November 2022 | www.flysanmarcos.com
GIVING THANKS FROM TEXAS AVIATION PARTNERS
As November 2022 comes to an end, it feels like an appropriate time to reflect on the countless things in life for which we are grateful, at work and at home. At HYI, we continue to experience healthy aircraft activity increases with takeoffs and landings setting monthly records. Thanks to the vigilant professionalism of our Air Traffic Control Tower coworkers, our airspace and ground operations remain safe and efficient.

The unique location of our Airport and the healthy central Texas economy have sparked a great deal of interest in new business opportunities at the Airport. TAP is mindful of our responsibilities to develop and operate HYI in a balanced manner, and we are always thankful for your input on all airport topics. Please put the next Airport Advisory Board meeting on your calendar for December 15, at 10:00am. The coffee and donuts are hard to beat.

Some folks in our community may not be aware of the 15 commercial tenants, 225 aircraft owners, and aviation-related non-profit organizations that call San Marcos Regional Airport home. TAP plans to expand our airport educational efforts in 2023 and we’re grateful to the City Management staff and City Council in supporting this work. It’s a worthwhile endeavor for everyone.

The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is one of the aforementioned non-profits and we are thankful for their presence in the City’s WWll era hangar. The tragic CAF accident in Dallas on November 14 jarred our airport community, and we mourn the loss of the pilots and continue praying for their friends and family.  

I’m close to hitting my allotted word budget but would like to close with acknowledging that this brief letter doesn’t do justice to the countless blessings we are grateful for at TAP. We hope each of you had a memorable Thanksgiving and appreciate your support of HYI.
 
Jim Wimberly   
MONTHLY TRAFFIC OPERATIONS
Annual total operations by year:

2017: 66,781
2018: 59,679
2019: 63,955
2020: 78,010
2021: 82,368
2022 count through October:
77,247

*September had the highest recorded operations in HYI history with 10,441!
We monitor operations each month to help us secure funding for future airport projects and improvements. The operations (aircraft landings and takeoffs) are counted every day during the Air Traffic Control Tower's hours of 7:00am to 9:00pm. Operations that occur outside of these hours are not tracked.
GENERAL AVIATION APPRECIATION MONTH
HIGHWAY 21 WATERLINE CONSTRUCTION
Crews are still working on the waterline and the scheduled completion date is December 2022. Thank you for your cooperation and flexibility during this project.
AIRPORT REGULATIONS REVIEW
It's been several years since the Airport's Minimum Standards and Rules & Regulations have been reviewed. We're dusting them off and giving them a fresh look.

In the coming months, we plan to present proposed updates to the Airport Board. In the meantime, we're going to start highlighting existing regulations to educate our users and assist tenants in becoming compliant.

If you'd like to review the current documents, click here. Have a suggested edit? Send us an email!

November Focus: Storage

Sec 10.034. - Fueling and Flammables
 
(c) Storage.

(1) Flammables. No person will keep or store any flammable liquids, gases, signal flares or other similar material in the hangars or in any building on the airport, unless such materials are kept in an aircraft in the proper receptacles installed in the aircraft for such purposes or in rooms or areas specifically approved for such storage.
 
(2) Waste oil. No person will keep or store waste oils in or about the hangars unless stored in a proper receptacle pending removal. Waste oil must be disposed of in accordance with the storm water pollution prevention plan for the airport.
TAXIWAY CHARLIE RECONSTRUCTION
The FAA-funded reconstruction of Taxiway Charlie has been approved and funded and we anticipate construction to begin on January 1, 2023. Information is forthcoming related to phasing and closures and we will continue to share any developments as the project moves forward.
AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING & RUNWAY SAFETY ACTION TEAM MEETING
Our next AAB meeting will be held Thursday, December 15 at 10:00am at the Airport Management offices located at 4400 Highway 21. Following this meeting will be the Runway Safety Action Team meeting at 11am. Anyone interested in the airport is encouraged to attend. Come by and learn more about what's happening at your airport.

Runway incursions remain a serious concern nationally. One important component of our ongoing efforts to improve surface safety at HYI Airport involves conducting a Runway Safety Action Team (RSAT) meeting at least once each year.
 
The purpose of this RSAT meeting is to unite those individuals and organizations that are actively involved in air traffic operations and movement of aircraft, vehicles and equipment on the Airport Operations Area (AOA). We look for participation from all major airport interests including tenants, fixed base operators, airport operations and maintenance personnel. Participants are asked to help develop recommendations and solutions to enhance surface safety. Those recommendations serve as the foundation for a site-specific Runway Safety Action Plan. You are cordially invited to join us.
 
Your participation is important and your input is welcomed. Please RSVP to André Murphy at hyi@rvainc.com. Include the name, organization, phone number and email address of those who will be attending.
FREE AIRPORT SHIRTS
Airport t-shirts are now available!

Feel free to swing by the Airport Management office during the week to grab yours.

Did we mention they're free?!
COVID RAPID TESTING
We are excited to announce that we are now able to provide free rapid COVID-19 testing. The test kits have been provided by the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce via the Small Business COVID-19 Rapid Testing Program.
 
Testing is available by appointment only Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. To schedule a test time, please call the office at (512) 216-6042.
LOCAL AVIATION NON-PROFIT MEETINGS
KHYI INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CLUB

IMC meetings are held the third Thursday of each month.

Follow their Facebook page for more information or email Gary White to be added to the newsletter.
EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION CHAPTER 958

Meetings are held every third Saturday at 10:30am in the CAF Hangar, Officers Club.

For more information visit their website.
CIVIL AIR PATROL TEXAS WING 435

Meetings are held every Tuesday.

For more information, visit their website, send an email, or call (512) 710-8435.
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