Prescott Airport “Middle Marker” to be decommissioned

by Ben Vardiman, Airport Manager, Prescott Airport

In August 2007 a final rule, amending Title 14 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations, became effective which eliminated the operational requirement to provide middle marker (MM) beacons in support of instrument landing system (ILS) precision approach services.

In September 2008, the FAA issued a Safety Risk Management Decision Memorandum supporting the elimination of MMs across the county. The Prescott (PRC) middle marker serving Runway 21L was one of the facilities being evaluated for decommissioning by the FAA. Within the Western United States , a second review process was accomplished by the FAA to ensure facilities necessary for special reasons (e.g., precipitous terrain blocking other electronic positioning information, etc.) were not removed from service, prematurely. We have recently been advised that the PRC middle marker has been approved for decommissioning in the coming months.

Please watch for the change on your charts.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Vardiman, ACE
Airport Manager
Prescott Municipal Airport
Ernest A. Love Field
6546 Crystal Lane
Prescott , AZ 86301
Office: (928)-777-1114
Fax: (928)-771-5861
Email: ben.vardiman@prescott-az.gov