Airport Access Denied?

North Carolina Soaring Association has operated out of Harnett County
Airport (KHRJ) in North Carolina for probably 15 years or more. KHRJ
is a public, uncontrolled airfield that is managed by Harnett County.
A contractor runs the single FBO. We stage our gliders in the grass
alongside the paved 5,000' runway and launch from the paved runway.
We land either on the grass parallel to the runway or on the paved
runway.

At one time, one of the county commissioners (I think) got upset with
us and one thing they wanted us to do was to assemble gliders WAAAAAY
back from the launch point and manhandle them out to the runway. Our
elder members mentioned to the FBO that if they had to push their
gliders and/or walk their wings for 3,000 feet or more, in the hot
days of summer, that there could be some problems. After that was
said and understood, we are back to assembling out near the launch
point. We do keep our trailers about as far from the runway
centerline as topography allows. Gliders are either staged by
manpower or with the help of electric golf carts.

The runway has been extended twice over the past few years, first from
3,700' to 4,300' and finally to 5,000'. Part of the County's
justification for lengthening the runway was based on aircraft
movements created by the different groups using the airport. The
highest number of movements came from the State Bureau of
Investigations who keeps several airplanes based there. Our soaring
club was fourth out of twenty groups. I have no idea where they got
their numbers for our movements because we never provided them with
any data. Probably just atmospheric extraction. So, they "used" us
to their benefit.

Their "chief" instructor (he doesn't work for the FBO, but is a
regular presence on the field) is a member of the County Airport Board
of Commissioners. He always states that he is happy for us to fly
there. He states we operate in a professional manner and he's glad we
provide some "distractions" for his students to deal with, such as a
go around when a glider is landing.

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA