By Mary Alice Murphy

The Grant County Commission, at its November work session on Nov. 10, 2015, heard a presentation from W.H. Pacific on the Grant County Airport Action Plan.

Wendy Ranier of W.H. Pacific presented the comprehensive draft of the Airport Action Plan Study and the Airport Layout Plan to the commissioners.

"We hope to get the final comments within the next few weeks, so we can put them into the final plan," Ranier said. "The purpose of the study was to update the plan Grant County has had for many years. The update can be for five to 10 years or longer term. It is to redefine the vision for the airport for the future. It also responds to the changes in the general aviation industry. Enplanements are down; production and flying activity are also down. With the Planning Advisory Council, we looked at facility needs, did an inventory 'snapshot' of the Grant County Airport, and will provide an implementation plan. We have prepared a projection for your airport."

She said one need was the change several things to meet current Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. Ranier said it was necessary to plan the goals, which included enhancing the safety and security, protecting the investment and promoting economic growth.

She noted that General Aviation, which excludes only commercial flights, is growing fastest in business aircraft. "You can have a small commercial runway and a runway for business aircraft. We expect you, with Boutique Air, to recover to stable enplanements. We project a small increase in operations."

Ranier explained the airport reference code, which in the case of the Grant County Airport begins with B II, drives the design features. "We are pushing you to upgrade from B II to C III for Forest Service aircraft. Our goal is to provide documentation to the FAA for an upgrade."

Having received input from the Airport Planning Council, Ranier said needs expressed included addition hangars, an additional runway, a paved downwind runway and terminal improvements. A new runway would be required to be moved northward to provide safety areas to meet new FAA design standards. A new runway cannot overlap another runway.

"The FAA never changed the approach for the instrument approach," Ranier said. "We posed the question. We wanted to let you know that you do not have enough safety protection."

Ranier introduced her colleague, who was named Beth, but never introduced herself.

Beth said $5.6 million would carry the airport through 2019, with the highest priority being the reconstruction of runway 8-26 during the 2017 fiscal year. She said the PAPI (precision approach path indicator) needs replacing and the AWAS went out. She said there were taxiways of concern and the suggestion is to remove some and construct some new ones so the airport stays in compliance and the FAA continues to fund it.

She noted the terminal must be made ADA compliant. "We review the Capital Improvement Plan yearly. Long term in Phase 2, you need to update utility access, develop a T-hangar area and bring in water and utility. You have a three-year cycle for maintenance. You need a wildlife hazard assessment, as well as ways to mitigate it. To develop runway 13-31, you will need an environmental assessment. For 10 years, you need $6.4 million just for maintenance and compliance. The new runway 13-31 and taxiways will cost over $15 million in 2015 dollars. That's a rough estimate for planning purposes."

Ranier explained the layout plan and the detailed drawing set she had provided to commissioners. "It has to be on the Airport Layout Plan so the FAA can see it there. The future runway has to be air-spaced to make sure there are no issues with obstacles. The county must approved the airport layout drawing, as it is the FAA's main tool. For the airspace, you have to have land management."

Commissioner Ron Hall noted that federal funding fluctuates. Beth said FAA funds are dedicated and "we determine overall funding objectives several years out. When the county and the state have the money, the federal funding is already in place."

"Would we ever have to close the airport?" Hall asked.

"We work closely with the FAA, so nothing will happen to close it," Beth said.

Ranier noted that the FAA is not convinced of the need for an upgrade. "Even though the Forest Service says it needs an upgraded runway, the FAA is not convinced it cannot use another airport. The Forest Service says this is the best one for their needs."

Jamie Lucero of the New Mexico Aviation Division said she works with the airports and the FAA. "I will never commit you to a project until the funding is in place."

The next article will continue with the work session.