PA20 PLT PERCEIVES DEFICIENCIES WITH INFRASTRUCTURE; VEHICLE TFC; AND VARIOUS EQUIP AT ATY.

Narrative

THE PARKING RAMP AT WATERTOWN MUNICIPAL ARPT; WATERTOWN; SD; A NON TWRED ARPT; IS DIVIDED BY A SMALL AIRLINE TERMINAL AND PARKING AREA. A SMALL FBO RAMP WITH TELEPHONE IS AT THE SE END; AND A LARGER TIE-DOWN AND HANGAR AREA IS AT THE NW END. THE ONLY EXIT FROM THE FIELD; WHEN THE ARPT IS NOT ATTENDED IS AT THE NW END. IT IS A SURPRISE ONE-WAY TRAP THAT SEPARATES THE UNFORTUNATE ONES FROM THEIR ACFT; CARGO; AND PAX. THERE IS NO WAY BACK. THE NEAREST PUBLIC TELEPHONE IS 2-3 MI AWAY. ALSO TO GET TO THE SURPRISE ONE WAY EXIT FROM THE FBO; ONE MUST CROSS A HAZARDOUS SUPPOSED SECURE AIRLINE PARKING AREA. WINTER TEMPS ARE COMMONLY 0 DEGS TO -30 DEGS F. THERE IS NO WATER AVAILABLE ON THE ARPT. SAFETY IS BEING COMPROMISED BY PLTS FLYING DIRTY ACFT WITH DIRTY WINDOWS. THE WINDSOCK ON THE NW RAMP WAS SHREDDED AND UNRELIABLE; NOW MISSING. THERE ARE UNLIGHTED AND UNMARKED MOTORIZED HUNTING VEHICLES OPERATED AT UNSAFE SPDS NEAR PARKED AND MOVING ACFT AT THIS ARPT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR ADVISED THAT HE FLEW INTO THE ARPT LATE AT NIGHT AFTER THE FBO WAS CLOSED AND CERTAIN ROADS WERE CLOSED FOR SECURITY REASONS. RPTR STATED THAT THE UNLIT; UNMARKED VEHICLES BELONGED TO EMPLOYEES LEAVING THE FBO. RPTR ADVISED THAT THE WINDSOCK BY THE RWY IS IN GOOD CONDITION. RPTR SAID THAT HE FEELS THAT THE ARPT IS TRYING TO 'SQUEEZE OUT THE LITTLE GUYS' AND ONLY WANTS TO SERVE COMMERCIAL AND AIRLINE TFC.