(International Falls) FAA delays instrument landing system operation (newspaper article)
Dan Hoehn
International Falls Daily Journal
12/02/2008
The airport is still facing bureaucratic hurdles with the Federal
Aviation Administration regarding switching on a new instrument
landing system, Thor Einarson, airport manager, told the International
Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission Friday.
Einarson said the Falls ILS system, modeled after one in operation at
Scotts Bluff, Neb., is tested and officials are confident that it will
operate safely and effectively.
“Unfortunately, the documentation protocol has changed in the FAA camp
and for reasons unknown to us, in short, (the FAA) want us to restart
the whole paperwork procedure,” said Einarson.
The delay, he added, is a problem with fitting the current
documentation into new FAA legal framework structure, and has nothing
to do with the actual status and readiness of the ILS system.
This new system, Einarson added, took two years to install and would
serve as the approach guidance system for 85 percent of incoming
flights. The instrumentation checks are complete and he said the delay
creates a “safety enhancement issue” to the airport.
“There is no reason to be afraid to fly, but this should be a priority
(of the FAA),” he added.
Board discussion focused on what members considered frustrating
results from navigating a myriad of FAA channels. The board agreed to
contact the FAA again with a strong message that if efforts do not
progress that it would seek intervention through outside channels.
Bob Anderson, chairman of the commission, said Friday that he would be
in Minneapolis Monday with other Local Airline Service Action
Committee leaders, to meet with U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar and
representatives of the newly merged Delta and North West Airlines.
Anderson said the meeting would be an opportunity to present concerns
with continuing regional air service, cost of flights and changes to
Ben Hirst, senior vice president, Tammy Lee Stanoch, vice president of
Corporate Affairs in Minneapolis, and Mary Loeffelholz, Regional
director for Public Affairs.
The board heard from Michael Ferry, a regional airport engineer with
the Minnesota Department of Transportation, who said the funding
picture for Local Airline Service Action Committees is brighter, and
could soon reimburse projects that were canceled by the transfer to
the state general fund last session.
Ferry said airports are asked to resubmit project lists by early
December and that MnDOT is proposing a priority list to ensure that
urgent projects are funded first.
Susan Baratono, commission secretary, said that Minnesota Power
notified them that electric rates for the airport would increase more
than $1,300 per month.
She said the airport pays estimated monthly rates of approximately
$1,974, and that this was an underpayment of actual use. The rates
will change to around $3,300 per month as “catch up” to actual usage.
Benita Crow, an aviation project manager with Short Elliott
Hendrickson, reported that the airport parking lot project completion
was delayed with the replacement of incorrect lighting on poles and is
currently being corrected. She also noted that the FAA would not
reimburse the cost of towing vehicles away from construction areas
last fall.
Crow updated the commission on the postponed taxi lane extension due
to wetlands issues with the Army Corps of Engineers with a drainage
culvert design. The issue required Bowman Construction to idle work
due to the delay, for which she said they have sought recovery costs.
Crow repeated her recommendation that the commission revisit its long
term vision for the area in the spring. The board also discussed
official correspondence regarding airport affairs; approved payment of
accounts; a hanger lease transfer between owners; reduced terminal
cleanings to accommodate the loss of the third daily flight; and
agreed to explore the possibility of adding the airport to the
Koochiching County Port Authority security plan.
The International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission manages
a LASAC fund that is made up from fee’s, interest and securities that
are distributed to LASAC airports for construction, improvements and
operations. The next meeting will be at 8 a.m. Dec. 22 at Einarson
Flying Service.