This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports.
The new runway at Marion County Airport (X35) in Dunnellon, Florida, is likely to result in mid-air collisions.
A short new grass runway has been cleared paralleling the eastern side of paved Runway 05-23, however, there is no NOTAM nor any announcement for this new grass runway.
A few thin-strip streamer flags have been secured via small poles at each end and this grass runway cannot be seen at ground level/taxiways because of its low elevation where rain is likely to accumulate.
This has created a very confusing approach to X35 when aircraft are making rapid and simultaneous radio calls for left AND right traffic for 05 or 23.
Type of traffic appears primarily paragliders, which cross over the paved Runways 10-28 and 05-23 regardless of wind direction. Some paragliders don’t make radio calls and are hard to see and avoid.
The airport beacon is not visible at night when approaching at altitude.
Other pilots based at X35 have stated their requests to angle the lenses up more have gone unanswered.
I remember once when low on fuel at night the relief I felt when I saw a flashing beacon 10+ miles away, at an airport I never landed at previously.
Primary Problem: Airport
ACN: 2186158
When you click on the link it will take you to the ASRS Online Database. Click on Report Number and put the ACN in the search box, then click Search. On that page, click on “view only the 1 most recent report.”
1) Airnav sez left traffic for all 4 paved runways at X35.
2) A couple airports in my area have similar unofficial grass runways, use of them is either / or with the paved runway — in other words, no simultaneous operations.
3) IMHO good radio calls make it easier for everyone to know what’s going on–
in this case, “landing two-three” or “landing two-three grass” calls would be helpful.
However, some antique & ultralighty aircraft don’t have radios– so remember, it’s “see and avoid”.
4) Good point however on the airport beacon. Seems like these are often sited where there’s room for them– not where they will be easily seen.
“This has created a very confusing approach to X35 when aircraft are making rapid and simultaneous radio calls for left AND right traffic for 05 or 23.”
It might help if “aircraft” stopped flying right-hand traffic patterns at X35…which is a violation of FAR 91.126…
It is runway 5, not 05.