The U.S. FAA is continuing to press Palm Beach County to lift its ban on small jets at Palm Beach County Park Airport (LNA) in Lantana, Florida, giving the county one more month to comply. In a July 7 letter to county counsel, FAA airport compliance specialist Deandra Brooks warned that if the county fails to respond to its request on the jet ban by August 7, then her office will recommend a full investigation for compliance under Part 16. “A formal determination of noncompliance may result in the FAA withholding grants issued under the Airport Improvement Program,” Brooks said.
The letter was the third request from the FAA for the county to alter its restrictions on the longstanding ban on jets at LNA. The FAA submitted the initial request on March 17. That request followed an informal study and determination that permitting jet aircraft operations on Runway 9/27 would not affect safety or efficiency at LNA or surrounding airports. The agency requested that the county update its information to reflect the finding.
After finding the county had not yet taken action, the agency sent a second request for corrective action on May 26, asking the county to update its information by June 26. “To date, it does not appear the county has completed this corrective action,” Brooks noted in the most recent letter.
The county had responded after the first request that the FAA’s finding did not constitute a formal or final order and was not a formal directive. In regards to the FAA's latest request, the county told AIN, "We are working with the FAA on a response."