Dansville Airport Faces Challenges Due to Unpermitted Construction Cranes and Financial Pressures

The future of Dansville Municipal Airport in New York is in question as the installation of large, unpermitted construction cranes by neighboring LMC Industrial Contractors has caused runway closures and caught the attention of federal authorities.

Problems Arise as Cranes Remain Unpermitted

The situation first gained attention when the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) addressed the issue with North Dansville officials, urging them to take action. The structures have already caused pilots to alter their approach to the runway, creating a safety hazard.

The cranes, used by LMC to offload steel from rail deliveries, were not granted local zoning permits. AOPA also discovered that the company did not file the necessary FAA notification forms.

FAA Determines Cranes Pose a Threat and Investigates Further

The FAA has since deemed the cranes a hazard to air navigation and is currently investigating whether North Dansville is fulfilling their federal responsibility to protect the airspace of their airport.

Airport manager Rick Lafford stated that the town offered LMC an alternative location for the cranes away from the runway approach, but the company declined. As a result, the town has notified LMC that they are violating zoning laws and must stop using the cranes in protected airspace within six months. In addition, any crane operations require a 24-hour notice to allow for runway closures.

Airport Closures Due to Crane Operations

In order to accommodate the crane operations, the airport has been forced to close its runway for up to three hours each day. Lafford explained that the behavior of LMC changed once the FAA’s notice was received, but it did not stop completely. The airport now closes the runway for LMC for up to three hours a day and continues to monitor their behavior.

AOPA Reports LMC’s Previous Management of the Airport

According to AOPA, LMC previously managed the airport, which raises questions about their knowledge of the risks associated with placing obstructions near the runway. AOPA’s eastern regional manager, Sean Collins, wrote in October that LMC should have been aware of the FAA’s airspace evaluation process.

Financial Pressures and Questions About the Airport’s Future

As safety concerns persist, town officials have reached out to elected representatives to discuss the financial viability of keeping the airport open. North Dansville Town Supervisor Gregory Horr shared that the airport is becoming a strain on the town budget and without a substantial increase in taxes, it may not be sustainable.

Dansville Municipal Airport is the only airport in the county and is under obligation to remain open due to Federal Airport Improvement Program grants for land acquisition. In the past 20 years, the town has received over $3. 5 million in federal grants.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney has stated that her office is in communication with local, county, and federal officials and will continue to assist as the matter is reviewed.