HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-09-15 MinutesAIRPORT BOARD MINUTES
Fayetteville Executive Airport -Drake Field
September 15, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Nickle, Janice Stanesic, Tim McCarley, Rick Bailey,
Mike Gibbs, Josh Mahony
MEMBERS ATTENDING BY SKYPE: Otto Loewer
STAFF PRESENT: Ray Boudreaux, James Nicholson, Louise Powers
OTHERS PRESENT: Wayne Jones- McClelland Engineers; Frou Gallagher -
Government Channel; Mauro Campos -Fayetteville Fire Dept.; Joel Walsh -Northwest
Arkansas Times; Terry Gulley -City of Fayetteville/Transportation; Warren Jones -
Arkansas Air Museum
ITEM #1: Welcome. Chairman. Welcomed all attending and Otto Loewer, who is on
vacation and is attending by Skype.
ITEM #2• Approval of the August 112 2011 minutes.
A motion to approve the minutes was made by Rick Bailey and seconded by Josh
Mahony. The motion carried.
ITEM #3• Receiving of Reports.
A. Director Boudreaux, Aviation Director reported the airport has a fairly new
corporate hangar available to rent, 9,069 sq. ft. The Arkansas Aeronautics approved the
Airport's security program. The City received one bid and it was over budget. We
negotiated the cost down by reducing the number of cameras where overlapping would
occur. It is 80/20 funded by the State. Time Striping received the contract for the
runway rehabilitation project. A pre -construction is scheduled for next week and will
discuss dates for the runway closings for construction. Southern Hospitality is working
on the remodeling of the event room and kitchen. They already have two events
scheduled for October. Reading from MaryKathryn/Million Air's report: Million Air
was pleased with the turnout of their first military aircraft exhibition. This was held in
partnership with both the museums and gave special thanks to their crews, the ROTC,
and the onsite Navy recruiters. The second event will be on September 23 and one
more in October. These events are free of charge to the public. They hosted 55 aircraft
for the first home football game. On Tuesday, Million Air's General Manager Mary
Kathryn gave a tour to twenty Greenland High School FBLA members and spoke to them
about a variety of aviation careers. MaryKathryn has just returned from the Tailhook
Convention in Reno, Nevada, celebrating the 100`n year of Naval Aviation. She has
stated that attending these types of conventions greatly helps increase awareness about
Drake Field, and that Million Air takes their role in the community quite seriously as
their line service and customer service professionals are usually the first impression that
many people have of Northwest Arkansas.
B. Financial Coordinator James Nicholson Budget Report. He gave a power point
presentation of the charts in the agenda. Reported the military trend is going up which
1
helps our tower count. Fuel sales have been down. Referring to the Revenues, they are
down as Million Air gave up one of their corporate hangars. Revenues that go into the
Miscellaneous Revenue Account comes from the company that does auto testing using
the Forest Service ramp, and from the truck company that conducts rollover equipment
testing. They will be here again in October. Next month will reflect the pay down on the
loan on the hangars. There are a lot of maintenance items that have been deferred. The
Board had questions about the Services and Charges Account and the Buildings and
Grounds Accounts. Chairman Nickle asked for a breakout list at the next meeting.
C. Senior Secretary Louise Powers, T -Hangar Report. There was one empty and it
was filled today. A single engine hangar will be available mid-October.
D. Wayne Jones, McClelland Engineers, Construction Report. We are still waiting
on the Arkansas Highway Department to accept the new highway right of way
dedication. The next project is the runway rejuvenation. Part of that project is to remove
rubber from the runway. We are waiting on the contractor's Bond and Insurance and we
will send that to the FAA and then they will issue a Notice to Proceed. Regarding the
Security Project, five companies picked up Bid Packets, but only one bid came in and it
was over budget. We are negotiating the cost down. Answering why not use wireless,
said the electric engineer is not comfortable putting security issues on wireless, so will go
with fiber optics. We have eliminated some cameras, but they can be added at a later
date. Director Boudreaux said this project will let us know who is on the airport at all
times, line badges with photo I.D. will be issued
E. Museum Executive Director Warren Jones, Museum Report. About 300 people
attended Chill with the Hills. There were about ten restaurants represented. There were
about 50 people at the Pancake Breakfast and a few airplanes flew in. It was a fund raiser
for the museum and the Women in Aviation. Rhythm and Ribs has been cancelled. Soon
we will be offering rides in the Stinson for a fee. We will be focusing on capital
campaign; grant funding for museums has dried up and that is not good.
ITEM #4: Old Business.
A. FAA Grant AIP #38 close out. Right of Way Dedication. Once the State accepts
them the State has to publish the Minute Order To Accept, then the State really can
accept the Right of Ways. Once that is completed then the Airport can work on getting
the old right of way released to the Airport and dedicate the utility easements.
ITEM #5: New Business.
A. "Your Community Airport" preview. Director Boudreaux said Mike had asked
Ray to speak at the Rotary meeting, on the first Thursday in November and would like to
give this presentation. Stated the Board had asked us to develop a Facebook page for the
Airport and we did, and to develop a presentation. We have now have an airport
presentation and request the Board view it and give back a critical report.
The Board gave the following suggestions to improve the report.
* The current report sounds like it can only take planes up to 30 seats, say something
about the largest size we can take
* In-house info, not easily known by public, general aviation, although explained once,
need to be clarified in other places.
* Class 4 Airport, explain difference in airports, not make us sound like we are at the
bottom.
2
,/
Suggested bullet points of:
Dollar amount yearly, cash in, cash out
Change wording to not make airport sound negative, ops gone downhill, make it
sound like its happening from external things, not internal.
Re-emphasize the strategy of convenient, and how close to the University,
Downtown Fayetteville, easy access to any place in NW Arkansas.
Economic Impact, mention over the last X number of years we have received an
average of X dollars in grant funding
The growing number of military aircraft is external money coming in
The airport was the scheduled airline airport until 1998, mention the challenge we
faced to develop a general aviation airport, struggles to create ways/projects what
would generate revenue
List major improvements last 10 yrs. (or since airlines left), terminal bldg. rehab,
T -hangars added, two ramps added, corp. hangars added, Runway Safety Area
Project, Forest Service ramp, etc.
Stress the importance of relationship with the University, it is very important to the
University to have an airport nearby.
Explain what general aviation is, sooner in the presentation
Was suggested to have Ray's voice recorded, that it might be more effective
More pictures. Pictures that show people, etc. at the T -Hangars, like a community
of folks hanging out at the airport. Photos need people.
You Tube
Picture showing a plane coming in. Show runway from plane landing.
Picture of team returning/leaving. Lobby full of people or lots of people walking
to team plane, or returning.
Suggested pictures from an air show, big truck racing down the runway, pictures of
planes in the sky
Needs music in the background.
Three years in the black. Self run unit
Sam Walton's first plane in the Museum
Director Boudreaux thanked
the
Board, saying
the report will be redefined, they were all
great suggestions, and asked
the
Board to come
to the 12:00 Rotary Meeting as his
guest.
ITEM #6: Other Business,
A. Items from the Public. None.
B. Items from the Airport Board. Director Boudreaux asked the AAOA Conference
Packet be sent to each Airport Board Member, and the office would check to see if there
is a discount for Board Members. October 5`h, Wednesday, is the 100`" Anniversary of
the First Fight in Fayetteville. It was suggested getting the Mayor to do a Proclamation.
The Fire Department will be conducting a live bum on October 4'h in Tulsa for ARFF
training.
Meeting Adjourned at 2:47 p.m.
Otto Loewer, Secretary