Leistiko/Validity of Airport OperationsFM: Airport Manager
At the February 2, 2009 workshop of the Kalispell City Council I was introducing
the new amended South Kalispell — Airport Redevelopment Plan and Councilman
Kluesner challenged the validity of the aircraft operations at the airport. I would
like to explain how these figures are derived.
If you review Mr. Max Murphy's MEMO that was attached to this years inspection
of the Kalispell City Airport, you will find reference to the FAA's 5010 Master
Record files. This is an FAA function that we do not have control over and it is
well explained in Mr. Murphy's MEMO. As you can see, Mr. Murphy has made
another adjustment to the operations figures for the Kalispell City Airport and
added another 3,000 operations to our current operations to bring our total to
4,1,400 operations. This is an unannounced inspection and you are required to
respond only when a safety condition is found and documented.
Also enclosed you will find three pages from the Kalispell City Airport Final
Environmental Assessment dated December, 2002 where the FAA Form 5010
again referenced as an informational document. The total operations in 2002
were 35,000 which indicates to most of us that the operations at the airport are
increasing at a pretty rapid pace and therefore necessitating and upgrade to t
airport facilities. I
Kalispell pity Airport Final Environmental Assessment
JIIIII I
-1
Kalispell City Airport is located on the southern outskirts of the City of Kalispell, Montana. The
airport is situated favorably between Whitefish, Glacier Park International, Ferndale, and Polson
to capture a large portion of the Flathead Valley's general aviation activity. According to the
FAA's Form 5010, sixty-four (64) aircraft are presently based at the airport and those aircraft
generate some 13,600 local operations (takeoffs and landings) each year. Itinerant aircraft use of
the airport accounts for an additional 14,000 operations each year. Air taxi and military aircraft
operations also occur at the airport. The FAA's Form 5010 estimates the total number of annual
aircraft operations at the facility to be about 35,000. This makes the Kalispell City Airport the
second busiest of all general aviation airports in Montana, trailing only Hamilton in annual
activity levels.
Kalispell City Airport is unique in its location relative to the City (see FIGURE 1-1). In fact, one
of the main reasons Kalispell City Airport is so attractive to itinerant travelers is the ease of
access to the local businesses and services immediately adjacent to the facility. The airport also
offers a convenient "jumping off" point for itinerant travelers intending to recreate at other
locations within the Flathead Valley or wild lands in Glacier National Park and the Flathead
National Forest. Kalispell City Airport also serves s as an alternate landing site for some FEDEX
deliveries when weather conditions are unfavorable for landing at Glacier Park International
Airport (GPIA) northeast of Kalispell. I
PHOTO PLATES 1, 2, and 3 show the Kalispell City Airport and adjoining lands.
The airport provides an important role in aviation safety and training. Several times in recent
years, Kalispell City Airport has been the site for a well -attended safety fly -in. The purpose of the
event is to increase safety awareness among pilots. The Montana Aeronautics Division (MAD)
also bases training sessions for pilots interested in gaining mountain flying experience at the
airport. The National Guard uses the airport for helicopter -related training exercises.
Kalispell is located within one of Montana's fastest growing regions. Flathead County's population
was 74,471 at the time of the 2000 Census, nearly 26% higher than in 1990. During the same ten
year period the State's population grew by less than 13%. Population forecasts through the next
decade suggest the County's population will continue to grow. According to projections prepared
for the MoNTANA DEPARTNmNT of CommmcE, Flathead County's population is expected to be
90,430 by the year 2010 and may be approaching 114,000 by the year 2025.
Kalispell has experienced similar growth. According to U.S. Census statistics, the City's population
has increased from 11,917 in 1990 to 14,223 in 2000, an increase of more than 19%. Like the
County, population growth in the Kalispell area has been sustained for the last 20+ years and
forecasts call for growth in the Flathead region to continue into the foreseeable future.
EM
Kalispell City Airport Final Environmental Assessment
The economy of Flathead County continues to be very diversified and strong as compared to
many other counties in Montana. The county's economy remains dependent on its natural
resource base that provides opportunities for timber harvesting, hydroelectric power generation,
and tourism on National Forest lands and in Glacier National Park. The county is also home to
high tech industry, metals refining, and forest products processing. Kalispell's importance as a
regional trade center has continued to increase. Kalispell is rapidly becoming recognized as a
regional center for healthcare. Considerable growth has occurred in recent years within the
medical community and many key medical support facilities have been expanded in response to
the increased demands for healthcare services. Improvements to Kalispell City Airport will
support and help sustain economic growth within the community.
The City of Kalispell is faced with a dilemma regarding future development at Kalispell City
Airport. Even though the physical and economic setting of the airport is highly favorable, the
facility is "dated" and requires significant design modifications to ensure it can safely and
e co§t of wch imcrovements
will be high as the demand for and value of lands adjoining the airport (and the US FIighway 93
corridor) • to increase each year.
Even though Kalispell City Airport is one of the busiest airports in the state, it does not meet
current FAA standards for design and safe operations by many of the aircraft currently using the
airport. The airport does satisfy design standards for most of the aircraft presently based at the
airport. The current airport property is not large enough to provide acceptable distances between
aircraft and the surrounding developments. Due to these conditions, the airport is not eligible to
receive federal funding from FAA for improvements or upgrades. Therefore, the operation and
maintenance of the airport is completely dependent upon funding from the City of Kalispell. The
City has recognized that without securing federal funds, the required improvements to the airport
will be difficult to implement with limited funding.
In addition to the need to make design and safety modifications, one of the primary driving forces
for this improvement project is the economic activity generated by users of the airport within the
City of Kalispell. The airport immediately abuts the City and U.S. Highway 93 where lodging,
convention facilities, restaurants, and other service businesses exist. It is the airport's proximity
to these facilities and services that in part attracts pilots to visit Kalispell.
Revenue associated with additional based aircraft and hangar development has been lost to other
nearby airports because it is unknown if the facility would be modified and substantially
improved. Local airport board members have acknowledged that several times over the past few
years, individuals or corporations have chosen to build hangars and base aircraft at GPIA or
Polson instead of Kalispell. The Polson Airport has received significant increases in based
aircraft and hangar development following the implementation of a recent major improvement
project at the airport. A business specializing in the repair of radios for aircraft also recently
relocated from Kalispell City Airport to another nearby airport. Decisions to relocate based
aircraft and aviation -related businesses reduce the City's and fixed base operator's abilities to
collect fees from hangar development, additional fuel sales, repairs, and other aviation -related
FM
Kalispell City Airport Final Environmental Assessment
services. There is no reason to believe that Kalispell City Airport would not prosper with the
implementation of the airport improvements proposed in this document.
With these considerations in mind, the City has undertaken planning activities for the airport and
coordinated planned development closely with the FAA. As a result of the City's planning and
coordination efforts, the FAA has stated the City must meet a variety of safety standards and
conditions before it will be eligible to receive federal airport improvement matching funds. The
FAA's conditions for receiving federal funding include:
Acquiring or controlling the land area sufficient to accommodate all necessary
upgrades to the airport and protect airspace for the critical aircraft using (or
expected to use) the facility.
MMEMMI: Ron M,
Enacting airspace protections and land use restrictions within about 2 miles of the
new airport.
If this can be accomplished, the proposed airport improvements would offer a variety of benefits
to the aviation community and the general public including:
Is Safer conditions for the community and for air travelers, including the removal •
the • radio towers that present an airspace hazard.
Eligibility for FAA funding participation (90 percent of eligible and allowable
project costs) in airport improvements.
® Improved airport facilities with less cost to the City.
Assured room for future facility expansion and long-term protection for the airport
and its airspace.
Conditions at Kalispell City Airport were examined in detail in the Kalispell City Airport Master
Plan (Morrison-Maierle, Inc, 1999). The Master Plan documented current and projected aviation
activity levels at Kalispell, identified problems at the existing facility, and recommended
facilities for future airport development in the community.
Federal interest in funding airport development is primarily influenced by the operation of
"critical aircraft" using the facility. Critical aircraft are considered to be those aircraft that
regularly use the airport and because of their size and performance capabilities, require the
greatest facility considerations (such as runway length, width, separation distances, etc.). Regular
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