The Liberty Gazette
September 7, 2021
Ely Air Lines
By Mike Ely and Linda Street-Ely
In the Spring last year, the City of Liberty put out a notice asking for bids for a weather reporting system for the airport. The particular type they sought is referred to as an AWOS-3PT. That stands for Automatic Weather Observation System. This type of weather station collects and broadcasts weather on a minute-by-minute basis, so pilots have the most current automated weather report possible. Continuous, and in real time.
 |
| Liberty's AWOS-3PT |
Interested parties were given just under a month submit their bids, and the result was a year’s worth of work made possible in part by the Texas Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division. They provided 75% of the funding for the entire project. Since the AWOS also needed electrical service and
an access road in order to meet state and federal requirements, all those costs were included in the grant. The total came to $203,343.40. Hermann Memorial Life Flight contributed $50,000. That’s how important this weather station is.
an access road in order to meet state and federal requirements, all those costs were included in the grant. The total came to $203,343.40. Hermann Memorial Life Flight contributed $50,000. That’s how important this weather station is.
Responsibility for the welfare of the Liberty Municipal Airport comes under Assistant City Manager, Chris Jarmon. I can’t say enough of what a joy it is to hear Chris say, “We have an interest in the airport doing well, growing, and being a bigger contributor to our local economy.” His words are like long-awaited honey.
It took about a year to complete all the work. The Liberty Municipal Airport started the summer ready to give pilots valuable information.
Automatic weather reporting systems are required to meet FAA and National Weather Service accuracy and reliability standards before they can be used to support instrument flight rule operations. Liberty’s AWOS provides pilots with the current altimeter setting, density altitude, temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction with gust indication, visibility, cloud height and sky conditions, precipitation identification and intensity, and thunderstorm reporting with local-area lightning tracking. Plus, the city added a present weather sensor, thunderstrike alert, and an upgrade for an ultra-sonic wind sensor.
Pilots make critical decisions based on the weather, and the AWOS is a reliable guide through the ever-changing Texas weather conditions. When traveling to or from, or just over the area, knowing the weather helps us make decisions with confidence. It’s not just a huge benefit for anyone flying into the airport here, but for the region. We all know that the weather can change between Beaumont and Cleveland. There were previously no weather reports to be obtained on the east side of Houston between those cities. Even the Baytown airport does not have weather reporting.
What’s up next for our local airport? Twenty new T-hangars and resurfacing the runway and taxiway, also funded by grants, with the runway project at an even better rate of 90% of the $2.8 million cost being covered. Engineers are at work now developing the full scope, with a target date for construction to begin next summer.
If scheduling works out well, about this time next year, TXDOT Aviation will rightfully boast another success story contributing to a local Texas economy. This time, it’s Liberty’s turn.
ElyAirLines.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment