Gender: male Date of Birth: April 17, 1948 Member Since: March 10, 2008 Last Signed In: January 07, 2009 Profile Views: 265 Blog Views: 3143 Texans One; Governor Goodhair Zero Just when you thought red light cameras were intrusive... Preching on the editorial page? What do people expect? Another chance for BO fans to cheer What happened to the Secret Service? World Government??? Bush will live in Dallas Twenty thousand soldiers for domestic defense Pirates -- and not from Pittsburgh March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 
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The Advocate should report...
... on the airport control tower and its impact on local operations. I contend that the money spent to put the tower into operation and staff it was wasted. For a half-century VCT was controlled out of Houston Center and there were no accidents due to a lack of local controllers. Therefore, safety wasn't the reason to open the tower. It doesn't open until after the first commercial flight of the day departs and it closes prior to the last commercial arrival, leaving it available for only one commercial turn a day. I'd be willing to wager a Whopper to a Big Mac that there are seldom more than 40 private/corporate flight operations a day. For this we need a multi-million dollar control tower and the people to man it? The emplanements are down from last year, so it doesn't seem that people are more willing to travel from VCT now that the tower is in operation. I like the fact that the manager is cleaning up the airport property to make it more appealing to people wanting to locate a business there. That's a good thing. I would hate to see Victoria lose commercial air service, but Continental cannot afford to send a half-dozen flights a day down here if there's not going to be anyone on them. Times are hard for all airlines and money losing routes are very much in jeopardy. 4 comments from 2 users
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posted by
thewaywardwind
on Nov 21, 2008 at 12:13 PM
The best thing the airport has done lately is the completion of the runway 17-35 lighting project. VCT is an excellent airport with the longest runway around and a decent terminal that could be used for more commercial flights if the business was there. I remember when there were a six flights a day and they carried good loads. The plants stopped sending people out and replaced a lot of travel with tele-conferences and the like. Union Carbide used to send out cargo almost every day. That's all dried up now. There just aren't enough people flying out of VCT to warrant more than two flights and the lack of flights means some who would fly out of here drive to Austin, Houston or San Antonio instead. Some people have stopped flying out of VCT because they've been burned with cancellations and not haveing another flight out an hour later. If the morning flight doesn't go, you have to drive to IAH and try to get onto another plane that's probably full. One problem feeds the other. The bottom line is the lack of passengers for the Continental Connection service to be profitable. If it weren't for federal subsidies, there wouldn't be ANY commercial service here. It's sad, but a fact.
posted by
RightRudder
on Nov 21, 2008 at 09:54 AM
The time period is usually (I think) the preceding 12 months.. So if it ended 12/31/07 then it started on 12/1/06.The AIP funding comes directly from the taxes imposed on avgas and jet fuel. Very little general fund money from the federal government is included. So its very much a user pays type thing.. The money that comes from the general fund is used in the same fashion as federal money spent on the interstate system. Keep in mind that an airport is a type of infrastructure just like a highway. The government (federal and local) have a vested interest in keeping airports up and going.. Thats one of the primary functions of government is to maintain infrastructure to ensure commerce. The tower being worth the money or not.. That remains to be seen. In Georgetown we got a new tower this time last year. The problem is not that we didn't need one (we do) but that it is a VFR only tower and they have no access to radar, So I do the same steps I would without a tower there. If the tower in Victoria is worth the money will depend on the services they offer the traffic area they serve. I have said many times, I would consider relocating to Victoria if there were more jobs at the airport. I know many people in the industry that would love the area and the size of the airport there, Victoria needs to market the airport and bring in all types of aviation related businesses. posted by
thewaywardwind
on Nov 21, 2008 at 09:19 AM
I guess I owe you a Big Mac over the number of operations. By the way...that period ending 12-31-07...when did it start? Just wondering what the time frame was. The FAA money and the AIP money you are talking about is, I guess, that other kind of money -- you know, government money. But where did it come from? It comes from the pockets of tax payers who, I contend, aren't getting their money's worth out of the operational control tower at VCT. Don't get me wrong; I support the airport and expecially the commercial flight operations. I worked for Continental Express, Skywest and Colgan for almost ten years. I support the airport cleanup. I hope more businesses locate on the property. It's the tower that I think was a waste of TAX dollars. Talk about a sweet job...being a tower controller at VCT! posted by
RightRudder
on Nov 21, 2008 at 08:52 AM
I agree that the airlines cannot keep flying routes that do not generate revenue, however I am pretty sure the only cost Victoria payed was to restore the tower. The controllers are typically paid by the FAA, even if they are contracted by a 3rd party.I would also think that the money spent to restore the tower came out of the AIP (Airport Improvement Program). Having the tower there is more of a long term thing... If you have the tower there is more incentive for businesses and operators to set up shop there. Real or perceived, The tower will make people feel safer. I know some operators will not do flights into uncontrolled fields below certain weather minimums, this can really be bad if you are one of those waiting for that flight thats not coming because the clouds are low.. Victoria is in a great position to really push the airport and try to bring in businesses that otherwise would not look at Victoria.. There is a lot more then airline flights and everything that happens at the airport brings in money. For the period ending 12/31/07 Victoria averaged 111 arrivals/departures a day.
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