An increase in the number of

ultra-light aircraft operating at Falcon Field has created safety concerns

for airport officials.

With four ultra-light airplanes

and a gyrocopter flying lower patterns that other aircraft, it could create

an unsafe situation, Airport Manager Jim Savage said at Wednesday's meeting

of the Airport Authority.

A possible solution would be

the creation of an "ultra-light" traffic pattern at the airport

so other aircraft would be able to locate them better, Savage said. One

solution would have ultra-lights landing in the middle of the runway to

make it easier for them to be seen by other aircraft.

While most aircraft operate

at a minimum altitude of 1000 feet, ultra-light aircraft operate at a

minimum altitude of 500 feet, Savage said. Another complication is that

ultra-light aircraft usually can't use radio to communicate effectively

because of wind flowing into the microphone, Savage noted.

Airport officials plan to meet

with the ultra-light aircraft owners to discuss the possible solutions.

In other business, the authority

agreed to pay approximately half of the costs to renovate bathroom facilities

at the building it leases to Peachtree Flight Center. The authority will

pay $3,500 towards the work, partially because some of the walls had deteriorated

due to damage.

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