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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAirport.Minutes.02-07-1995MINUTES AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD (AAB) FEBRUARY 7, 1995 Members present: Bill Walker, Chairman: Steve Nester, Dan Overby, Steve Robertson, Mike Wandrick Members absent: Alan Maki, J. Fred Waltz Others present Wayne Anders of Air Evac Aviation, Greg C'henowclh - Airport Manager 1 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 3: 10 p.m. II MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Board approved the minutes of the January 5, 1995 meeting as submitted. III OLD BUSINESS A. Air Traffic Control - Update. Staff informed the board that there have been no new developments on the tower contract program. Staff reported that no responses to inquiries to Congressional representatives have faun received at the time of the meeting. Chairman Walker asked if the "raw data" from the computer program supplied by the FAA has been downloaded for further analysis. Staff reported that it will be put onto a diskette as scan as possible Walker felt that something must be done in the firm of contacting the legislators to push the issue. He further stated that the strategy of proceeding through bureaucratic channels would not gel this issue resolved. He needed the above mentioned data for submittal to the congressional representatives. Ile did not feel that it should be left to the FAA to formulate projections of tower feasibility. He felt that other persons or organizations could do a much better job of this than could the FAA. This information would be of far greater impact and value to the legislators than the FAA's .,` Benefit/Cost QEC'i ratio. B. Airport Projects - Update Staff reported that the Fire Protection Water Main is essentially completed. Detail work such as grading and final acceptance will be completed most likely in late winter or early spring. Projects funded by the State Block Grant Program and slated for Summer 1995 construction are still in the planning stage. These projects include 11 Ramp reconstruction, 2) Ramp Construction, -1) Taxiway Construction, J) Recabling of Runway 1028 High Intensity Runway Lighting (HIRE) and associated electrical work in the electrical primary service and light vault station. Some problems had arisen in that the State agency responsible lot the funding administration and the Consulting Engineers had not been able to agree upon the language which would allow the engineering contract to be finalized. This step was reportedly near to a resolution and is required before the 90% plans can be submitted tar comment and ultimately allowing the final plans to be completed. Overby questioned whether a time line has been established for the actual construction work? Staff felt that if the planning is wrapped up within a month or so, construction would not begin until at least late June or July. Overby felt this would be an accurate aSSBStimcrt. Other projects that were discussed included the possibility of a Compass Rose and VOR Check Station being established somewhere on the airport. Staff full that these would be relatively easily accomplished projects. Board members suggested that City Surveyors could lay out the compass points for the Conifni, Rose for ultimate marking by airport staff. ht addition, staff could work with the local avionics shop and the FAA Airwav Facilities Field Sector Office in regards to establishing and aligning a VOR Check Station. A motion was made by Nester and seconded by Ovcrby that staff look into this possibility. The motion passed by unanimous vote. As a point of non -agenda business, the board then queried as to the Beech 18 salvaged aircraft unit sitting near the Mid States hangar. Staff reported they were of the understanding that it belonged to Cape Central Airways but was unsure as to whether or not there was an agreement with Mid States as to it remaining there. The board asked staff to look itno having it removed by the owner or what other options were available in regards to it and report at the next meeting. Minutes - Airport Advisory Board February 7. 1995 - Page E of 3 IV NEW BUSINESS A. Upcoming Events at the Airport - Informational The Board asked as to the status of the Balloon Festival. Staff was able to report that it was planned for mid to late July. From what was known at the time of the meeting, planning was coming along well. Staff would be attending upcoming planning meetings so as to be better acquainted with the festival events and could more adequately report at future meetings. A Board member asked whether the Blue Angels would be at the event this year. A negative response was offered. Another question was asked whether or not an ongoing application was submitted for obtaining such acts. Staff reported that it was their understanding that such applications were allowed on one year basis for each federal fiscal year (October I to September 31). Nothing was accepted by Dept of Defense (DOD) in advance of (hal. Staffofbered that the last application requested virtually all of the DOD aviation acts. Discussion turned to the fact (hal some acts required longer runways than are available in Cape. Chairman Walker asked Wayne Anders if, from his experience as a former military pilot. was Morrison Matting acceptable to the military as a run out ramp. His logic was that if this were acceptable, the runways could be temporarily extended thereby allowing for military traffic to use Cape that were not allowed at this tune due to runway length restrictions. Anders felt this was a good possibility. Staff then pointed out than the 500' of run out length required to create a 7,000' runway would possibly be getting into the MALSR lights. Unless these lights were constructed with very frangible mounting stands, there may be concerns or restrictions to this plan. Staff will look into the possibility and gel back to the board at a future meeting. B. Euplanement Figures for January 1995 - Informational Staff distributed and discussed the January enplanement figures. It was pointed out that the numbers were higher for TWE and the P&G shuttle but were down in the FBO column for an overall monthly enplanement decrease. Staff fell that this may have some basis in Air Evac still attempting to get established in the local market. Wayne Anders at this point offered a suggestion that some of the local coplanements were being picked up by other charter organizations in the region. He suggested that the airport begin asking these companies to submit their Cape enplanement figures. 'rhe Board then asked that staff contact these businesses and request their enplanement figures. The Board felt that emphasis should be stressed in that these enplanement figures are important to future funding of airport improvements - improvements that would be of benefit to these operators. Staff stated that it would gel with Anders within the week to obtain some names of companies that are fell to be capitalizing on the Cape airport. C. Air Traffic Report for Januar), 1995 - Informational Staff referred to the completed Airport Traffic Record ( FAA Form 7230-1) which accompanied their agenda packets. Some of the Board members had not seen copies of this report before - or at least in this format. Staff commented that this was included to allow the members to get an idea of what the air traffic was doing on a daily basis. It was pointed out that weekend figures were usually high as many recreational pilots are free during that time frame to fly. Correlations were made as to (lie low number associated with poor weather days, higher numbers to poor weather days in St. Louis which causes diversions to the Cape area, and the significantly higher numbers of IFR activity on poor weather days. Staff asserted that this form contained good information for determining and analyzing who was using the airport and at what times of the week and month. NON -AGENDA ITEMS Following the discussion of the Air Traffic Report, Mike Wandrick distributed a copy of a letter he had addressed to Mr. Doug Leslie, Ass( City Manager. The lever detailed Mr. Wandrick's feelings on the Contract Tower Program and how r" he felt that the City should be addressing the issue now instead of later. There was much discussion among the Board on this issue. Steve Robertson asserted that the loss of the tower night even be an asset to General Aviation traffic in that many G.A. pilots try m avoid a tower controlled field. No one else on the Board agreed with this statement and vocally expressed such dissimilarity. Minutes - Airport Advisory Board February 7, 1993 - Page 3 o1 3 Chairman Walker asked if anyone had anything else that they wished to discuss. Mr. Robertson asked about the Runway Restaurant. Ile inquired as to the hours that it was open. He expressed an opinion that the quality of air and ventilation could be improved upon to some degree in order to improve the usage of the facility. Staff advanced the contention that the food was not that disagreeable. Furthermore, in order to keep costs within maintainable limits, hours had been cut back slightly, the snack bar had been implemented and personnel staffing was being pared. Mr. Nester inquired as to whether P/I. statements were being generated. Staff responded in the affirmative. Staff mentioned that the P & L's were indicating that the deficit had been almost halved since December and that it was hoped that with the implementation of the Snack Bar, this would be halved again. It was suggested that continuing efforts should be put forth to solicit and find an organization in the private sector willing to lease and operate the restaurant. Mr. Robertson then inquired as to the computerized weather station equipment (ASOS) and whether or not it was functioning. He in particular wanted to know about the radio reporting feature of the equipment Start reported that it was in a test mode and only the phone reporting was available. Being in a test mode, the data from it was not FAA certified for use by pilots in actual flight. Reports on units that are already in use throughout the country were that the ASOS's were causing interference with other radio equipment on the airports. This along with a problem in how ceiling% are determined are causing the FAA to be hesitant in certifying the remaining units until the problems could be addressed. Robertson also asked about Ole Approach Lighting systems. He was concerned about the radio control of the differing steps. It was his understanding that the lights could be brightened by clicking the radio microphone. He asked if they could be inversely dimmed with a similar method. Staff and other Board members fell that this was the case. Robertson felt that the brightness of these lights were detrimental to runway lighting visibility upon approaches. Staff reported hearing something on this regarding either the approach lights or the runway lighting; whichever one it was, it was thought that this feature had been disabled to avoid such problems. Regardless, it would be looked into. rr Mr. Nester asked whether the CTAF 1119.00 mHz) or Unicom Geyuencv ( 122.95 mHz) was being monitored atter tower hours. Wayne Anders of Air Evac Aviation said that they were monitoring the Unicom. A question most as to where (lie airport was on establishing wind and altimeter readings for dissemination to pilots at night. Staff reported that they were working with FAA Airwav Facilities in getting the technical specs together to complete this work. Mr. Nester then mentioned that with the recent change in the name to a "Regional" Airport, that some consideration should be given to placing a member on the Board that would actually represent that Regional aspect. Staff reported that a current movement within the City Council was to pass a resolution assuring that all City Boards and Committees be comprised of strictly City residents and/or business owners. A motion was made and seconded that a suggestion be carried to the Council that the resident and property owner requirement he eliminated. After some discussion, that original motion was withdrawn in favor of a new motion made by Steve Nester, that this issue be discussed at the March 7, 1995 regular Board meeting at which tune the Board will meet with the City Council. The motion was seconded by Wandrick mid passed unanimously VI ADJOURNMENT The meeting was then adjourned at approximately G pm. Minutes prepared by Greg Chenoweth, CGI Airport Manager acting in the absence of Sandy Blount, CGI Administrative Secretary Minutes approved by Bill Walker, Chairman Airport Advisory Board Date