AM radio towers1
Pati Heath
From:Chris Kukulski [ckukulski@kalispell.com]
Sent:Tuesday, April 08, 2003 12:14 PM
To:pheath@kalispell.com
Cc:charball@kalispell.com
Subject:FW: Kalispell City Airport, AM radio towers
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary.Gates@faa.gov [mailto:Gary.Gates@faa.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 10:28 AM
To: ckukulski@kalispell.com
Cc: phil@rpa-hln.com; David.Field@faa.gov; James.Riley@faa.gov; Dave.Stelling@faa.gov;
leistiko@digisys.net
Subject: Kalispell City Airport, AM radio towers
Chris-
I had received a call from Fred Leistiko last week regarding the AM radio towers located
south of the Kalispell City Airport. Fred advised that he had spoken to James Riley, an
airspace specialist with our Air Traffic office in Renton, WA. He also said that the AM
radio station owner had called James regarding the status of an FAA determination that
was made with respect to the radio towers and adjacent airport airspace that we had issued
to the City of Kalispell January 27, 2000.
An airspace study was conducted by the FAA (Airports Division) as airspace case no. 99-
HLN-0023-NRA. The study was initiated by the Helena Airports District Office in order to
determine any potential issues with respect to the adjacent airspace as part of the
Airport Master Plan study and Airport Layout Plan Update that was concluded in 1999 to
study proposed development at the airport. The study was coordinated and comments were
received from FAA Air Traffic Office, Flight Procedures and Flight Standards. Our
determination, in summary, stated that we would object to any development funded under AIP
unless the towers were removed or relocated. That is still a condition of our funding
involvement with the city airport.
In the past we have also discussed the possibility of the tower removal being funded in
part under AIP. We would support funding through AIP of the physical removal or
demolition of the structures that are an obstruction to the adjacent airport subject to
availability of federal funding. Our understanding is that the city and MT State Highway
Dept. are currently negotiating a means of disposition with the radio station, which may
include removal or relocation of the entire radio facility including the adjacent
building. Please keep us informed as to the status of the tower removal and development
plans at the city airport so that we can discuss your funding needs and schedule of
proposed development.
-Gary Gates
FAA, Helena Airports District Office.