th e managemen t

o f th e decease dandcanno t

b e verifie do r

corrected . Th e gentleman reference db y th e name "Ray " i n Mr . Farrell' s lette r wa s arelativ e o f

th e former

FBO , wh o I understan dgav e hi s tim e to hel p Mr . Johnso n durin g th e latte r stage s o f hi s cancer treatmen t befor e th e managemen t

contrac t wa s ultimatel y transferre dt o Athen s Air , LLC . "Ray " i s no t

acurren t employe e o f

Athen s Air , LL C o r

aMcMin n Count y resident . A s state di n th e respons e t o Mr . Keyes ' letter , I reiterate , McMin n County wil l never knowingl y tolerat e discriminatio n o r th e threat o f physical har

mt o person s o r property . McMin n County desire s th e airport' s patron s t o findth e facilit y t o b e manage di n awelcomin g an daccommodatin g manner . Contradictory t o Mr . Keye s an dMr . Ferrell' s allegations , I believ e th e airport enjoy s afavorabl e reputatio n fo r

it s accommodatin g atmosphere . I f Mr . Ferrell' s personal property wa s vandalize di n an y manne r o r hi s health threatene di n an y way , I woul d strongl y recommen dan dsuppor t la w enforcemen t

t o b e contacte dfo

r aprope r investigatio n du e t o th e crimina l natur e o f th e allegations . B ) McMin n Count y allegedl y violate dSectio n IV , Assurances , C-Sponso r Certification , Paragrap h 22-£cononii c Nondiscriminatio n of th e Term s an d Condition s o f

Acceptin g Airpor t

Improvemen t

Progra mGrant s whe n rental o f Athen s Air , LLC' s Cessn a17 2 wa s denied . Response : Th e allegatio n involve s th e rentin g o f aircraf t b y Mr . Ferrel l fro

m Athen s Air , LLC , for

abiannua l flight

review , with Mr . Kenn y Wit t a s Mr . Ferrell' s flight

instructor . Whe n thi s inciden t wa s brough t

before th e McMin n Count y Commissio n las t

year , Athen s Air , LL C managemen t state dth e reaso n fo

r th e denial o f

aircraf t renta l was du e t o Mr . Ferrell' s flight instructo r

no t bein g liste don thei r

Aircraf t Insuranc e Policy , a s h e wa s no t acontrac t

employe e o f Athen s Air , LLC . Athen s Air, LL C state dthe y offere dt o ren t thei r plan e to Mr . Ferrel l fo r abiannua l revie w wit

h on e o f thei r insure dinstructor s conductin g th e flight review . Mr . Ferrel l di dno t accep t th e offer . Th e McMin n Count y Commissio n accepte dthi s explanatio n a s vali dan ddi dno t reques t any correctiv e actio n b e taken . I t i s McMinn County' s positio n that w e hav e no t

knowingl y o r

unknowingl y violate dan y gran t assurance s liste do r

no t hste db y Mr . Ferrell . W e wil l no t tolerat e any threat s o f har mt o person s o r

property . An y pilot s o r

othe r airport patron s wh o engag e i n any illega l o r unethical behavio r

wil l b e remove di

n accordanc e with th e remedie s allowe db y law . W e ar e appreciative an drespectfu l o f th e stat e an dfederal financial assistanc e w e hav e receive dt o improv e ou r airport . W

e ask TA D t o revie w McMin n County' sPag e 3

complianc e history an dbeliev e you wil l findu s to b e faithful steward s o f th e resource s awarde dt o us . Again , w e strongl y den y an y individua l or collaborativ e effor

t t o discriminat e agains t anyone . W e regre t

Mr . Ferrel l and/o r

any o f hi s associate s fee l the y hav e bee n targete d for retributio n b y McMin n County and/o r it s airpor t management . It

simpl y i s no t

so . I t i s m y humbl e opinio n the y mus t separat e th e perceive doppositio n fi-omprivat e citize n pilots ' fromthei r

claim s o f sanctione dgovernmen t

discrimination . Pleas e accep t

thi s letter

a s McMin n County' s respons e t o Mr . Ferrell' s Reques t o f fo r a n Informa l Disput e Resolution . If an y additional informatio n o r explanatio n i s required , pleas e feel free t o contac t me . Sincerely , 'oh n M . Gentr

y McMin n County Mayo r

xc : Davi dCrews , McMin n County Airport Committe e Chairman Vanc e L . Baker , Jr , McMin n County Attorne y