FW: FAA Questions (19)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?
These are general areas of discussion that could be addressed:
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 to
address in a public