March 11, 2022 - Flying the Martin State Air Traffic Control Boss

In the last few years, a controversial issue at Essex Skypark has been our relationship to Martin State Airport's Class D airspace.  Essex Skypark is within the southern edge of Martin State's Class D airspace.  No one questions that.

The FAA regulation is as follows:  Departing flight from a satellite airport without an operating control tower, each person must establish and maintain two-way radio communications with the ATC facility having jurisdiction over the Class D airspace area as soon as practicable after departing.  No one questions that either.

But the reality is that the above regulation isn't enforced.  Many pilots at Essex Skypark have been arriving and departing out of Essex Skypark to/from the northwest and southeast, or just doing pattern work and never talked with Martin State Tower.  For decades.  There has never been a single incident.  It's obvious that Martin State isn't worried about air ops at Essex Skypark and never has been.  As long as we don't interfere with their pattern -- which no one ever has -- there's no problem.  Not all laws are enforced.

Personally, I feel that that calling MTN Tower on the radio when flying into W48 from the northwest or southeast or for W48 pattern work is wasting their time. Time the Tower could otherwise use to do more important work.  It ties up precious radio bandwidth.  I think you could even call it a safety issue.   I've seen the safety card played for far less, believe me.

So we have two camps at Essex Skypark.  One camp wants to fly like we always have, without communicating with Martin State Tower.  The other camp wants to follow the letter of the law.  Unfortunately, the other camp is pushing to have everyone follow the letter of the law.

The other camp's reasoning is that there is a rule, therefore it must be obeyed.  (No doubt they follow ALL rules themselves, like never exceeding 55 mph on the highway).  And, of course, they play the safety card, which trumps everything and can never be questioned.  (Yes, one wonders why such people even fly, which is inherently risky.  They could be supremely safe, and save some money, if they just stayed at home and watched TV from their couch).

Anyways, Chip, who has been flying out of Essex Skypark his entire life, invited the Air Traffic Manager of Martin State Airport -- Nik -- over to the Skypark to talk and give him a ride in Chip's Stearman.  I happened to be at the Skypark then and ended up giving him a ride in the RV-7 as well.