Kitty Hawk Kites - No More?

[tdilisio]

Found this link on the Hyner forum..... Never been there personally, but would like to stop in on a trip down to Fla.

http://hamptonroads.com/node/486514

[brianvh]

this doesn't affect the dune operations, just the towing. It wasn't such a great place to fly. Unfortunately this will cripple their non-tourist training capability.

[jimrooney]

I'm gonna give Johnny a call and see what his take is.

This issue isn't as open and shut as it once was. Currituck is a public airport. Things would be different at a private field. The hangar lease not being extended... well, you can let the lawyers argue that one. That's strictly tenant/landlord stuff.

Here's the rub... we're N-numbered now. As John Harris is quoted, he does have the right to be there... it's not a privilege. The tugs can absolutely land there and no one can say boo. It is a legal right. As for the hang gliding, we're a Part 91 legal towing operation. The issue (if pushed) will come down to "safety". This will not be "safety" as determined by the airport owner. This is "safety" as determined by the FAA. How does the FAA determine safety?... they do a "safety audit"... and if you think it sounds awefully like a tax audit, you're on the right track. I don't think any airport owner wants a safety audit. Rob McKenzie (Marshall/Crestline) has a wonderful story about taking an airport to task on this one years ago... the short version is there was a lot of posturing and "you listen here young child" talk with Rob playing it very cool, then once the word safety audit slipped into the conversation, well the airport got a whole lot more accommodating.

I don't expect John to take this lying down and I'm sure there's more to this than we see.
Jim

[mikecosner]

well the word through the KHK grapevine of retired instructors is that KHK is moving the towing operation to a private field about 25 minutes closer to the beach. The new field is not an airport, just a big field, and wouldn't have other traffic to deal with, and is larger and on the main road and would increase business. (Currituck is a few miles off the main highway) I'm sure John would have to build a hanger but seems like a better deal, maybe they weren't ready to move over yet for next season and want to be a Currituck again. I doubt this new airport will be any better for soaring (currituck is RARELY good) because it is even closer to the shore and seabreeze flow.

[jimrooney]

Thanks Cozman.
It did seem that there was more to the story.

Cool... anything closer to the beach = goooooood.
Cheers
Jim