TOC & IntroductionCITY OF KALISPELL
FINAL DRAFT
PHASE I - MASTER PLAN STUDY
AIRPORT FEASIBILITY STUDY
Morrison-Maierle, Inc.
910 Helena Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
January 1999
Kalispell City Airport Feasibility Study January 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION.............................................................I
AIRPORT HISTORY AND SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS STUDIES ..................... 1
SUMMARY OF ISSUES ....................................................... 3
IssueNumber .........................................................3
IssueNumber .........................................................4
CHAPTER ONE - INVENTORY ................................... .............. 5
EXISTING FACILITIES..................................................5
RUNWAY LENGTH .....................................................
6
DESIGN STANDARDS ..................................................
6
LAND USE AND ZONING ...............................................
8
GROUND ACCESS, CIRCULATION AND PARKING .........................
9
AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT ..........................................
10
METEOROLOGICAL DATA .............................................
10
AVIATION ACTIVITY, SOCIO-ECONOMIC, AND DEMOGRAPHIC DATA.....
12
CHAPTER TWO - FORECASTS ................................................ 15
FORECASTS..........................................................15
CHAPTER THREE - FEASIBILITY STUDY ...................................... 18
THROUGH THE FENCE OPERATIONS ................................... 18
AM TOWERS EVALUATION ............................................ 19
AIRSPACE ANALYSIS.................................................23
LAND ACQUISITION..................................................24
COST ESTIMATES .................................................... 25
Noise..........................................................28
Compatible Land Use ............................................. 30
Social Impacts...................................................32
Induced Socio-Economic Impacts .................................... 32
Air Quality......................................................33
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................... 40
Kalispell City Airport Feasibility Study January 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont'd)
APPENDIXES
Appendix A - Tower Report (Vir James)
Appendix B - Land Values
Annex B-I Property Map
Annex B-2 Roger Jacobson Report, dated 30 July 1998
Annex B-3 Roger Jacobson Report, dated 31 August 1998
Annex B-4 Engineers Opinion of Land Required
Appendix C - Cost Estimates
Appendix D - Airport Layout Drawings
Appendix E - Airport Master Record
Appendix F - Correspondence with the Federal Aviation Administration
Annex F-1 Letter from Dave Gabbert, dated 21 February 1997
Annex F-2 Letter to Dave Gabbert, dated 3 October 1998
Annex F-3 Letter from Dave Gabbert, dated 8 October 1998
Appendix G - FAA Airport Design Standards
Annex G-1 Design Standards for a B-I Airport
Annex G-2 Design Standards for a B-II Airport
Annex G-3 Runway Length Requirements
Appendix H - Pilot Survey Results Summary
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Summary of Tower Alternatives .................................... 4
Table 2 - Baseline Summary ............................................... 5
Table 3 - Forecast Air Operations ........................................... 5
Table 4 - Forecast Based Aircraft ........................................... 4
Table 5 - Uniform Act Reimbursable and Non -reimbursable Expenses ............. 5
Table 6 - Summary of Initial Development Costs ............................... 5
Table 7 - Summary of Environmental Impacts ................................ 15
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Kalispell City Airport Feasibility Study January 1999
KALISPELL CITY AIRPORT MASTER PLAN
FEASIBILITY STUDY
INTRODUCTION
The City of Kalispell has retained the services of Morrison-Maierle, Inc., to conduct an two-
phase airport master plan study. The first phase is a feasibility level study to compare the cost of
upgrading the existing airport to a B-II Utility Airport with the costs of developing a B-II Utility
Airport at a "generic" site near the City of Kalispell. Phase II of the master plan study is to be the
"classic" master plan report as outlined in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular
(AC) 150/5070-6A Airport Master Plans.
Phase I was to address issues surrounding the KGEZ radio towers, an airspace analysis,
forecasts of future aviation demand, land acquisition costs, cost estimates, and finally an
environmental overview. Phase I ends after completion of a public meeting to obtain input from
interested parties and to present findings.
This report is organized so that only those items specifically required under the terms of the
contract are addressed as part of this study. Paragraphs highlighted in bold -face print are reproduced
verbatim from the contract. This was done to provide guidance to the reader as to what was required
as a part of this study and to focus the report.
AIRPORT HISTORY AND SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS STUDIES
The Kalispell City Airport has been the focus of three different studies within the last twenty
years. The first was the "Mini Master Plan" prepared by T.A.P., Inc, Aviation Consultants of
Bozeman, Montana in 1979 for the Kalispell Airport Association. The second study was the Airport
Neighborhood Plan , City of Kalispell, Amendment to the Kalispell City -County Master Plan
prepared by Montana Planning Consultants, of Kalispell, Montana in 1993. The final study was the
Kalispell City Airport/Athletic Complex Redevelopment Plan Analysis in 1996 by the Kalispell
Planning, Economic & Community Development Office.
The earliest recorded aircraft activity was in June 1911 when Eugene Ely flew from the
county fairgrounds in a Curtis bi-plane. ' In 1928 the City of Kalispell purchased 135 acres
southeast of town to establish a municipal airport2. Public use of the airport has continued
uninterrupted except for a short time in the 1950's when the airport was closed.
'Kalispell Mini -Master Plan; TAP, Inc; October 1979; page 1-1.
2Kalispell City Airport/Athletic Complex Redevelopment Plan; Kalispell Planning, Economic, and
Community Development Office; February 1996; page 1.
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Kalispell City Airport Feasibility Study January 1999
In early 1966, a group of airport users and concerned businessmen formed the Kalispell
Airport Association which then took a lease on the airport and organized and oversaw its
revitalization. Prior to the revitalization, the primary use of the airport was as a convenience strip
with few permanently based aircraft. After the revitalization, more and more planes based at
Kalispell City Airport, until 1979 when there were 60 to 65 aircraft were based there.
The 1979 TAP "Mini -Master Plan" outlined nine recommendations that are reproduced here':
Revise as necessary and adopt airport rules and regulations printed in their report.
Appoint an airport manager.
Overlay Runway 13-31 with a 2" asphaltic mat in 1980
4. The City (and the Association) should revise or amend the airport lease agreement
for the mutual benefit of both parties, and to better reflect the airport changes which
have occurred since 1966. This revision or amendment could be made at any rather
than wait for the lease expiration date 1985.
Proceed with land acquisition of some 9 acres on the southeast end of the airport.
Secure an easement for the future clear zone on the southeast end.
7. Proceed with the development schedule for construction of the items recommended
in that plan.
8. Upon completion of new paved aprons, assign the tie -down spaces and commence
with the rates and rates and charges schedule as set forth in the plan.
9. Make certain all airport land lease income and land sales revenue are credited to the
airports account for future capital expenditures for construction items.
In 1986 the Kalispell Airport Association dissolved in the face financial difficulties and a
lack of clear lines of authority and direction from the City. Operational and fiscal responsibility
passed back to the City at that time. Consequently only Recommendation #3 has been completed
fully.
'Kalispell Mini -Master Plan; TAP, Inc; October 1979.
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Kalispell City Airport Feasibility Study January 1999
It is important to note that of the original 135 acres purchased in 1928, only 77.11 acres
remain in City ownership in a form usable as an airport. The rest has been sold to finance other City
projects through the years. This figure includes land that is currently used for soccer and little league
baseball fields.
It is further important to note that the Kalispell City Airport has been developed so far
without any participation from the FAA. In 1996, the City hired Robert Peccia and Associates to
draw an airport layout plan (ALP) to assist the city with future planning. Among the developments
shown on that ALP are:
A relocation of the threshold of Runway 13 (the north end) 600 feet south along the
runway centerline in order to protect the runway protection zone (RPZ).
2. A widening of the runway to 75 feet from 60 feet.
An ultimate runway length of 4,300 feet.
4. Land acquisition to protect the lateral dimensions of a B-II airport.4
5. Hangar development in the vicinity of the existing soccer fields.
6. A perimeter fence for airport security.
All of these ideas have merit, so in 1997 the City of Kalispell sponsored this study to
determine the best way to achieve the airport shown on that ALP.
SUMMARY OF ISSUES
There are a number of issues facing Kalispell City Airport. The purpose of this Master Plan
Study is to identify these issues and provide recommendations to best resolve these issues.
Issue Number 1
The number one issue facing Kalispell City Airport is the safety of its users and neighbors.
Currently, the airport does not meet any of the safety requirements for a B-Is airport as described in
4 See later part of report for discussion of Airport Reference Code.
-'FAA AC 150/5300-13, change 5, 2/14/97, the Airport Reference Code (ARC) is a combination of the
Aircraft Approach Category and the Airplane Design Group, of the most demanding aircraft intended to use the
airport. For a B-I Airport, aircraft having approach speeds of 91 knots or more but less than I21 knots, and having
wingspans up to but not including 49 feet (15 m).
W
Kalispell City Airport Feasibility Study January 1999
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular (AC)150/5300-13 Airport Design. The
FAA has been reluctant to admit into the National Plan of Integrated Airports Systems (NPIAS)
airports which are not or cannot be brought up B-II6 requirements.
The airport, in its current configuration, suffers penetrations of both approach surfaces,
encroachments into the runway object free area, and non -compatible use of the Runway Protection
Zones. The airport has a partial perimeter fence, however, it is possible for the general public to
have unhindered access to all air operations areas including the runway. Aircraft storage and parking
is inadequate for the level of use. Finally, although the runway has a runway lighting system, an
upgrade will probably be required.
Issue Number 2
A secondary issue is the financial commitment for improvement/expansion of Kalispell City
Airport. At a special session of the Kalispell City Council on March 28, 1998, a $1,000,000 limit
was placed on improvements at the airport. If the airport were to be designated as a NPIAS
airport, the funding committed by the City would provide significant match money for FAA Airport
Improvement Program (AIP) grants.
6Ibid. For a B-II Airport, aircraft having approach speeds of 91 knots or more, but less than 121 knots, and
having wingspans of at Ieast 49 feet(15 m), but less than 79 feet (24 m). .
M