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FAA QuestionsFred, I have reviewed your list of questions to the FAA and have one general comment before offering specific comments on each specific item. Have you discussed the nature of the questions that Gary will be willing to respond to? I’m concerned that Gary may have reservations responding to some of the “generalized” questions. You may want to ask much more specific questions that Gary can answer without subjective opinion but based on FAA rules, regulations or requirements. Question 1 is difficult to respond to because of FAA design standards and other airport criteria. What design standard are you basing this off of (A-I, B-I, B-II)? What weight of aircraft? Less than 12,500 pounds? Greater than 12,500 pounds? What approach visibility minimums? I think you need to clearly define the scope of questioning related to design standards. I think you need to first ask question 2 to establish what the FAA will support as far as design standards. Perhaps a more suitable question could be framed in this manner: Development: The Kalispell City Airport does not quite meet ARC B-I design standards. Key issues that we are aware of are the RPZs, taxiway-runway separation, taxiway width, and object free areas. 1. Would the FAA support improvements at the Kalispell City Airport to improve the facility in compliance with B-I design standards? 2. Would the FAA support RPZs for small aircraft exclusively and visual approaches (250’ x 450’ x 1,000’)? 3. Would the FAA support planning, land acquisition, and development of a runway length that accommodates 75% of the GA fleet? 95% of the GA fleet? 4. Would the FAA support planning for less restrictive airspace (FAR Part 77) requirements based on a utility (<12,500 pounds), visual runway? 5. What are the minimum design standards and/or requirements that the FAA would support at Kalispell City Airport? Funding: The City of Kalispell has expended considerable local funds (in excess of $3 million) for land acquisition and improvements at the Airport in anticipation of future FAA funding. 6. Is the City’s eligibility to receive Federal reimbursement for past expenditures contingent solely on the removal of the KGEZ radio towers? Are there any other obligations or conditions the City would need to meet to receive Federal reimbursement for past expenditures? 7. Assuming the KGEZ towers are successfully removed, would the FAA be able to begin funding the reimbursement to the City for past expenditures at the airport? If so, how much could the City expect each year? 8. Will the FAA require that the City complete the proposed runway improvements at the airport before they will reimburse for expenditures already incurred by the City? 9. Could you lay out a plausible scenario on the time frame and the amount of available funding that would be required to proceed with the proposed improvements at the airport? Tower removal, EA, land acquisition, design, construction phasing, reimbursement for past expenditures? 10. If the City decides to postpone improvements at this time, is there any risk of losing FAA support at this facility in the future? Grant Assurances: There is some general concern in the community that the City of Kalispell will lose control of the airport to the FAA by accepting Federal funding and agreeing to grant assurances. 11. Could you explain about the purpose of the grant assurances and how they affect the City’s control of the airport? 12. By accepting the grant assurances, does the FAA gain in kind of operational jurisdiction at the airport? 13. Could you elaborate on a few of the grant assurances that do impact how the City will be required to operate the airport? 14. By accepting the grant assurances, can the city limit the use of the airport either by the type of aircraft or times of operation? Environmental Assessment: There has been some criticism in the community that the original EA was a boiler plate document which did not adequately address the issues at the airport and the needs of the community. 15. What requirements or policy is required by the FAA for completion of the EA? 16. Can the City customize or curtail the EA to evaluate issues specific to the Kalispell City Airport? 17. Will a revised noise study be required? 18. Will a revised site selection study be required? 19. Will the FAA fund the EA? Land Acquisition: We have reason to believe that one of the key property acquisitions needed for the project may require condemnation. 20. Does the FAA support condemnation and under what conditions? 21. The City has never condemned land before and does not desire to do so at this time. Would the FAA support alternatives to the proposed development that would minimize controversial land acquisition requirements ? 22. The City has made some preliminary contact with landowners whose property is needed for the project. Is there any issue or risk in having land discussions with key landowner prior to completion of the EA? 23. Will the FAA support funding of land costs that exceed appraised value in an effort to avoid condemnation? I have added several specific questions to your list that I think need to be asked to the FAA. You may want to think about using the topic based format as I think it is easier to follow than jumping around to different topics. There may be a better order for asking questions than what I put together. The idea is to educate the observer step by step through the process. I would suggest starting the following order: 1. Grant Assurances – Why get into bed with the FAA 2. Funding – What do we gain by getting into bed with the FAA 3. EA – Really the first step in the process 4. Development – What options do we have 5. Land Acquisition – We have issues that may be difficult Can you take this list from here and modify it as you see fit? Will you forward it off to Gary. I’ve cc’d Mitch with this list as he may have some input also. Thanks Jeff Walla, PE Stelling Engineers, Inc. 1372 Airport Road Kalispell, MT 59901 phone: 406-755-8602 fax: 406-755-8710 email: jwalla@stellinginc.com <mailto:jwalla@jwalla@stellinginc.com>