07-08-98 Airport MinutesCity of Kalispell
AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD
Minutes from July 8, 1998 Meeting
The meeting began at 4.-00 p.m. Present were: Mike Baker and Kathy Kuhlin (staff), Gib Bissell, Fred
Leistiko, Keith Robinson, Art Thompson, and Torn Weaver.
Fly -In could have as many as 600 planes. Discussion is held regarding places to park planes.
Diamond Air and Eagle Aviation will help with transportation, along with Becky Kerr from Big Sky
Rides, who will drive her horse drawn carriage back and forth three tunes a day. The Control Tower
will try to sort out who will be camping and who will not. Dave Downey, Gib, and some others will
be painting lines beginning tomorrow. Mowing of the soccer field will begin tomorrow morning.
Dumpsters will be coming on Wednesday along with the Porta Potties. water and drinks will be
provided. Tickets were distributed today. There should be about 800 people at the barbeque on
Friday at Lion's Park with Dr. David Brown, shuttle pilot and NASA astronaut and at the banquet
on Saturday at the outlaw Inn with victor Belenko (he flew his Mig 25 Foxbat from the Soviet Union
to Japan to defect front Russia). There will be fly-bys all weekend, Glacier Street Rods, and an F-15
may come from St. Louis. The tower is a contracted air force tower manned by the FAA. There will
also be available a Command Post Winnebago vehicle.
The Disaster and Emergency Services office, as well as the County Sheriff and City Police and Fire
officials are all apprized of the event. The Fire Department is loaning 5--6 walkie talkies. Mike Baker
asked Kathy to send a memo to dispatch to ask them to leave the City frequency on for Friday,
Saturday. and Sunday.
The Civil Air Patrol will park the airplanes. The National Guard is putting up tents and Gib's A-
Frame is the weather station.
Fred Leistiko has been working on the VASI lights and gave an update along with a handout. After
some discussion, the board decided it would be best to wait until after the FAA decision on the
Master Plan as to what they are wanting to do. It may be best to consider the Precision Approach
Path Indicator (PAPI) system.
Art updated everyone on the budget hearing Monday night. Art talked about how they had discussed
hiring a part-time manager and fencing. The board discussed the need for fencing. Tom weaver was
concerned that we need to keep the airport accessible. Mike Baker asked Gib if he would call the
State and see if they have any airport boundary signs. (Note: Gib called the State on Thursday, and
there are 15 signs being brought to Kalispell on Tuesday by the FAA.) Mike mentioned that the
Morrison-Maierle Pilot Survey had been mailed out. Keith suggested they have a pilot survey during
the Fly -In, asking for pilot input as to the Kalispell City Airport. Gib suggested there be an easel and
Airport Advison- Board
July 8, 1998
Page Two
an information booth set up with the blue prints from Peccia, showing "the proposed improvements
for the Kalispell City Airport." Kathy will do a poster for the easel and type the questionnaire.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
The next regular meeting wi i be Wednesday, August 12, 1998 at 4:00 p.m.
Kathy Kuhlin
Recording Secretary
VASI IN S TALLATI oN UPDATE
July 8, 1998
Kalispell City Airport (S27)
Contacts and responses:
1. Monte Eliaso APIAirport er
Referred us to the FAA maintenance personnel who maintain GPI navaids.
2. Jim FAA Navaid Maintenance
Mr. Ulm would not look at our VAST without approval from his headquarters, due
to the potential liability involved. He is going to ask his supervisor if he can do a courtesy
check of the equipment as a public relations gesture.
3. Clint white Lake Coup rt Board Polson
The Lake County Airport VASI was disconnected in 1991 because of its high
maintenance and operational. costs. Lake County has an approved FAA upgrade ($1.7M)
of their airport that will begin this year and will include a new PAPI. He said he would
have given us his old VASI if he had known we were in the market for one.
4. viaueeen Sweenev. Lake Counter Courthouse
She pays the bills for the airport. She verified the VASI was shut down due to
high maintenance costs. She remenmhers the electrical bills being around $ 3 00 per month.
5. Nick PonceletRocky Mountain. Aviation, GPI
Mr. Poncelet did the maintenance work on the Lake County NDB and VASI. He
is currently working on a repair to the Libby PAPI. He estimates the annual repair and
maintenance costs for a VASI like ours would be $2500, plus, the electrical bill for the
pilot controlled runway lights would double because the VASI would be connected to that
system. He stated that the light bins are now a special order item because of the age of
the system.. His estimate for a certified instahatlon would be around $15,000 for a VASI
on one end of the runway. This would be offset by any free services we would receive
from Jackola Engineering or NUPAC.
6. Fred B croft Senior Sales M er ADB-Alnaco Inc. Columbus Ohio
ADB is the OEM for the VASI system we have. Mr. Bycroft sent me an
instruction manual on the generic VASI system. He stated that our system is old and
obsolete but could be put into operation, The VASI systems have been replaced in favor
of the PAPI system at most airports nationwide. The PAPI is a low maintenance and low
operational cost system.
7. Rick Wurscher, Customer Representative for the FAA
See attached internet communications with Mr. wurscher. We had a couple
conversations on the telephone. He dropped off the packages he mentioned last week.
8. Jacko la EnRineerin. -Co.,
Michael is waiting for our response to the recent research information. He will do
whatever he legally can to assist us with whatever insulation we choose.
Attached:
AIM Part 2: Description of VASI
FAA Advisory Circular I50/5340-26, Section 7: VASI System Preventive Maintenance
Inspection Procedures.
CONCLUSIONS:
I . Kalispell City Airport could receive a new PAPI installation with the airport upgrade
now under consideration.
2. To attempt installation of this obsolete system, at this time, would not be the best use
of any funds available.
3. I recommend we do nothing about the VASI installation until the airport review has
been completed by the FAA, and they have decided on their course of action.
Respectfully submitted,
Fred A. Lei.stiko
Airport Advisory Board