An
Analysis of the Necessity of a Heber Airport Master Plan
(planned
for FY 2017, beginning July 2016 at a proposed $300,000)
It
appears that the primary purpose of an Airport Master Plan is to
support the modernization or expansion of existing airports. This
expansion was already proposed ten years ago, and 'defeated' through
the opposition of local residents. However, the issue seems to be
in the process of rejuvenation.
104. FUNCTION OF MASTER PLAN STUDIES
a. Airport master plans are
prepared to support the modernization or expansion
of existing airports or the creation of a new airport. The
master plan is the sponsor’s strategy for the development of the
airport.
It
has now been declared this is a “safety upgrade” and NOT an
expansion by the (ADVISORY) Airport Board. This push is partly
rationalized as needed because jet operations are now exceeding the
'critical Design' factor of “500 annual operations”
Critical (Design) Aircraft – The
most demanding aircraft with at least 500 annual operations
that operates, or is expected to operate, at the airport.
Operation – The landing,
takeoff or touch-and-go procedure by an aircraft on a runway
at an airport.
By
way of explanation, ONE aircraft making ONE five minute flight, five
days a week would meet the 500 annual operation criteria.
Stated another way, ONE active jet can be used to justify
consideration of a $30 Million airport.
There
are less onerous, and expensive, studies that could accomplish any
needed purpose. It is unknown to this writer when the last Master
Plan was completed, but decade old attempt toward a CII operation
likely was introduced by a Master Plan of some type.
Pg 6 An airport master plan is a
comprehensive study of the airport and typically describes short-,
medium-, and long-term plans for airport development. Master planning
studies that address major revisions are commonly referred to as
“Master Plans,” while those that change only parts of the
existing document and require a relatively
low level of effort tend to be known as “Master Plan Updates.”
As to an update, a even less complex plan could be an appropriate
alternative. Under the recent situation of the $1 million plus
purchase of the Maverik property might have been accommodated through
an Airport Layout Plan Update to study the use of a displaced
threshold to create the desired runway safety area improved.
Airport Layout Plan Updates –
An update of the ALP drawing set
will reflect actual or planned modifications to the airport and
significant off airport development.
.
. .An ALP drawing set update is an appropriate
alternative to a full master plan
whenever the fundamental assumptions of the previous master plan have
not changed.
Pg 7 If there have not been any
major changes in airport activity or improvements that have had
unanticipated consequences, a
master plan update is not necessary. Another situation
where only an ALP update would be appropriate is the examination of a
single development item, such as runway safety area improvements.
Determining Type of Study –
Deciding whether the study in question will lead to a master plan
or to an ALP update largely determines the elements to be included
and the required level of effort. Even at this early stage of the
process, the airport sponsor and the FAA should be able jointly to
determine what type of study is appropriate. The sponsor usually will
not make decisions regarding specific variations on the basic study
type until the consultant has come on board. Although a master plan
study will always include a technical report and an airport layout
plan drawing set, supplemental products, which may often be related
to public outreach efforts, will usually be determined during the
scoping process.
Rather
than a STUDY of any possible safety solutions, Heber City simply
phoned the FAA who dismissed the idea with little consideration. The
result was the loss of a tax-paying business and the purchase of the
land to facilitate more weed growth, and the expense of $30,000
allocated tax money to determine a price.
Pg 17 The first task in a master
plan study, after the consultant receives a notice-to-proceed,
is the creation of a public involvement program
If,
or when, Heber opts to continue with the $300,000 study the public
will witness new promotions of the benefits of spending $30
MILLION tax dollars on
a new expanded CII airport. Most benefits, if any, will be
calculated using generous 'multiplier' effects. In reality some
benefits might accrue to VERY FEW individuals or businesses.
What
type is Heber 36U? One report says “regional.” As the table
included in the footnotes demonstrates, it is a very small operation.
This reference indicates not much of study should be required for an
entity of this size:
Pg 42 3) General Aviation and
Reliever Airports
Where the 5- or 10-year forecasts
exceed 100,000 total annual operations or 100 based aircraft:
a) Forecasts differ by less than 10
percent in the 5-year forecast and 15 percent in the 10-year period,
or
b) Forecasts do not affect the
timing or scale of an airport project, or
Forecasts do not affect the
role of the airport as defined in the current version of FAA Order
5090.3, Field Formulation of the National Plan of Integrated
Airport Systems.
When
the 5- or 10-year forecast is for less than 100,000 total annual
operations or 100 based aircraft, the forecast does not need to be
reviewed at FAA Headquarters, but the data should be
provided to the FAA for the annual update of the TAF.
AFTER
the Master Plan (to support) has begun the public will be brought in
to express their “concerns” I would suggest the appropriate time
to express those concerns is BEFORE the $300K Master Plan is ever
begun.
401. TIMING Public involvement has
its greatest impact during the early stages of the planning process,
before irreversible decisions have been made and while many
alternatives can be considered. When the stakeholders become involved
before major decisions or commitments are made, the planners can
better deal with issues of community concern and improve the chances
of reaching a consensus on controversial matters. If stakeholders
become aware that the important decisions were made before they were
invited to participate, they may distrust the planners. In addition,
when public involvement opportunities are not provided until late in
the planning process, there may not be enough time to make
significant changes. The tendency, instead, will be for planners to
merely defend previously determined courses of action, rather than
exploring any new alternatives. An effective public involvement
program will usually avoid such an undesirable outcome.
Propaganda
meetings will come with push polls, etc. finance with the Master Plan
expansion promotion (The public can give them some opinions up
front! Ipetitions.com Heber Airport)
Pg 79 The emphasis
in airport planning is normally on the expansion and
improvement of existing airports
Pg 123 Information on the future
airport expansion and improvement contained in an airport master plan
should be incorporated into the development of comprehensive land use
plans to ensure land use compatibility around airports.
Data Effective Date: 02/04/2016
http://www.gcr1.com/5010Web/airport.cfm?Site=36U&AptSecNum=2
Based Aircraft
|
Single Engine (SE):
|
69
|
|
Multi Engine (ME):
|
4
|
Jet (J):
|
7
|
TOTAL FIXED WING:
(SE + ME + J)
|
80
|
Helicopters:
|
2
|
Gliders:
|
16
|
Military:
|
0
|
Ultra-Light:
|
0
|
|
|
Operations
|
Air Carrier:
|
0
|
|
Air Taxi:
|
1,550
|
General Aviation Local:
|
6,814
|
General Aviation Itinerant:
|
11,104
|
Military:
|
0
|
TOTAL OPERATIONS:
|
19,468
|
Operations for 12 Months Ending: 01/01/2012
|
