Tweed-New Haven Airport. A better place to fly.

A project was recently completed at Tweed-New Haven Airport. This project was not part of the Airport Master Plan update process. In this article, I will explain to you some matters that I am familiar with as a professional pilot. You should know that my qualification of being a Professional Pilot doesn’t mean I know everything ( in fact, I know very little…just ask my children). This qualification does mean however that I am familiar with not just Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR’s as they are called) but how the FAA enforces them, how it amends them and often why. I also know what aviation regulations apply in various instances and their application to daily aircraft and airport operations.

Tweed-New Haven Airport recently completed a project that rebuilt Taxiways A, F and G. This project also included a number of supporting and peripheral projects. I will write exclusively about the Taxiway project itself.

The main and most recognizable element of this project was to relocate Taxiway ‘A’ from 275 feet to 400 feet away from Runway 2-20.

I thought you should know!
The FAA often changes it‘s own guidance (or rules) on a multitude of issues. This to include Airport Design Standards of which we will discuss in a moment.

The FAA enacts change for a number of reasons…to include improving upon safety. The FAA receives continuous input from myriad aviation safety organizations (NTSB), aircraft manufacturing organizations and even other regulating authorities. As such, through this input and its own research, the FAA learns how and enacts ways of how to do things better.

This does not necessarily mean that things were unsafe before the FAA instituted change . It means they want to improve upon a previous (current) level of safety.

Here is the most recent project at Tweed. It is NOT part of the on-going Master Plan study. It was planned, approved and permitted separate and distinct from such.

Prior to this project, there were no safety violations as various citizen action groups and it’s members proclaim (see below). FACT: The airport complied fully with the previous set of airport design standards. FACT: HVN improved upon those standards by complying with the new standards and guidelines on what pertains to Airport Design Standards and “Airport Geometry” in this part of the airport layout.

Great! A Math lesson?

Airport Geometry refers to the angular relationship between airport taxiways, runways and other paved airport surfaces. It also pertains to the centerline separation between these various airport surfaces. To better illustrate: Think of ninty degree turns, forty five degree turns or gradual turns…things like that. This is an important element for aircraft surface movements because airplanes are awkward on the ground. Airplanes are long, often have long wingspans and wide wheel-tracks (distance between each main landing gear). Simply, Airplanes belong in the air! On the ground, airplanes operate somewhat like long Box Trucks, but with wings. On the ground, aircraft are ungainly craft.

If you recall, a recent occurrence at Tweed Airport brings the subject of Airport Geometry to light. While I cannot comment on this recent incident, I can say this:

Being a Commercial Pilot gives me the experience and knowledge to know that while the taxiway geometry at HVN is not dangerous, nor a safety violation, had the intersection of Taxiway D and C been modified to a soft angle (see below image with taxiway edge ‘filets’) ,maybe the anti-airport crowd wouldn’t have had opportunity for their Bar-Room gossip and attendant criticizing of Tweed and the professional Flight Crews that fly in and out of Tweed?

To be clear: I am not stating a cause. I am not second-guessing anyone. I wasn’t there. I wasn’t taxiing the airplane. I am stating that taxiway geometry pertains to this sort of ground operational issue.

Again, the current taxiway geometry at Tweed is not inherently unsafe…but it probably could be better in certain spots…just as it could at many airports (hint: that’s why the FAA is fluid with its rule making and updates to policy guidance).

The location where the aircraft taxied into the grass at Tweed is a “low energy” intersection. Aircraft in these areas of the airport maneuver at very slow speed. The FAA does not consider this type of event an incident or accident. Lives were not at risk. But it would be nice to avoid these kinds of occurrences.

All this in mind, we know how community activists support airport and communicate airport projects, don’t we? I know, it’s all about the Wetlands. Wetlands over people I guess?

Despite what Social Media celebrities tell us (see below) the airport was in compliance with the previous set of taxiway geometry standards before project completion and is now in compliance with the new set of standards in this area. But again, their inability to know and understand perspective…or their sheer lack of will to disseminate such to the rest of us is what’s important here.

Rome wasn’t built a day.
Tweed Airport, like all airports overseen by the FAA, is allowed a phased approach (and sometimes granted waivers) to compliance or adoption of new standards. REMEMBER: The airport already complies with previous design and safety standards. It is simply adopting the new ones. You can feel safe knowing this.

This said, the FAA:

1. Can’t just change rules and Regs overnight. US Law requires input.

2. Cannot enact new rules or procedures and expect them to be complied with overnight.

Rest assured, just because the FAA sometimes changes the way airplanes, airports and pilots “do business”, does not necessarily mean the previous way was unsafe. I want you to be very clear in that distinction. When it comes to the antics of others, I’m not so sure that they want you to see this truth.

East Haven Politics, 10,000 Hawks & Save Our Shoreline Connecticut
There have already been numerous misinformed people spreading misinformation about this project. These people have challenged work crews for permits. These persons have shared countless social media videos stating blatant untruths and alleged ”safety violations”. These persons run chat boards with incessant, rampant misinformed communications amongst its members. These persons have supported, encouraged and promoted such blatant untruths that such teeters on creating a public nuisance. When you speak 🗣 about something as critical as aviation safety and you don’t possess one shred of technical acumen to do so, you could be setting yourself up for legal trouble. Creating a public scare is highly frowned upon.

These allegations of “safety violations” at Tweed are not the first made by two, prominent anti-airport self-appointed “ authorities” .

These persons have also been met with Law Enforcement presence recently (I suppose some can consider that progress? I know I can! ). These persons have even assembled at various airport locations with microphones, speakers, tambourines and even have been sporting gas masks, whilst shouting out their false narratives.

In closing.
When the Social Media Warriors go out on Airport “Safety Patrols” or post on their Social Media accounts, be cautious of the many distinctions THEY DO NOT make when trying to empower the local citizenry. In this, you will no-doubt hear false perspectives on this matter and others related to HVN. As someone who lives, works and plays in this industry called Aviation, I have the utmost confidence that the above explanation on a recent Airport Project is true and correct.

I feel it my duty to empower you with not just knowledge, but actual perspective.