HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-269 RESOLUTION N0. 09-269
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING THE
EXPANSION OF PBI AIRSPACE TO INCLUDE FORT PIERCE
(FPR)
WHEREAS, Miami Center (ZMA) currently provides approach control services to the
Fort Pierce (FPR) Airport; and
WHEREAS, En Route Centers such as ZMA rely on Long Range Radar to provide data
to the controllers so that they may maintain separation between aircraft; and
WHEREAS, Long Range Radar is less precise than the terminal surveillance systems
utilized by most Terminal Radar Approach Control centers (TRACONs) and was not
designed for approach control, and thus requires controllers to maintain more space
between aircraft; and
WHEREAS, because of the limitations of Long Range Radar, the ZMA may have
difficulty efficiently handling the forecasted growth in traffic under the old system; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) decided to construct a
terminal radar (ASR-11) site that would provide coverage for FPR and the Palm Beach
TRACON would be the facility responsible for providing approach control service once the
ASR-11 site was completed ;and
WHEREAS, the benefits of approach services at PBI according to a 2004 Airspace
study conducted by the FAA would yield the following benefits:
1. Improved terminal radar surveillance coverage;
2. Ability to provide a full range of terminal services;
3. Ability to provide additional services for VFR aircraft;
4. Ability to handle projected increase in traffic demand;
5. Redistribution of air traffic workload;
6. Potential reduction in the number of operational errors;
7. Improving arrival flow streams into the FPR airport;
8. Ability to provide tower en route services between FPR and other Florida
airports; and
9. Improved noise abatement procedures.
WHEREAS, incorporating FPR into the PBI TRACON will improve efficiency by
taking advantage of airspace efficiency gains, which cannot be provided by the en route
environment.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St.
Lucie County, Florida:
Section 1: The foregoing recitals contained in the preamble to this Resolution
are incorporated by reference herein.
Section 2: This Board supports the expansion of PBI Airspace to include Fort
Pierce.
Section 3: The County Administrator is hereby directed to send a copy of this
resolution to the Florida Federal Legislative Delegation; the State of Florida Legislative
Delegation; Brevard County Commission; Indian River County Commission; Martin County
Commission; Palm Beach County Commission; Broward County Commission; Miami-Dade
County Commission; and Randy Babbitt, FAA Administrator.
Section 4: This Resolution shall take effect upon its adoption.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 15th day of September 2009.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ATTE : ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY: ~
Deputy Clerk Chair
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