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Sky Manor Airport (FA-51)

Effective Date: May 2, 2008

Mission Statement

Sky Manor airport is maintained as a PRIVATE airport under the rules and regulations of the Aviation Division of the Florida Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. The airport exists for the sole use of the property owners of Sky Manor Estates. Non-residence or non-property owners in Sky Manor Estates may takeoff and land with prior invitation by the Property owner(s), however the airport management states that “PERMISSION IS NEITHER GRANTED OR DENIED” to any other aircraft operation(s) other than that of a property owner as stated above. Perpetual Airstrip Easement and Right-of-way is impressed upon each and every lot conveyed by Sky Manor Corporation (Grantor) and is recorded on the 30^th day of January 2002 in the Hendry County Courthouse records at record book 647 page 984 as required by Florida Law.

History

Sky Manor airport had it’s beginning after the close of WWII when Wayne Vaughn, former WWII B-24 Flight Engineer, then based at Buchingham Army Airbase, married Doris Hires of Fort Denaud. Doris married her wartime sweetheart Wayne and soon they established their homestead on Fort Denaud road next door to 4205, originally 387. Wayne, being an avid aviator, established a small grass airstrip on the back of his orange grove property just West of Murray road. In 1957, R.L. “Woody” Wood, acquired the property on the West side of the Vaughn property and the very short Vaughn airstrip was extended across the back portion of the two neighbors land, approximately 1500 hundred feet in length.

In 1970 the Williams family, after residing at Antiquers Aerodrome in Delray Beach, purchased the Wood property and the property to the South along the East/West section line and established a new East/West airstrip three thousand feet long. This airstrip was soon established as a fully licensed airfield, zoned by Hendry County and licensed by the Florida Depart of Transportation.

Today the airfield is designated FA-51 by the Federal Aviation Administration and runs the complete length of the North East/West line of section 15, along the Caloosahatchee River serving Sky Manor Estates.

Flight Operations

CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME WITH NOTICE!

FA-51 airfield is situated on an East/West bias and is licensed for Day VFR operations only. The operations area is 4000’ feet long and 150’ wide with an 80’ wide runway area that is marked with sideline markers that are spaced 200’ apart starting at the extreme ends of the runway. Two Wind direction indicators (windsocks) are displayed. They are red and white in color with one “sock” being located at the extreme West end of the runway, on the North side of the useable runway end, with the other sock 1,000’ from the extreme East end of the runway on the South side of the runway.

Due to surrounding airfields to the North and Cotton’s strip to the West, a geographical traffic pattern is established based on the airstrip centerline to the South of Sky Manor airport. The established traffic pattern is left hand when West (27) operations are in effect and right hand patterns when on East (09) operations, thus keeping air traffic to the South of Sky Manor Estates airfield.

Traffic pattern altitude is 1000’ above the surface (AGL) while in the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. Pilots operating from Sky Manor should be aware that other air traffic sometimes fly along the Caloosahatchee River at lower than legal altitude, enter Sky Manor traffic pattern airspace without regard to established traffic in the pattern. USE CAUTION!

PILOT CERTIFICATION

All operators of civil registered aircraft operating aircraft at Sky Manor Airport (FA51), in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations must hold a minimum of a current student pilot certificate with proper endorsement(s). All Pilots holding a pilot certificate issued under the regulations of FAR-61 who operate an aircraft from Sky Manor Airport must hold a current medical certificate and have successfully completed a biannual flight review as required by the Federal Aviation Administration. Operators and Pilots are required to comply with the elements of the Homeland Security Act and it’s sub parts as they apply to Civil Aviation. Failure of Pilots to comply with the requirements of this paragraph are prohibited from operating aircraft at Sky Manor Estates and may be subject to the penalties and sanctions set down by the proper authority(s).

Obstructions

Runway 09,

Pilots are advised that when departing on runway 09, there are very high pine trees, approximately 100’ above the ground, bordering the North side of the operations area the last East 200’ of the runway. To comply with approach path criteria established by the F.D.O.T. and the F.A.A., an adjusted landing threshold is established 1200’ feet from the East end of the airstrip for landing aircraft on runway 27.

Runway 27,

Pilots are advised of electrical wires 1000’ West of the runway threshold departure path. Although this power line should not effect departing aircraft performance considerations, there is an adjusted touchdown threshold the first 600’ when landing East on runway 09 to provide 7to1 approach slope criteria, a requirement of F.D.O.T..

Cell Phone Tower, A cell phone tower 290’ above the ground (AGL) is located one mile south of the east end of the runway. This tower should be visually located when operating in the traffic pattern.

Noise Abatement/Good Neighbor Policy

Ever since airports have been established around the word, their surrounding properties were soon developed, usually for some kind of airport support element. In many cases private home subdivisions popped up at the perimeter fence of airports where many of the airport workers reside. As more and more people occupied surrounding airport areas, noise from aircraft became a political issue. To resolve airport noise issues, airports have adopted Noise Abatement Procedures to lesson as much as possible the noise footprint created by aircraft utilizing those airport facilities. Pompano Beach airport is one such airport There are volumes of printed procedures that pilots have to abide by when operating aircraft to and from noise sensitive airports. With this knowledge and the fact that there are many new residence, especially noise sensitive areas along the Caloosahatchee River that were not developed when Sky Manor airport was first licensed some thirty five years ago, noise abatement procedures are a most important consideration for the benefit of our community. For these reasons and the need to continue as a considerable good neighbor to surrounding residence, Sky Manor airport has adopted the following noise abatement procedures for aircraft operating to and from the airport. The aerial map overview depicts those air traffic paths that will most certainly benefit all.

Full-size image

Departures:

SEE AERIAL PHOTO TRAFFIC PATTERN OVERLAY IN THIS DOCUMENT

Runway 09:

Maintain runway track until one mile east of “Murray Road” or 500ft which ever occurs last. Standard traffic pattern departure in place is a 90-degree turn to the RIGHT followed by an immediate 45-degree turn to the LEFT. Departures climb on this heading until crossing highway 80 and being clear of the airport traffic pattern.

Runway 27:

Climb on runway track until West of “Cotton Strip” (North/South airstrip 2.75 miles Southwest on South side of river) when departing west or Southwest. When departing Northwest, climb on runway track until 1500 feet. IFR arrival routes to Fort Myers may be via LaBelle VOR radials, Use caution when climbing Northwesterly. Easterly downwind leg departures are approved as long as flights are at or above 1500 feet AGL prior to turning east. Downwind departures should be broadcast on airport traffic advisory frequency 122.8.

Arrivals:

Arrivals are via a 45-degree entry to the first one third (1/3^rd) of the downwind leg at traffic pattern altitude (1000’). A direct entry to the downwind leg is approved for flights approaching from the South. Flights approaching from the North should over-fly the airport at least 500 feet above the traffic pattern altitude (1500) for traffic separation to determine runway in use and observe other traffic operating in the traffic pattern. Although Sky Manor does not monitor any Unicom frequency it is good operation procedure to advise all traffic of departures and arrivals. Overhead entry flights should overhead at least 500 feet above the traffic pattern and not descend to pattern altitude until South of highway eighty (80). The traffic information frequency used should be 122.8 as this is the most widely used aviation advisory frequency. Local traffic at the LaBelle airport monitors 122.8.

Runway 09:

Aircraft are asked not to descend from traffic pattern altitude until passing west over the North/South portion of the Caloosahatchee River. Ideal base leg is over the North/South portion of state road 78 just to the West of the river.

Click here for Cockpit View

Runway 27:

Arrivals from the East base leg are over” Phillips Road” subdivision. This is the North/South paved road directly North of the Barry juice plant that is located on Highway 80 (large white metal buildings south side of highway). Arrivals are asked to maintain traffic pattern altitude until abeam the Barry plant. There are numerous residence along the East/West portion of the Caloosahatchee River. It is strongly recommended that arrivals to runway 27 do not exceed the runway centerline to the North.

Click here for Cockpit View

Rotorcraft:

Rotorcraft are required to arrive or depart via published fixed wing aircraft arrival/ departure procedures except that rotorcraft may arrive/depart ( to/from) the south below traffic pattern altitude. Rotorcraft should plan an L.Z. at the taxiway airstrip access point or at the individual lot of intended destination. Flight taxi or hover flight along paved road/taxiways is prohibited.

“FA51” ITEMS FOR YOUR ATTENTION

“Items For Your Attention” is a forum for information concerning any matter at Sky Manor Estates that will directly or indirectly effect the safe operation of aircraft and the well being of the community. The format standard with respect to information priority is Must know, Should know, Nice to know. A single page info sheet will be distributed to the residence and owners of Sky Manor at such time any information is received from the residence/owners or Public Agencies having meaningful information. Topics and or information for this sheet may be sent to “FA51” Airport Manager, 4205 Fort Denaud Road, LaBelle, FL. 33935. Items of an urgent nature should be directed to Bill Williams @ 863-673-2275 for immediate distribution.

“FA51” Items For Your Attention

Ultra-Light Aircraft:

Due to unusually high acoustic signature of engine and propellers typical of Ultra-Light aircraft including prolonged noise footprint due to slow groundspeeds, Ultra-Light aircraft are restricted from operations at Sky Manor Estates.

NO RAIN:

Due to record drought in the State, airports with turf airstrips throughout Florida are experiencing high stress factors resulting in damage to the operating surface of grass airports. Sky Manor Airstrip is no exception. For this reason and the need to provide continued airport use to Sky Manor Estates based aircraft, flight operations are to be limited to departures and arrivals. Touch and Go operations are prohibited. The LaBelle Airport (five minutes east) has both hard and turf surfaces for those operations requiring touch and go circuits. Thanking all for understanding and cooperation in advance!

Sky Diving:

Sun Dance airfield, (5 miles north/northeast of sky manor) is an approved drop zone for skydiving operations. Times of operation are advertised through FAA flight service and a jump aircraft radio information frequency that is subject to change is active during times of operation. Pilots should exercise caution and avoid this area. <END>

For orientation purposes only. Consult current flight publications for all flight safety-related information.

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