IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - June 15 2011 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. |