Airport User Groups & Crosswind Runway Ineligibility by Kyle Lewis
Regional Manager Airports & State Advocacy • Great Lakes Region Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
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Kyle Lewis
n a recent column I spoke of the importance of a local airport pilot or tenant association or user groups. These local groups are very important to the continued viability of any airport, and the planning decisions being made for the long term. Continuing in that theme, let’s focus on the specific duties and interactions that a group like this may undertake. As discussed, prior, the design of these groups can be structured across the spectrum from informal to formal. No matter what the structure really is, the key to success is finding a positive dialogue with airport management. In some cases, the airport management is a contracted FBO, or it may be a municipal run airport with city or county employees managing the day-to-day operations. In my experience, and this comes from discussions with airport managers at airports of all sizes, a local support group is WANTED! Airport managers rely on these support groups to be the positive influence at an airport. Negativity is not needed, and really does no one any good at all. Trust me, the bad needs to be aired, but there is a way to do it that provides a positive result. So, you are a member of one these local support groups. What should that group be doing? Here is the laundry list, and we will discuss it in some detail: • Be actively engaged in promoting the airport to the community. • Interact with airport management and/or FBO personnel. • Take part in airport planning committees. • Create an inviting community for new pilots or new tenants. • Have a mission or goal for the support group to accomplish. The above items are mostly self-explanatory. However,
there are two items that are very important – not just for the airport, but for the group itself: 1) Promoting the airport to the community. This by far is the most important tool that an airport has. Noise complaints, perception issues, growth, and a negative drumbeat against the airport can all be dismayed by opening the doors and gates to the public and literally changing hearts and minds. 2) The mission or goal of the airport group can go handin-hand with promoting the airport. Airport managers want to show off the airport to the community, but in many cases, he or she is a staff of one, maybe two. They need help! A local user’s group is the perfect way to organize an airport open house, community day, fly-in, food truck rally... well, you get the idea. There is always a way to make the public feel welcome and to want to be part of the airport. When the citizens are on the side of the airport, so follows the politics and the well-being of an airport. Regional Airport Advocacy & Legislative News An issue that has been percolating at a few airports over the last couple of years is becoming much more prevalent within the region – crosswind runway ineligibility. Dozens of airport sponsors across the region are facing tough planning decisions. FAA Airport Improvement Plan (AIP) discretionary funding is competitive and the FAA, along with airport sponsor input, must spend these dollars in the most effective way possible. The FAA is looking closely at additional and crosswind runway eligibility based on wind studies at specific airports. This usually coincides with a master plan update, airport layout plan (ALP) update, or a specific project under consideration. In short, an additional or crosswind runway is recommended only when the wind coverage for a primary runway falls outside of 95 percent coverage. The specific operational situation at the given airport will dictate what timeframes (day or night) the wind velocity and direction are observed for data collection. Other factors used for eligibility are operational data. If the primary runway wind coverage is at or above the 95 percent, the FAA deems the crosswind or additional runway to be ineligible for FAA AIP funding. What does this mean? If ineligible for FAA AIP funding, any rehabilitation, reconstruction, obstruction removal, marking, lighting, etc. will be at the discretion of the local sponsor to fund. With runway rehabilitation running easily into the millions of dollars, airport sponsors are electing to let the useful life of the runway pavement end and then close the runway. The property the runway occupies may open more land for aeronautical use development, such as hangars,
DECEMBER 2021/JANUARY 2022 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE 19
