Goldcoast Skydivers under attack!

[Laurel 0]

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How many people showed up to jump this weekend?

Also, when writing to Senators and Representatives should it be more specific to include the numbers, or more general and broad to just call their attention to the problem that is going on? If more specific what is the best information to include in the letter, the inflated takeoffs and landings? -Tammy P.M.S #190

Only write about what you know. You can be general or specific. If you want more information, under the Freedom of Information Act, you can request the t/o landing numbers and everything else associated with airport improvements.

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PMS#28, Pelogrande Rodriguez#1074
My Pink M

[Laurel 0]

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Does someone actually have a source for the discrepency in these numbers or is everyone writing letters saying, "I heard on dropzone.com...." ?

Sources are slightly important in such matters.

You can obtain the documents through the freedom of information act.

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PMS#28, Pelogrande Rodriguez#1074
My Pink M

[BillyVance 34]

I would say that for all the shit JCAA has given Mike and Gold Coast Skydivers, it is time to play the fraud card. Snitch them out, force the FAA or appropriate authorities to do an audit on the numbers. This is pork fraud. One good contact would be Arizona Senator John McCain. He is THE leader against pork projects and regularly rails against them in Congress. As for Senator Trent Lott, how do you know he isn't involved somehow in propagating this fraud to help his namesake airport?
We'll find out soon.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[cvfd1399 0]

I am searching for the report. So far air nav shows 298 operations a day, then on another link 90 operations a day, but that is not anywhere near a reliable source. Here a few things me might be able to use as contacts. Some might have been already posted. My fav is the JCEDF site showing Trent Lott breaking ground for the new plant. Most likley the cause of all our troubles along with the want for a control tower I think.

Air-nav

Jackson County Airport Authority

Senator Trent Lott home page

Link showing Senator Lott Breaking ground at NORTHROP GRUMMAN UNMANNED SYSTEMS CENTER

It shows a picture where the building will be located in reference to our drop zone.

Jackson County Economic Development Foundation

City of Moss Point Site

Phone number is 1-228-475-0300, I called and requested a e-mail address for the mayor and aldermen, and was given this to send messages to sqgaines@stcmail.com

[url http://www.co.jackson.ms.us/JCHome_page.htm] Official Website for Jackson County [url]

[cvfd1399 0]

Citizens guide to using the The Freedom of Information Act

Not sure if this is current info for the airport
Ownership: PUBLIC
Owner: JACKSON COUNTY
Address: 8301 SARACENNIA
MOSS POINT, MS 39563-9478
Phone No: 228-475-1371
Manager/Director: CARROL SNAPP

I called and left a message for carrol to call me back to request the information.

As soon as I find where exactly to request the information about the operations numbers I will post it.

[cvfd1399 0]

This is the FAA site on requesting information through the FOIA.

http://www.faa.gov/foia/

Trent Lott is in the Southern Region and is covered by Ms. Linda Chatman, FOIA Coordinator
FAA Southern Region, ASO-65D
PO Box 20636
Atlanta, GA 30320
Fax number: (404) 305-5854

I called and left a message for her to call me back I think she will be the one with current reccord that we are looking for.

[Laurel 0]

Good work. Ben also has requested the information. You may want to see if he has gotten it in or whom he contacted.

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PMS#28, Pelogrande Rodriguez#1074
My Pink M

[jmanis2 0]

I assume you meant 20-30 loads a weekend which is close to the truth. 11 loads a day is pretty normal and with all of the good weekends its close to 550 loads a year. If we count each parachute as a landing op and figure 11 on a load and 52 weekends a year we account for nearly 13000 loads a year. I don;t think that they are counting our numbers like that but its the only way that they can come close to the 30k ops a year they claim. And they want to kick us out of there? Please!

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Then again, doesn't Mike only put up 20-30 loads a year...if I remember correctly, he doesn't really contribute that much to overall #'s

Jeff Phillips

[jumpdoc 0]

Facetious...I believe the airport authority has also grossly underreported Mike's #'s, but that's just hearsay.

[cvfd1399 0]

I left messages with the airport authority, the airport manager, and the Southern FAA Rep. None returned my calls today.

[slug 1]

Bingo

"NORTHROP GRUMMAN UNMANNED SYSTEMS CENTER"

This kettle has been boiling for a long time We couldn't tell from the aerial photo the location of the DZ vs Grummans new facility but we suspect any place on the airport is to close.

Hopefully the airport will start paying attenion to the other users of the airport facilities and think about the airpost as a multi use facility and stop dealing from the bottom of the deck.

Good Luck
R.I.P.

[cvfd1399 0]

I understand that work with flying objects might be taking place, but we jump on the weekends and a FEW times on weekdays through the year. How many weekends are they gonna be flying those damn things that we are gonna interrupt. There is also the possibility that we might always be over the top of their property in a landing pattern, and there is the chance that someone may land on the property.

[Laurel 0]

NG knew before they ever broke ground that TLIA is general aviation open to the public. If they wanted privacy, they would have bought private land for their operations. Plus, Mercedes and another corporation are locating in Pascagoula, which means more flights utilizing TLIA. This combined with NG may be the reason they want us out. But - there are alternatives. They can move us down to the end of the runway where we are out of site, so to speak. When I emailed our congressmen, I sited Z-Hills, which was named #1 general aviation airport for 1999-2000. They operate shipping, commercial flight school, gliders, skydiving, private aircraft, an 18-hole golf course and more. We should be able to operate like them - in peace and harmony with other aero activities.

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PMS#28, Pelogrande Rodriguez#1074
My Pink M

[tearseyes 0]

A friend of mine suggested contacting USPA for help with legal fees...don't know if anyone has. Just a thought.
Jana

[slug 1]

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But - there are alternatives. They can move us down to the end of the runway where we are out of site, so to speak.

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. We should be able to operate like them - in peace and harmony with other aero activities.

Hopefully after the dust settles and the lawyers get paid You'll end up with what the taxpayers have already paid for

R.I.P.

[billvon 2,989]

I'm going to make this thread sticky until the hearing so people have a better chance of seeing it and making the hearing.

[jumpdoc 0]

Thank you. This is so important to us. For anyone who has ever been to Gold Coast, the DZ is the building at the very end of the tarmac nearest to the site where NG is putting up their operation. And, if I am not mistaken, it's not a parcel of land near the airpoprt, it is ON airport property (Laurel, correct me if I am wrong). There are a few sites out there that tout TLIA as a prime location for an industrial park/commercial development. Laurel is right in that we should be able to co-exist with any of these folks peacefully...especially since most of these sorts of businesses don't do much work over the weekend.

[Gralala 0]

Mike our thoughts are with you and look forward to jumping out there again this spring and summer during our visit with KJ and Megan.. Keep up the good fight!

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." -- Helen Keller

[mikeigo 0]

Here's the latest. We're attacking the Jackson County Airport Authority on a number of fronts. Like they say, the best defense is a strong offense. This morning I faxed William Schuller, head of the FAA Airport District Office, a request for an investigation into the misuse of federal funds at the Trent Lott International Airport. I will mail him a hard copy today. As I pointed out to Mr. Schuller, some of the allegations are speculation but most are backed up by raw data that I obtained through subpoenas. This fight is heating up to the boiling point. My attorney seems to think the airport board will want to sit down and work with me but I say it's too late for that. This is not a vendetta. I honestly believe that if we don't fight them now, we will have to fight them at a later date. By the end of this week, the court date of February 22 should be moot as we are having the case removed to Federal Court. I will keep everyone posted as more information becomes available.

[cvfd1399 0]

As for the case on the 22nd are we allowed to come show support in the court room?

[skydiven4fun 0]

Way to go Mike.

Still here after all these years

Clayton

[brierebecca 0]

Mike -

do you know what federal law(s) you're counter-claiming under? I've started looking up some case law on the subject, and I'd love to narrow my search. If you're not sure, just PM me your attorney's number and I'll call him myself.

Good luck with the investigation!! I'll PM you when I have a little memo together for you.

good thoughts and vibes,

Brie

"Ive seen you hump air, hump the floor of the plane, and hump legs. You now have a new nickname: "Black Humper of Death"--yardhippie

[Gralala 0]

Just curious if your attorney has also talked to Ed Scott at USPA or if that's even an option. He works with them in the Government Relations areas and provides them their information on cases. Seems like being a group member you should get something for your paid dues all these years.

Understand completely about taking it to higher court. Too, there comes a point when it comes down to good old fashioned fighting for the principle.

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." -- Helen Keller

[BillyVance 34]

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Here's the latest. We're attacking the Jackson County Airport Authority on a number of fronts. Like they say, the best defense is a strong offense.[/Reply]
HOO RAH!! That'll teach them to mess with skydivers! You rock! [Cool]

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

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[skybill 22]

Hi Mike,
GO 4 IT!!!!!!!!!! WishI could be in the peanut gallery to hoot and holler but my spirit will be there! My Home DZ at Hammond La. went down in the old daze before we were savy to the Federal funding/fair access issue. DO IT!! It's not just your fight, but the fight for fair acceass for every skydiver and Dropzone!!!

SCR-2034, SCS-680

III%,
Deli-out