Strict Air Care Neighbors And Pilots Alike Appreciate Felts Field’s Strict Adherence To Safety Standards
It seems kind of ominous, naming an airport for a pilot who crashed his plane and died after taking off there.
Seems like it might cast a shadow over the place, dooming other pilots - most of whom are superstitious anyway - to bad luck.
The opposite appears to be the case at Felts Field.
Formerly Parkwater Airport, the Spokane Valley facility was renamed in 1933 to honor popular pilot and Valley Herald publisher James Buell Felts, who died in May 1927 in a crash not far from the airport.
A Chicago advertising salesman, E.E. Baker, also died when, as The Spokesman-Review reported, “the airplane they occupied fell on the flat, a quarter mile east of the Diamond Match block factory, near Parkwater.”
In the 63 years since the rededication, at least a dozen others have died in accidents on or near the airfield just west of Millwood, a relatively low number, according to local, state and federal aviation officials.
Felts has an excellent reputation for safety, they said.
“As far as airports go, this one is one of the best-maintained in the national system,” said Art Jones of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Spokane office. “My general impression is that over the years, it’s been pretty safe.”
People who live in the residential areas around the small airport agree.
“I really don’t see anything dangerous about it,” said Ed Kaufman, who’s lived in a house adjacent to the airport for the past 20 years.
Statistics appear to bear that out.
Last year, more than 70,000 airplanes and helicopters took off or landed at Felts, according to numbers supplied by the Washington state Department of Transportation.
In that time, there was only one reported crash. In late August, a seaplane went down near Upriver Dam with four Montana residents on board. All walked away with only minor injuries.
Denny Locke, who manages Felts Field for the Spokane Airport Board, said heightened vigilance is one of the reasons for Felts’ good safety record.
“We continually inspect ourselves every day,” Locke said.
Another is that Felts officials hold the one-runway airfield to the same standard as Spokane International Airport, which must meet stricter rules because commercial airlines fly in an out of it, Locke said.
Consequently, there are more runway lights at Felts than required under FAA regulations and more and better pavement on the runways and taxiways. There are also more signs directing pilots on the ground.
Felts is a general aviation facility, meaning it is home to mostly light planes and smaller commercial enterprises.
Locke said officials hold Felts to the stricter standard because “it’s a matter of good prudence.”
It’s going to get even better this year, when officials install a new instrument landing system at Felts.
The system will make it easier and safer for pilots to land during bad weather, Locke said.
It’s a good thing that Felts is graced with good luck, not only for the pilots who fly in and out but for the people who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the airport.
Unlike Spokane International, which is surrounded mostly by open fields and some commercial and industrial facilities, Felts has a large tract of homes adjacent to the east side of the field.
If the Aeromed air ambulance plane that crashed near Spokane International earlier this month had gone down east of Felts, there surely would have been casualties on the ground as well as the three people who died in the plane.
To date, no airplane has crashed into a house near Felts.
“Bite your tongue,” said Jones of the FAA. “It’s been very fortunate.”
In the 18 years he’s lived on North Coleman Road, Delbert Sells said he’s never had a problem with an airplane.
Coleman Road runs along the east side of Felts, and the airplanes taking off from the only runway fly right over the modest houses there.
“I’m really not worried about it,” Sells said. “I assume they’re all safe.”
Several other people who live along Coleman Road concurred, saying they have no fear of a Cessna suddenly coming through their ceiling.
“I’m sure there’s always that possibility,” said Lora Sampson, who’s lived on the 3300 block of North Coleman with her husband, Larry, for 22 years. “But we have faith in their ability to fly those things, and we always say a prayer for our local pilots and mechanics.”
Even though he’s seen several airplanes “belly-flop out on the field,” Kaufman said he doesn’t lose any sleep worrying about a plane crashing in his front yard.
“It’s probably about as safe as walking across the street these days,” he said.
Mac McIver of the state Department of Transportation said there’s no need for them to worry.
“In itself, flying is a pretty safe practice to begin with,” said McIver, the department’s manager of aeronautics programs. “And Felts has enjoyed an excellent safety record.”
Besides, he said, there’s not much more airport officials can do to make things safer.
“The airport’s just sits there,” McIver said. “It’s the pilots that make the difference.”
So far, so good.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 Photos (1 Color)
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Incidents at Felts Field While Felts Field enjoys a reputation as an extremely safe airport, it is not immune to airplane crashes and other accidents. In fact, the Spokane Valley airport is named after a pilot who died in a plane crash after taking off from the field in 1927. Since 1970, more than a dozen airplanes flying into or out of Felts have crashed or made forced landings. Following is a list of some of the accidents at Felts over the past 25 years: August 1995, a seaplane crashes near Upriver Dam; the four Montana residents on board suffer minor injuries. April 1993, a small plane skids off the southwest corner of the airport’s single runway; pilot and passenger suffer minor injuries. May 1992, for the second time in four years, Spokane charter pilot Charlie Thomas lands a plane with malfunctioning landing gear at Felts; he is unhurt. September 1992, police arrest the Rev. Ralph W. Beaty of Spokane for drunk driving, minutes after he lands a Cessna 172 at Felts Field; air traffic controllers had reported that Beaty’s landing was erratic. October 1988, Walter Berhalter makes a belly landing at Felts after the landing gear on his Cessna 177 malfunctions; he is unhurt. June 1987, two people die when a Beech Skipper airplane crashes near Havana and Upriver after taking off from Felts; killed are Ken Reusuilewicz, a flight instructor, and student pilot Mike Eckel. May 1988, two people steal a small plane from Felts Field, buzz houses around the airport and nearly crash after hitting a power pole in Millwood; no one is hurt and the bandits escape. August 1988, an unoccupied airplane tears across the runway at Felts and crashes into the Spokane River after the pilot gets out to check a mechanical problem; no one is hurt. February 1986, Bill Garske of Spokane escapes injury when he is forced to land at Felts Field without landing gear; a witness deems Garske’s gentle landing “a 10.” July 1985, Pete Anest belly-lands his Cessna 210 at Felts after the landing gear fails; no one is hurt. May 1985, three Spokane Valley men die when their light plane crashes into an empty gasoline tanker truck parked at 4000 E. Mission; the Beechcraft Bonanza had just taken off from Felts and was trying to return to the airport; killed are John McKay, John Cole and Jack Carpenter. December 1979, Spokane instructor pilot Kenneth Seay is forced to land at Felts with no landing gear; no one is hurt. September 1979, a Boise man suffers facial cuts when he crash lands a Cessna 337 Skymaster near Felts; Scott Lufkin told authorities he lost power to the engine before plowing into Waterworks Street at the west end of the field. June 1977, four Oregon residents die when a Piper Cherokee they are flying crashes while trying to land at Felts Field; the plane nose-dives into a grassy field just 50 yards from the intersection of Airport and Rutter streets. May 1970, a pilot and instructor crash land at Felts after their plane’s landing gear sticks; neither is hurt. Adam Lynn