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Federal Study Requested For Tampa North Aero Park

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI

kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com

Published: January 28, 2009

WESLEY CHAPEL - As more homes have been built in recent years around Tampa North Aero Park, conflicts have ensued with residents living near the privately owned airport.

On Tuesday, Pasco County commissioners requested a federal safety study of the small airport sandwiched between Wesley Chapel Boulevard and Interstate 75.

The airport, owned and operated by Charlie Brammer, has run up against residents living in the communities on either end of its runway.

Among other things, residents are concerned about a flight school that operates out of the airport. The school's students train by doing "touch-and-go" landings, maneuvers that bring them over homes in Seven Oaks, Lexington Oaks and Grand Oaks.
Seven Oaks resident Steven Appel raised concerns about the safety of people living in the airport's shadow last fall when a small plane crashed on takeoff.

Inspectors visited the site several times in recent months and found no safety violations, Federal Aviation Authority spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said Monday.

She urged residents with concerns to take them up with the owner.

"We're operating in one of the safest periods in aviation history," Bergen said.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 948-4201.

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