No Aircraft
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 0; Flight Crew Total 65; Flight Crew Type 65
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Airport
The rotating beacon light at Gansner Field; Quincy; CA; is completely non-operational at night; for about 3 months now. The green light portion has been non-operational for 2 years before that (only the white portion was working). Airport personnel and several county supervisors are not treating this issue with any concern or haste; and I feel they do not know the extent of the hazard created by not maintaining the beacon properly. The nearest airports to Gansner field are in Beckworth; CA; Chester; CA; or Susanville; CA; with a very large area of unlit national forest and the northern Sierra Nevada mountains around the airport. There are not many lit ground references in the area for orientation or navigation. The airport is a vital facility which was just proven by its use as a fire fighting helibase twice in the last 2 months (while there was no operational beacon light) for the local forest fires. In contacting the airport maintenance man; I was told the tower is too rickety to climb safely. In contacting the airport management; I was told they don't have funds for tower structure repairs. In contacting the county supervisors; I was told I could attend the board meeting to bring the matter to the board's attention. I told them I'd like to attend to hear how quickly they have repaired the beacon light and tower. In other words; I am at wit's end and have turned to this forum. I hope you can get some results to get the rotating beacon operational again.
A pilot reported the Gansner Field (2O1) rotating beacon is non-operational at night.