BISBEE — NTMA, a nonprofit missionary organization that trains pilots and aircraft mechanics, is asking the Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission to approve a modification of the existing special-use permit to boost the number of planes that can be permanently headquartered at the installation on the 640-acre plot on Davis Road just outside of McNeal.

The facility, formerly a World War II training site for pilots and mechanics, is currently restricted to six planes, and New Tribes Mission Aviation chairman Tim Sanford wants to increase that number to nine. He also wants approval for a helicopter to be based there.

Sanford says in his application for the modification, “Due to changes worldwide that affect our international flight programs, we have seen the need to include helicopters in our fleet as well as upgrade our present fixed-wing fleet of aircraft. This necessitates a training helicopter located at our McNeal facility to properly prepare our pilots. We would also like the flexibility of an increased amount of aircraft so that as we transition from our present aircraft to newer models, we will be able to make that transition without considerable restriction to our operations.”

This transition from old aircraft to new is expected to take 10 to 15 years, he adds.

But, some in the community are opposed to increasing the number of aircraft and to the permanent stationing of a helicopter. Also cited in the opposition letters were claims that aircraft regularly flew over and around McNeal School, sometimes very low, often 10 or more times per hour, five or six hours at a time.

McNeal resident Mike Jackson states he had a meeting with NTMA representatives who did acknowledge that some flights did fly toward, around and over McNeal School.

Jackson continued, “Also, management said such flights use a runway that’s not even on the map of flight plans that were approved back in 1991.”

The organization’s first special-use permit was granted in 1991, which set a limit on aircraft and approved runways. At the time, helicopters were not mentioned. But, planning and zoning staff have determined that helicopters are not fixed-wing aircraft and therefore need to be included in the special use permit modification.

Others in the small community have no problem with NTMA. Kathryn and Ray Squires, who live close to the airstrip write, “... We have never been bothered by any noise from the planes at NTMA ... The staff at NTMA have been a beneficial asset to our McNeal community...”

Planning and zoning staff have recommended approval with conditions.

James A. Schmidt II of Dragoon also has requested a special-use permit to allow a home business of repairing and servicing firearms that are shipped to his residence. The gunsmithing would occur within a small, existing building on the property. He does need to test the weapons after repair and says that can be done on his private shooting range. Bird cannons, which use loud reports to scare away birds that want to feast on the pecans, will also be repaired and tested on site.

Schmidt has received substantial support of his request from residents in the rural area.

Planning staff recommends approval with conditions.

Commission members will determine four other requests for special use permits. They include:

• Stardance Yachts, 4066 Monsanto Drive, final assembly of pre-manufactured solar-powered yacht components in Sierra Vista.

• Jon and Charmayne Samuelson, 7101 E. White Pacheo St., to establish a birder’s bed-and-breakfast in Dos Cabesos.

• Edwin Hallman, 6136 E. Central Ave., for a contractor’s storage yard for an existing gutter business in Sierra Vista.

Two items which were tabled at the request of the applicants were requests by Clipper Windpower to install two meteorological towers and an unnamed request for a rezoning in Palominas.

The Planning and Zoning Commission meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday in the supervisors’ public meeting room at the county complex on Melody Lane.

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