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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-04-11 - Agendas - Final Director Ray Boudreaux ye evile Chairman Bob Nickle Financial Coordinator James Nicholson • xanHsas Vice Chair Mike Gibbs Administrative Assistant Lauren Treat Secretary Joshua Mahony Member Rick Bailey Member Bill Corley Member Ken Haxel Member Marty Burggraf AGENDA Fayetteville Executive Airport Board Meeting 1 :30 p.m., Thursday, April 11. 2013 Terminal Conference Room, 4500 S. School Avenue City of Fayetteville, Arkansas As a courtesy please turn off all cell phones and pagers 1. Welcome. Chairman. 2. Approval of the Airport Board Minutes of the March 14, 2013 meeting. 3. Receiving of Reports. A. Director Boudreaux, Aviation Director. B. Financial Coordinator James Nicholson, Budget Report. C. Administrative Assistant Lauren Treat, T Hangar Report. D. Wayne Jones, McClelland Engineers, Construction Report. E. Museum Executive Director Warren Jones, Museum report. F. Marketing Committee Report, Bill Corley. 4. Old Business. A. Update: Tower Closing. 5. New Business. A. SkyVenture Aviation new lease. B. Cook out (May 9) sponsored by MCE. 6. Other Business. A. Items from the Public. B. Items from the Airport Board. 7. Meeting adjourned. NOTE: Next Airport Board Meeting: May 9. 2013 Strategic Planning Meeting: 4500 SOUTH SCHOOL AVENUE. SUITE F a AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING • FAYETTEMLLE AR 72701 479.718.7642 . 479.718.7646 FAX • v .aocessfayetteville.orglgovemmentlaviation airport_economic_development@ci.fayetteville.ar.us FAYETTEVILLE EXECUTIVE AIRPORT BOARD MINUTES February 14, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Nickle, Mike Gibbs, Joshua Mahony, Bill Corley, Rick Bailey, Marty Burggraf, Ken Haxel MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Wayne Jones-McClelland Engineers; Warren Jones-Arkansas Air and Military Museum; Jeffery Gates-Museum volunteer; Neal Bilbe-City's Government Channel; Terry Gulley-Director of City' s Transportation Dept. ; Peter Mastroianni-Million Air Fayetteville; Bill Keller; Rick McKinney-T-Hangar tenant; Bruce Dunn-Iron Pig Festival; Corbin Freeman-Iron Pig Festival; Bob Christiansen-Boy Scouts; R.T. Hughen-Boy Scouts ITEM #1 : Welcome. Chairman Nickle. Chairman Nickle mentioned the letter to the FAA and the tower closing. He said that even if nothing is resolved in Washington, Drake Field will still have to have a tower during Football season. Discussion followed regarding the tower and the sequestration. Boudreaux urged everyone to please contact their representatives. ITEM #2: Approval of the Airport Board Minutes of the January 10, 2012 meeting. Rick Bailey said on Item 6 "Items from the Public", he wants to change "swung down" to "swung in". A motion to approve the minutes with the proposed change was made by Rick Bailey, and seconded by Ken Haxel. The motion carried. ITEM #3: Receiving of Reports. A. Director Boudreaux, Aviation Director. Boudreaux discussed his letter to the FAA and the tower' s importance during football season. Drake Field's tower count level has increased to #177 and the operations count has increased by 19% year over year. Boudreaux said this is in part thanks to the flight school (SkyVenture) and the increase of military traffic (Pete Mastroianni). Boudreaux thanked Mastroianni for all he has done over the years, even though the contract FBO did not work out. The NFlight project and progress was discussed. The bids are due March 281" and the airport' s share will be 20% of total project. Boudreaux introduced and welcomed Jacob Crutchfield, the airport's new line supervisor. SkyVenture now has a 172 charter certificate for a single pilot. Boudreaux said it is now possible to get a quick charter flight to Little Rock from FYV. The potential tower closing was discussed in further detail. The FAA set April 7 for the tower closings to go into effect; all towers in Arkansas except LIT and XNA will be closed. Boudreaux pointed out two of the major problems with closing the tower are game day traffic and people/planes crossing the runway. Haxel said it will still be possible to talk to Razorback Approach and Memphis Center. 1 Nickle pointed out that Mark Frankum offered to hold a seminar on operating at uncontrolled airports. B. Financial Coordinator James Nicholson, Budget Report. Airport operations continue to grow. Operations have beaten the previous year month over month. Drake Field is 17% ahead of last year so far. Nicholson reported that military traffic is up, but itinerant jets still account for the largest part of fuel sales. Revenue is slightly behind budgeted revenue due to FAA and postal service rents and the contract FBO was only billed for half of this month. Nicholson pointed out that the airport is about to spend a whole lot of money on the FBO this next month which could look rough until the revenues catch up with expenses. Buying fuel is expensive! Nickle said these investments must be made which will hopefully generate income over time. Nicholson said when we buy the load of jet fuel we will be able to meet the margin we had hoped to meet and reduce the fuel price by .35 cents retail price. C. Administrative Assistant, Lauren Treat, T-Hangar Report. All T-Hangars are still full, with 9 rented for storage. D. Wayne Jones, McClelland Engineers, Construction Report. Regarding the NFlight project, Wayne said they (NFlight, Boudreaux, contractor) were able to save about $45,000. Wayne mentioned the upcoming project with the City of West Fork which entails running West Fork's sanitary waste to the City of Fayetteville. Wayne discussed where the construction would occur on and around the airport. He said he doubts construction would interfere with BBBBQ&B or the ARC, but everything will be worked out in the negotiations. Boudreaux said the construction might pose a problem for the Museum. Discussion of easements followed. E. Museum Executive Director Warren Jones, Museum Report. Warren reported that the plans for the BBBBQ&B and the ARC are moving right along. Warren said aviation seems to be popular in schools and there are multiple groups of students scheduled to visit the Museum in the coming months. Though he did not initially want to have an Aviator Ball this year, Warren said he now intends to hold the event in early fall because The Jack Mitchell Band offered to do an event at half price. Warren said he and Boudreaux are in the process of analyzing how they can approach the City Council about the ineffective sprinkler system. Also, Warren reported that the ceiling is coming down in the military museum and the recent rain has created a big mess. One of the Museum's helicopters was transferred to Tulsa where it is being restored for their ball on April 27. Warren said he appreciates Rick Bailey's help during the process. ITEM #4: Old Business. A. Update: City-run FBO. Terry Gulley said the asking price was originally $275,000 but after negotiations, we will end up paying $57,500. That includes all equipment, office furniture, lobby stuff, etc. - everything except the computers. There will be a payment of $45,000 upfront. Novation will occur no later than 12/31 /13 ; the military contract will have to start by Jan 1 . Woolsey is paying Mastroianni thru the end of the year to travel around and talk up Drake Field to the military. The airport will receive half the profit of military fuel sales and Woolsey will get the other half until that date. Gulley said the belt loader and air stairs still need to be purchased (out of the $98,000 start up costs). He said he is confident that the airport will have enough money for everything. 2 Corley asked if any of this will be applied to our "bad debt" ($22,500). Boudreaux said if it did, the airport would be in the black we are deducting from start up cost column. Gulley said the bottom line is the same and the sales tax owed to the state remains in their name. Rick McKinney and Boudreaux discussed the WSI weather station. B. Update: Marketing Committee Josh Mahony and Rick Bailey volunteered to join Bill Corley (committee chairman) on the committee. Rick McKinney suggested Mastrioanni be included, as well. Corley said there is no name, graphic package, etc. for the FBO yet. Elkins Design will be utilized for less than a thousand dollars. The total budget is not to exceed ten thousand so next there will need to be an RFP to build out the whole branding package. A motion to have the marketing committee as a regular reporting committee to the board was made by Rick Bailey, and seconded by Josh Mahony. The motion carried. ITEM #5: New Business. A. Iron Pig Festival (March 30), Bruce Dunn. The festival events (dualthon/5K/f in walk/bike-only) will be held on March 30 from 9 — 10 AM at the airport. Dunn said he expects about 600 people total to register, along with a large audience. To ensure safety, EMS, fire department, police are all involved. Boudreaux said the Iron Pig is a tradition at Drake Field and all the pilots are aware of the event. Boudreaux said he and Wayne will walk the runway and check for cracks during the race. Wayne said they will also look to see if there are any issues with the structural aspect of the pavement to help with planning for rehab. A motion to approve the Iron Pig Event was made by Mike Gibbs and seconded by Josh Mahony. The motion carried. B. Boy Scout Camporee (April 5-7), Bob Christiansen. Boudreaux said the scouts/camp would be located on the East side of the airport, south of the USDA area and clear of T-HGRS and any airport activity. They will be segregated so the campers do not get into the airport in any way. Boudreaux said they would need port-a-potties, etc. and the airport will need to be additionally insured. Fires must be properly controlled. A motion to allow the Boy Scouts to hold their Camporee on the airport's property was made by Rick Bailey and seconded by Ken Haxel. The motion carried. C. Hay Lease extension, Donnie Sams. Nickle asked if improving forage grasses would result in more bird hazards? Boudreaux said the Wildlife Hazard assessment did not find those fields problematic to the airport. The area is already a hayfield — the project would just improve the hay that is there. Nicholson said Sams would have a set of specifications that he will have to attend in order keep the field within the environmental program guidelines. Boudreaux pointed out that the airport will get some good credit since this is an environmental project. A motion to extend hay lease through July 2018 (two more years) was made by Mike Gibbs and seconded by Josh Mahony. The motion carried. 3 ITEM #6: Other Business. A. Items from the Public. None. B. Items from the Airport Board. Mahony said the Pigs go to Market tonight and suggested Board check out Pigshibition! Gibbs said reminded the Board that he will be in Chengdu, China the next couple of months. He said he might Skype-in to Board meetings but it will be around 3 :00 AM in China. Boudreaux asked the Marketing Committee to please notify Lauren before they meet so she can notify the press and City. MEET[ OU D AT 3:06 p.m, os ahony, Secretary Date 4 THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS TayerLdic AVIATION °MSION R727145005 School Ave, Ste F Feyettevillq Ap ]2]01S P (479)71&7642 QUARTERLY REPORT 1St QUARTER 2013 FAYETTEVILLE EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, DRAKE FIELD April 8, 2013 • FAA ANNOUNCES THE CLOSURE OF 149 CONTRACT TOWERS: Early in the quarter, the FAA announced the closure of the Drake Tower by removing funding. Drake Tower is a Federal Contract Tower operated by a contractor to the Federal Government. RVA/Cl2 provides the controllers and FAA provides the tower and the maintenance of the equipment. When we were notified, we submitted a letter to justify remaining open. Our reasons did not change their minds, so they announced that Drake Tower would close April 7, 2013 . We were able to negotiate an agreement with Cl2 to operate the tower from 8 until 8, a reduction of 4 hours a day, for $20,342.00 per month. Thursday before the tower was due to close, the FAA sent us a contract to lease the Tower for $5,280.00 per month. Of course we changed the amount to $ 1 .00 and other valuable considerations (like running the Tower for the FAA) and the announcement was made the next day, Friday, that the FAA had delayed the closure until June 15, 2013 . We are still in the fight to keep Drake Tower open and to reverse the FAA decision. We need everyone to keep the pressure on by calling, mailing, texting the FAA and our representatives to reverse the decision to close Contract Towers all across the Nation. • MILLION AIR CONTRACT TERMINATION: As of March 15 the City now runs the FBO service at the Airport. Million Air was not able to fulfill the provisions of their contract and were terminated. We hired all of the Million Air employees that were interested in employment with the City and have been running the "business" for the last three weeks. The City Council approved a start up budget and we have procured all of the equipment necessary to perform the Line Service and continue to provide exceptional service to our customers. • AIRPORT ACTIVITY: The first quarter of 2013 was very good for activity and for sales. Operations were up by 22% over last year and sales were up 18%. It was a good quarter. Hopefully the trend will continue. • ARKANSAS AERONAUTICS COMMISSION GRANT FOR NFLIGHT TECHNOLOGY HANGAR MODIFICATIONS: We finally received a grant for the Hangar modification for NFlight. Last quarter the State denied our application due to lack of available funding. This quarter they approved the request after we value engineered the project to reduce the cost. The City Council will consider the request to award the contract to Center Point Construction, the low bidder, at their meeting May 7, 2013 . • FAA WILDLIFE HAZARD ASSESSMENT: We continue to work the Wildlife Hazard Management Plan as required by the FAA. It should be complete and ready for review by the end of April. • T HANGARS FOR RENT: We have one single engine hangar available and 8 rented for storage. • ARKANSAS AIR AND MILITARY MUSEUM: Planning continues for the Finish Line of the Air Race Classic at the airport. McClelland Consulting Engineers drilled the anchor holes for the tie downs. We have ordered the cable. The anchors came from Ozark Steel and are on hand. We should have the cables installed by the end of the month of April. The Bomber part of Bikes-Blues & Bar-B-Q is coming together. The CAF plans to have as many as 6 of their flying fleet here for rides and tours. Should make a great attraction for the event attendees. • CITY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MOVE TO THE AIRPORT: IT has moved their office to the former fire station and will construct the data storage facility in the second quarter. We have a lease with the IT Division so their rent for the building and the land began April I , 2013. • ANNUAL IRON PIG AND RUNWAY INSPECTION COMPLETED: The annual Race on the Runway and Pavement Inspection was held March 30. Both were successful. We will be scheduling the crack seal machine to seal new cracks found in the pavement. • FAA SAFETY AREA PROJECT COMPLETED: The FAA replaced the mounts on all ODALS on both ends of the runway and leveled the ground around the bases. • U of A CHARTER: Baseball, volleyball, golf, basketball, football, etc. continue to use the airport for game flights. No problems. • SKYVENTURE CHARTER ANNOUNCED: Mark Frankum has been awarded a Charter Certificate by the FAA for single pilot Cessna- 172 flights for hire. If you need a fast trip to Little Rock and return check out this option. Save time and money. Respectfully Submitted, Ray M. Boudreaux, Director I 7ayeee ARKANSAS Airport Progress Report TO: Fayetteville Executive Airport Board THRU: Ray M. Boudreaux, Director FROM: James Nicholson, Financial Coordinator DATE: April 11, 2013 Tower rations Cumulative MONTH 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 MONTH 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 JAN 21492 1o932 11917 2,552 2,928 JAN 2,492 1,932 1,917 2,552 2,928 FEB 2,902 2 214 1,320 2,138 2,540 FEB 51394 4148 3,237 41690 5,468 MAR 2,807 2,418 21818 21161 2,889 MAR 8,201 6,564 6,055 B,B51 8,357 APR 2,629 2775 2254 21763 APR 10,830 9,339 8,309 9,614 MAY 2 722 3 015 2,627 3180 MAY 13,552 - 12 354 10 936 12 794 JUN 2,876 2,531 2,859 3,195 JUN 16,428 14,885 13795 15989 JUL 3,100 2,895 2,758 3,050 JUL 19,528 17 780 16 553 19,039 AUG 2,868 1 2,513 2,6761 2,951 IAUG 1 22,3961 20,293 1 19,229 21,990 SEP 3,577 2,684 3,503 4,864 SEP 25,973 22,977 22,732 26,854 OCT 2 677 3125 2,998 3 320 OCT 28,850 26,102 25130 30174 NOV 2 588 1984 2 379 3 392 NOV 31,236 28,066 28,109 33 568 DEC 1,8421 1,841 1 2,164 1 2,546 DEC 1 33,0781 29,9071 30,273 36,112 IMonthlyAvg 1 2,757 1 2492 1 2,523 1 3,009 1 2,788 lAnnualChg 1 -3.64% -9.59%1 1.22%1 19.29%1 21.98% Operations - 12 Month Comparison -2012/13 -2011112 2010/11 5,500 5,000 4,500 4,000 3,500 3,000 .t - Q 2,500 2 2,000 1,500 - 1,000 APR MAV JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR Month OPERATIONS Month Average Annual Comparison 0 �1NH.VEMDNTHAVERAGE 4.500 4;042 4,000 3,905 3,871 3,492 3'500 as- 2,978 2,949 - 3,000 Z620' 2,450 2500 $ zo00 1,500 1,000 500 2003-04 2004-05 200508 2008-07 2007-OS 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Period; Apr - Mar • Fuel Sales Cumulative MONTH MOD 2M 201" 2M 2M3 MONTH 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 . Z482 1,9V 1,917 ZG2S JAN 36,A2. 35,528 35jM6 �27,8M �29,621 FEB 5,394 A145 41BR) 5468 FEB 79,559 70,994 56,845 57,689 OZ223 WR 8= A564 085 1501 4357 MAR 126,167 112,803 94,178 86,516 97,984 APR 10,833 R33D 30D 9,614 APR 157,872 143,566 121,789 113,601 WY' A552 IZ354 1Q936 1Z794 MAY 191 ODB 174584 147996 431082 JUN IR423 148B5 13795 15�909 JUN 21g,226 201,800 17%672 178,043 JILL IRMB 17,78D lQ553 IRCED JUL 245247 228,428 2D3.%4 204,1111 301,� SOcr 1741EP 46M 41(2 257M � OCT . tO2• : t:® — I�lL•wy:�!�i:G Y1i1l:L'`wL'J�1 /T �SL:7S�7 �ILLiL ��411' I 1Ir2 N `1LM <-L83 LLLJ342164 CEK; 367,321 WAlL/ AL : j� ' 1 -13.13%1 -3.15% -13.91% ®"' 1 13W Fuel Sales - 12 Month Comparison 2017J13 2011112 2010111 so 45 40 35 30 25 20 APR MA Y AIN AR. ALIG SEP OCT NOV DEC UAN FEB WR Month FUEL SALES Month Average Annual Comparison a TVV3_VE MONTH AV 35.000 N _ __ IIII 30.538_40,ODO 39,268 ocl _ 788 28,062 , . : : y I III ■III III ■ ■ - ■ 5.000 2003-D4 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 20DB-09 2OW10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 P*riod: Apr - Mar 2013 Curniladve Avg Fuel Sales by Percent of Type Foal Sal"by MoM 2013 �1 �1 1_ 3D20 IQ BASE)IOML&4% AN FS MR AM MY AN AL AW W 07 NN ii IIS a M11 11 . 1 Local Fuel Prices: Fuel prices within 50 miles of FYV as of 04/11 /13 Ident FBO Name Jet FS 100LL FS 1001.1. SS 91 MaGas A $ Jet AS 10111-ilAs t00ss TOH City of Tahlequah both selfsery 4.99 5.50 NC NC SLG City of Siloam Springs 5.38 5.78 5.28 NC NC NC FSM TAC Air 5.93 6.80 6.27 (0.32) (0.01 ) NC ROG Beaver Lake Aviation 6.08 6.30 0.13 NC VBT SummitAvietion 6.10 6.15 5.95 NC NC NC ASG Pinnacle Air Services 6.15 6.20 5.65 NC NC NC XNA Regional Jet Center 6.21 6.81 NC NC FYV Drake Flight Support 6.25 6.70 6.00 4.31 0.49 NC NC Fuel Prices: National 4/11/13 Source: GlobalAir.com Aviation Fuel: Full Se"ice Current US Fuel Prices SI lel Current Fuel Prices & Averages by Region [SL6r M2 NudhwUsl Muunlam Nvw Er' reluiid Grual Lakus S ' , 8 6 S , 7G ME E�tO l, cells liaslal1©© S ' , e 0 CUnhul s S , 11, 0©1©© S = oomo WaSIUIn 1'aahc ©©lo© S c . 7 9 SOUlhal❑ tioulhwosl �®�DII S �—� • 9 DIDD Alaska 55 , 89 ©81�© 1D CL � o � N V L L y U ~ O U U N O O o a N c CL y o in n E N N N ry O. O j 3 U) N C � OO N d C N 0 > v E E _ N O d O N y L N d 0 O N fq 2 (q > J L C N N J E O y m C C m C C owC A E E E EN +E U N N U N N U N O O O O O 66 O o (o N CD M N Iq R r N 0 4 O OI 0 0 O O O r �O �O c0 0 0 0 CO J Q OO) N f0 coN Q 0) F O o0 0ou0 U) i, Lq Q rn rn 0 0 rn o 0 m H CO) K M O O_ N L (n C W Ua Zoo cO 0) z > Z 7 W C) ab (6 LL, W J D D W Z N F- W W U) VW E °) ° }j U) c a m F o m L LL W W U m 2 o a N C7 0 O J LL W s N U C Q 7 J � yz0 Emoj 'm <ny H L) W Q ZUco Yom 0 49'13 LaAnelers push FAA to avoid closures of air traffic control toners - The Hill's Floor Actidn 4 Ways to Avoid Running Out of Money During Retirement X fl you have a M.000 poeffoll download the guide by Forbes columnest Ken Fishers firm. Even A you have something etre n place. ttiDi most-read guide irKl xies research and analysis you cart use right roe. Dont miss ill Click Here to Download Your Guide! FISHER INVESTMENTS' t ;] Follow NEW The Hill's Global Affai`rS4!3lGT H E, # IT ILL Search Toe Hillcwn r S1tiu Advanced Search Options . Home/News Campaign Business & Lobbying Opinion Capital Living Jobs Video Gossip: In The Know Briefing Room I RegWmch I Hiilieon Valley I F2.W ire j Roar Action I On The Money I Healtbwatch l Transportation I DEITON Hill ! Global Affairs I Congress GOTO THE HILL HOME . The Hill's I Floor �Action • • (3 EnlerEmail m .�� HomeLawmakers push FAA to avoid closures mr oMMENT - -, A,m,nisan on of air traffic control towers ®E" °" n 9 SHANE ' Campaign By Pete Kaspemwicz- O= GA;7777:42 YhT _ ee SHARE Pose TOP _t,t� tAe' r 5 _. send o - -.. .. ._..- _ Business a 1 Airfare Sale: Fly from $72 Lobbying lawmakers from several states are pushing the Federal Aviation P � Travetmo Deal Experts bard this akfam Gab with aighLL Sunday Ttlh Administration(FAA) to go beyond its two-month delay in closing 149 airj snninp Of $72,- Safe w encs on. BLOCS control towers, and to use the delay to find ways to avoid these closures Learn more > I Al skin An Briefing Doan altogether. -----.---_--_ _._. _ _.--_.-- _— wrgwatch RELATED VIDEOS by Tabocb Ngk:on VaiMy On Monday, Conaeeticut's entire congressional delegation welcomed the FAA's is.wre Friday announcement of the delay, but said a two-month delay should not be ^' Row Action seen as a feral answer. I ji'6 On The Momy Heagnwatch The decision to close air traffic control towers was misguided and unnecessary - Transportation ,� and we will continue to push for every opportunity to reverse this harmful D�� No action," the entirely Democratic delegation wrote. )- Global Affairs Michelle Obama calls Stephen Colbert drops the Congress herself a 'single mother,' act to help his sister Bacot Bo' "These closures will put at corrects self In The Know risk not only public safety, but also our local economies that rely on these pureeae airports for jobs and tax revenue. We hope this delay will allow the FAA time to Twitter Nwn reconsider its decision, and well continue to work to make sure they do." OPINION A.B. Stoddard 1 Gent Budowsky ( Members from Texas — where the FAA has proposed closing 13 air traffic Lanny Dew control towers to deal with the sequester — had similar to reactions to the FAA's David NO announcement last week. Chen Jacobus Mark Holman Dick Morris "I hope that the FM's decision to delay the tower closures indicates they are M erkos Medley ready to work with our local leaders; Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) said over the (Niss) ( weekend. "The FAA needs to wisely use the time until June 15 to prioritize Magic Johnson: Stephen Cdbert rips Joe Robin Brook 4 cutting true wasteful spendingrather than playing politics with a programthat 'ObamaCare is working' Scarborough Editorials ! has a proven safety record and created real economic growth for our Letters communities." More Videos is op-Fds Juanwlaiams i Republicans in particular have criticized the FAA's plans to close 149 towers as FLOOR ACTION SECTIONS: Judd Gregg Christian Whole le an attempt to make the sequester as painful as possible, as part of the Otsama House Is Karen Finney administration's plan to put pressure on the GOP to agree to scrap the cuts Senate a John Feehery altogether, or replace Some of the cuts with new faxes. Votes a CAPITAL over St riesLIVIFloor Speechesa Carer Stories Late last week, more than qo members of the House from severelstates called Scheduling Food a Drink on the FAA to fend new ways to cut Shoo million from its budget without closing Legislative Debate a iheril!.conYdogs/floor-actiarvhatsa�292311-1a+nrialers-pusMfaalo-avid-dasen'es-af-air-traffio-conlyd-tDAers 1/4 4/9/13 Lavdnakers push FAA to avoid closures of air traffic control towers - The Hill's Floor Action Announcements down air traffic control towers. Hearings New Member of the Week Economics/Trade a My 5Mln. "[Me request for FAA to consider all possible alternatives that would maintain Government Oversight . W/Obama some level of service for all contract air towers and ensure air safety," they Energy/Environment a Capital Living Foreign Policy a All Ca v g wrote in a letter. "These possible alternatives include other ways of reducing Transportation and Infrastructure a VIDEO spending within the ATO account that would share the burden fairly across all Healthwrea HITT ube programs, projects, and activities, as well as formally requesting a Defense a EVENTSTechnology • reprogramming of funds from Congressional appropriators." Other a Video CIASSIREDS That letter was signed by members from Florida and Texas, which would be Post Office Namingsa Jobs affected the most by the FAA closures, as well as several other states, including Classifieds California; Georgia; Illinois; Massachusetts; Minnesota; Newyork; North RESOURCES N TWITTER Carolina; Oklahoma; Oregon; Utah; Virginia and Wisconsin. FOLLOW • • a Mobile Site n twittercorrdflooraction (Phone Android Despite this growing pressure, it's unclear whether the FAA will take this advice. MOST POPULARSPORIES (Pad The FAA's Friday announcement that it would delay the closures until June is �Most viewed Emailed Discussed. Lawmaker ; indicated that part of the reason for the delay was to resolve various legalRatings � ---- -- ite P challenges related to the decision. ObamaCare takes friendly fire White Papers I - Obama budget to take aim at wealthy IRAs Order Reprint Obama shod of time to burnish I c Last 6Issues 1 Several airports have sued the FAA over the closures and, last week, the ego Y Outside Links rec American Association of Airport Executives (AME) sued the FAA. i McConnell asks FBI to investigate leaked i ording on Ashley Judd RSs Feeds i McConnell will block gun bill until Dem leaders CONTACT US The FM also said it would use the time to deal with issues such as risk ! give details Advertise mitigation related to the closures. Transportation Secretary Ray IaHood said Reach Or i the delay would help the government "make sure communities and pilots Home/News . MMosl Viewed RSS Feed a Submitting Letters understand the changes at their local airports." , Submitting Op- I j ads f The FM did, however, indicate that the time might also be used to give local Subscriptions authorities more time to fund tower operations themselves. BRIEFING ROOM Twaat `i iLk�<E5] Send I 0 FROM AROUND THE WEB by Taxola • Obama to dine in with dozen senators • RNC chief. Obama. Senate GOP should trade l 'upscale' dining kx pizza night Orr , e McConnell asks FBI to instigate leaked recording on A6Ney Judd ' t - II�i ^ More Briefing Room a CONGRESS BIAG Truth About Annuities' Stocks Will Plummet 60% Billionaire Tells Americans (See Evidence) to Prepare For -Financial • It's time to ban predatory pay day loans for ! • Banks of all sizes play key role in our i economy .• • Budgets, bipartisanship and our national security More Congress Blog a 1 Major Crash Mead For U.S' Jim McLean Tells You Your These 5 Things Start PUNDITS BIAG M Investors Death Mote Cancer in Your Body. Watch a GOP Cruzin' to a bnrisin' with gun background 1 YOU MAY LIKE by Taxol• check filibuster • Bring back the real 'Crossfire' • Free Southie: Starting the world again, one fredneck at a time I More Pundits Slog TW=ER ROOM ' • Lawmakers cheer Bryce Harpees two homers on Opening Day Carney swipes at Fox host Steele-Prietars feud heat John Edwards's daughter • Obama meets with Redskins quarterback over tours, Faster Egg Rog up doubts hall seek public • Dem lawmaker apologizes for NCAA 'Trail of orrice again Tears' tweet RECOMMENDED STORIES ALSOONTHEWEB More Twitter Room GOP, Dams maneuver for high-stakes Affordable Care Act, uncertainty, and the US D(LIACON VALLEY clash o%er debt ceiling economyin 2013 Cis (Bank of America ... .. . . . . . . . . .. . . uo.an l .~hl fteNil.convUogshleer-acUor0im ser2Ml l-IamTokars-pustffaa-to-avotd-closures-Of-air-traffic-cordrei-towers 214 • : 419/13 Lawntalers push FAA to avid closures of air traffic control folders - The Hill's Floor Action Camey White House 'absolutely diem - ^ 1P 1•4 V • ueege to expand wtrarast mtemet serNce to deceive over impact of sequester 10 Weapons You Wont Believe Are Legal Austin Trump: China 'munfing' US over North (The Fiscal Times) • Google duals target Android in new EU Korean standoff Caroline Womiacki to caddie for Rorylutt roy complaint in Masters Par 3 (Gdtcom) • News bites: Broadcast lobby chief unalarmed Religious group names Holder top by Fox threat 'pomographyfacilitatoe Cardeprecia5on: 5 models thatlose `alue House Democrat championing gun (Bank2(e) More Hillicon Valley . maii limits stumbles on What am I paying for in the price of a gallon of E'-{VIRE (ENERGY) mechanics gasoline? (ExxortMobil's Perspectives) • DOE nominee mum on carbon tax Trump pulls $5M lawsuit against Walker-Wheelchair Hybrid Slows • Summer gas price bile smaller in '13, fads say • DOE nominee open to reviewing natural-gas comedian Bill Maher Degenerated (i0 by Intel) export study Recommended by More 122-Wire (Energy) r The HBI Newspaper BALLOT BOX Lke 29,919 • Poll: McConnell vulnerable for reelection • DCCC hits 10 House Republicans with 1 Comment billboard campaign • Senator to Obama officials: You're 'cbmplicit in h 1 comment 0 mockery' of campaign laws More Ballot Box e at I Leave a message... ON THE MONET • Obama fills out slate of labor board nominees h Best • s•Le L _ • Mortgage services set to dole out cash to foreclosed homer arms ! a Liberals push bank break-up bill Richard Harrison - 2 ! "--ssao What seems to be going unnoticed is the FAA has also More On The Money . furloughed all of its Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI). Just like control HEALTIRVATCH I I towers, each of these inspectors is in place because risks were • Top healthcare nominee bipartisan i garners Part' I 1 identified to exist without them. According to the FAA, ASIS are i praise i ( • Poll: Majority backs limits on prescribing pain safety critical positions responsible for ensuring the airlines operate ; meds i at the highest level of safety in the public interest. ASIS carry out News bites: Big opportunity I ' � i their Work at crew training centers, repair stations, dispatch centers, I More Heathwatch A hangers. airports and I onboard thousands of flights each year. These are the same I FLOOR AC7tON professionals that are (were?) supposed to make sure that 787 GOP pushes DHS to develop border battery fix continues to work during actual passenger operations - enforcement plan not just on some workbench. The FAA says having ASIS perform I • Serrate rotes to confirm Shwartz5 judicial nomination I inspections aboard revenue flights is in the best interests of aviation McConnell: White House just tossed lass h safety and the traveling public and makes a positive difference in year's budget into the microwave' ! { safety. A lo( of those travelers may now be asking how furloughingi More How Potion t inspectors and slashing a program that's in the best interest of their TRANSPORTATION 1 safety can possibly be a good idea. Flow indeed, especially since J House Dams to TSA: Stop defending knives- . - ^=c mere on-punas decision t .. Papy ' Share ) • Amtrak: Ridership increased in first half of 2013 - fiscal year ; • News bites: Airport thief ' ALSO ON THE HILL Whirs Chis? Senate votes to stop US from FAA closing 149 air traffic i Mwe Transportation . - joining UN Arms Treaty control towers due to sequester 1 DEFCox HH.I- h ra L•.nYl.a`L• • ' i (W S Pn4 CEf.Y:EnCi • i.k Udy.e nl:J 3 - • Inhofe: Donating pay over segt>ester 'cNldish' l tjenD — So sex trafficker Bob Don — Maybe it Bidden wasnl Menendez(D-1J.) thinks Irs t spending 5150 thousand a nite in ! • Pacific commander. North Korea poses 'dear i irresponsible to consider major ... Pans and Obamas spending ... j and direct threat' to the US i TSAfacing sharp pressure to House passes funding bill, Hagel headed to Israel later this month prohibit knives on planes averts government shutdown More DEFCON Hill a j 2e v�ne.nos • 1? Hoyt nue a. .i-xreehus • !� j aapp GLOBALAFT.4IRS ! Rsherl949 —This story continues Mon — No funding for Obamacare j to get coverage three weeks after it ALor Dodd Frank's expensive and • Kerry unveils Palestinian economic plan as ! was announced while five ... useless financial reform laws? ... precursor to peace deal ! • Kerry hints at stronger US mle ahead of ! meeting with Syrian rebels • Downs warned to keep Congress in the Imp on Syria policy tiehll.carAAogs/Iloor-aMorOvm2MI1-lawtekers-pusth-faa-to-awid-Gostaes-d-air-traffio-contrd-towers 314 327/13 Review & OW ook The Senate After Dark- WSl.com News, Quotes. Companies, videos SEARCH NOW and qct Fs�uBSCRIBE NOW- 3 MONTHSOF LLS. EDITION Wednesday, torch 27. 2013 Subscribe ! Log In Home World U.S. New York Business Tech Markets Market Data Fonion Life S Culture Real Estate Management Editorials Features Columns Political Diary Peggy Noonan's Blog Boot Iaaviews Leisure 8 Arts Letters to the Editor TOP 5TC*t!ES IN OFV"4 for 123d 12 Nelson Lund: A The Keystone Juan Wlliams: Race Shocked About Cyprus _ Social Experiment Converts and the Gun Debate I� Without Science Behind It REVIEW& OUTLOOK I March 25, 2013. 7:05 p.m ET The Senate After Dark Harry Reid blocks a vote to prevent airport delays and closures. JArticle cemmamsos5) MORE IN OPINION . rr _• ._ ' _,_ __ ......_ _ ._. _. __. .._. _ _._� ___ .. _._.. I Email � l_. PdM] ( . 111 The U.S»1.11l Senate these days seems to conduct most of its business after dark often after midnight, and no wonder. You wouldn't want voters to know what you were up to either if you were part of Majority Leader Harry Reilfa national embarrassment. Consider last week's fiasco involving the air-traffic control system. As part of the White House's Operation Wreak Havoc response to the sequester spending cuts, the Department of Transportation warned last week that 149 control towers at small, . regional airports will close down. Local newspapers are running headlines about the imminent loss of flight service. Next on the list could be furloughs at major airports that would mean flight delays for minions of travelers. The DOT helpfully warns that these delays could be Nery painful -- ' - - - - - - - ' - - -" -- — -- -- - '- -_- " for the flying public.' The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accounts for only 20% of the Transportation t but under White House and C I • • • • porta budge Congressional sequester math somehow absorbs 60% of the cuts. e t r I . . r Many of the service cutbacks could have been easily avoided by a budget amendment last week sponsored by Republican Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas. Hie proposed replacing $50 million of FAA, sequester cuts with savings from unspent balances, which are a kind of agency slush /olid, and by reducing other low-priority spending. -Available to WSJ.com Subscribers - Great idea. _ How did the vote tum out? There wasn't one. Majority Leader Reid blocked the Cyprus Prepares — amendment from ever getting to the Senate floor. IvY. Moran believes that public safety Capital Controls Is compromised by these control-tower cuts, and he calls the Reid gambit "a very dangerous way to try to score political points • .. _.--_—_-- - ----- - ------ - ---..- Fannie, Freddie to Ease Loan-Modification M'. Reid used the same tactics last week to block nearly a dozen other measures to Rules soften the impact of the sequester. Mr. Moran also couldn't get a vote to restore ftawag funding for White House lours by cutting $2.5 million for new uniforms for airport screeners. U.K. Banks Told toRaise Fresh CapitalRepublican Tom Coburn of Oldahoma sponsored seven amendments to save money —Including one to provide funding to the National Park Service to keep open the likes _. _ . _ . ._.___ _ _.. .._.. ._ ___ .___._. . .._ _ ._ ._ .._.._. __... of Yosemite and Yellowstone--by cutting programs that even Mr. Obama's budget - calls low priorities. He also proposed freezing new hiring of "nonessential personner Slovenia Won't Need and to end conferences by the Department of Homeland Security. At least he got ran- Bailout, Premier Says call votes, but nearly every one was defeated by Democrats when W. Reid gave the '! offline.mj.cortJartiddSB10001424127867324789504578362652912992698.htrtf 1f3 327/13 Redew& Outlook The Senate Mer Dark- WSJ.com order to his caucus. GET i MONTHS R THE PRICE OF I lut. Reid's blocking tactics were supported by President Obama, whose main political - --------FO----------------'---------- goal continues to be to impose as much sequester pain as possible on the public to force Republicans to raise taxes again. Don't Miss [?I So in the weeks ahead travelers will likely experience the frustration of flight delays, Subscribe now r • . . . a g r ZMIWM ;rt V+ : .,.. .. .: . .,f';Y,p 11r >f 'Selfish' Singles Opinion: ASecond Fireoflhe Most ,'o: m;:r, :-1:h +F.r L•�rd1*r;� r':^ ti:ru:!.: �6rr P,:d; Design Fantasy Korean War? Profitable Tweets Homes Ever JOIN THE DISCUSSION MORE IN 155 Comments, add yours Opinion a More in Opinion Nelson Lund: A Social Experiment Without Science Behind It Ema11 � PdM EOI Nsr Raprlms ! The Keystone Converts _ _ ._ - _ _ _. _ _ _ _ _ - - _ _ _ - _. _ _ _. - _ _ _ _ _ _. _ _ _ ._ _ _. _ _ _ _. _ -. _ _ _ Juan Williams: Race and the Gun Debate THE NEW PORTFOLIO • Shocked About Cyprus • • r WE'Ll. 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Anznsasoen,« Citypetitions . to fight tower closure Fayetteville: Safety a con1 . cern CAMERON MOIX would be part of the national ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZEM shutdown The city of Fayetteville The Spokane' Airptt, o Sol Thursday to join a Board in Washington state legal effort to challenge the 'nitially filed the petition Federal Aviation Adminis- for review March 25 in the tration's decision to cut the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals funding for 149 air traffic w ich similar 'D.C., after control towers across the which similar Cases were country, city officials said. consolidated and transferred Fayetteville Assistant Ci Thursday to the 9th Circuit Attorney ty m San Francisco. Currently, y Jason Kelley filed the case has six other liti- a motion with the 9th U.S. gants representing airports Circuit Court of Appeals in and cities in Florida, Ohio San Francisco to intervene and Illinois. in a petition for review of the In its motion to inter- agency's plan to withdraw vene, Fayetteville contends federal funding Sunday. that the: FAAs decision to "Fayetteville wanted to do close the towers "presents a this, and so that is what we're critical safety issue of signif- doing," Kelley said. , icant national and local im- The FAA announced late Portance," and that Arkansas last month that the control should be entitled to inter- towers at Fayetteville Execu- vene as of right, by statute of tive Airport-Drake Field and by Permission in this action" Texarkana Regional Airport See TOWER, Page 6B Tower company contracted to provide port's tower is also facing bert said. adding however that Fayetteville with tower ser- closure but has not yet legally cuts in employee hours may vices, with $20,342 per month challenged the FAA, although be necessary. Airport towers_ • Continued from Page 1 B and an initial payment of$8,550 airport manager Stephen Lueb- in Rogers and Springdale were Kelley said the city's primary for insurance. bert said information is being two of 16 facilities exempt from concern is the well-being and "We're trying to stop all of gathered by an attorney in case the federal cuts because of sim safety of its citizens that the the actions to shut [the tower] the decision is made to do so. ilar cost-sharing operations, in FAAs decision might compro- down now, so it's quite an ef- "I've told my political lead- which governing bodies pro- mise, fort to get that done;' airport ership here and my tenants that vide partial financial support. "The parties are alleging manager Ray Boudreaux said. closure is not an option — and Funding for those towers is al- that [a safety] inquiry has not 'Were hoping that the FAA re- I mean that;' Luebbert said. "So been made, and that it has ba- verses their decision, is what I'm seeking funds from both located by Congress and will sically just been a budget cut we ie hoping." states to operate on a 90-day be available until Sept. 30 hatchet move," Kelley said. FAA officials said the de- basis, so I'll have some time to Factors that the FAA con- "They still have to comply cision to close the "federal work some other alternatives sidered in determining na- with their own rules and reg- contract towers" was part of to find a permanent solution tional interest included major ulations and so it is a process a "sequestration implementa- for this." threats to national security; of getting the court to review tion plan" The Department of The regional airport, which major and adverse economic how FAA made the decision Transportation initially pro- operates under joint ownership impact beyond that of the local followed posed 189 closures in order to — with 55 percent belonging to community; major impact on and whether they procedure in doing so." cut $637 million under the bud- Texarkana, Texas, and 45 per- multistate networks of trans- get sequestration, but it exclud- cent belonging to Texarkana ortation, communication During a meeting Tues- ed 24 towers because closing Ark. — is scheduled to lose and/or finance; and the extern day, Fayetteville City Council them "would have a negative federal funding for its air traffic of its role as "a critical diver- members voted to approve the impact on the national inter- control tower May 7. But Lu- filing against the Department est," the agency said in a news ebbert has proposed the May siona airport to a largsaid in a e rhe" of Transportation. They also release. 8 implementation of a plan in agreed to provide temporary "I don't think [the FAA] which the two cities will un- lease that the national series of funding for the Fayetteville wanted this to happen," Bou- derwrite the $119,000 that he closures will occur over afour- tower beginning Monday. The dreaux said of the closures. said it will cost to rim the facU- weekspan set to begin Sunday. "emergency contract" dictates 'They were forced to make it ity for 90 days. The temporary "This is the kind of thing that the city will provide Cl2 happen." plan would enable the tower to that you just can t ignore;' Lu- Aviation Inc, a Georgia-based Texarkana Regional Air- keep its five employees, Lueb- ebbert said. y R n '4{ p 541 F s car es ` °. �i ire F .? s •^- 4�rY' �S El k � 5 x NORTHWESTpRINSAS NEWSPAPERS ss TUESDAY,�APRILj�, 1013 H o W WE SEE IT Reactions have been varied. The FAA says the moves can be done without compromising the safety • of pilots and passengers. Others aren't so sure. "This is lust unprecedented," Spencer Dickerson Tower Closing executive director of the U.S. Contract Tower Association, told Aviation International News. "It's an A Necessary attack the contract tower program, it's an attack on general aviation, it's an attack on rural airports like I ve never seen before and we're going to do Financial Move everything we can to stop the FAA from proceeding." Ray Boudreaux, the manager of Fayetteville's airport, said other cuts could be made without harming air safety. hen one hears a reference to the "Sure we can still operate, but it will be at greater term "flying blind," it's usually risk without a tower to control the air space at the . understood to describe the act field," he said. of doing something new without Those unfamiliar with aviation might mistakenly benefit of help or instructions. I believe all take-offs and landings are controlled by a Perhaps the worst place to hear the phrase uttered guy in a tower. They're not. General aviation pilots is inside the cockpit of an operating aircraft. are trained and expected to know how to land or That, in a sense, is what the Federal Aviation I take off at the many airports across themation that Administration expects the pilots coming into do not have control towers. They do so by tuning Fayetteville Executive Airport to do. We're not saying their radios to a common frequency, announcing they will literally fly blind, but with news the FAA their presence near the airport and talking with any plans to shut down Fayetteville's air traffic control other nearby aircraft to coordinate all activities. That tower, pilots will soon ascend and descend at the old system will remain in place. Drake Field without the lead of that knowledgeable, Of course, pilots and those who run these airports calm voice from the ground. are upset. When it comes to flying, there's a great Fayetteville is one of two Arkansas airports comfort that comes with every layer of safety. But scheduled to lose air we're not shocked by the decisions coming out of the traffic control towers as WHAT'S THE POIHT? FAA. In a nutshell, our stance is this: We support all a result of cost-cutting the safety the nation can afford. measures triggered by Although it would be nice This nation has to get used to tightening the federal the federal government's to keep all the benefits of belt, which is already strained by leadership that so-called sequester. On the current level of federal cannot get other spending under control. Congress March 22, the agency spending, that approach is and the present must eliminate some federal announced it will close unsustainable The closingspending, and es, that means losing some programs. 149 contract towers of a local airport's air trafficY g P � control tower is probably just It seems the cuts proposed so far are the easier around the nation. the start ones — even if it seems some of them are designed Fayetteville's tower is to generate political reaction. The nation hasn't slated to close April Z even gotten close to the kinds of difficult spending Contract towers use employees from the private decisions necessary to get this nation back on track. sector under arrangement with the FAA rather than As for Fayetteville, it would be nice if it could keep federal air traffic controllers employed by the agency. its tower. But Northwest Arkansas can hardly insulate That, in part, explains why the agency can move itself from all effects of federal spending cuts. so quickly. For federal controllers, union contracts Indeed, there are probably more to come. require a year of negotiation on such decisions. For contractors, there's no such requirement. \ ' . _ �, .. �'k. L.Zi aJ`` reLw 3n �}��~ lbY 3 � c mu:..eG. � { f -_ M��` n�^'.ae. • �- W_ ��) �� �Z _ . �= Q� — - F� _�'C. 0 � � � s �'��-- �� ; r , � � q �� _ �, a ' t �,,- s" ' a 0 u to eo • E fn V1 2 cities m state : told airmcontrol towers to close Airports in Fayetteville, Texarkana among 149 in US. getting FAA ax a NOEL E. OMAN is available through Sept. 30 CW-, ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GA7.EM forthem, but they are subject � The air traffic control V to the 5 percent budge[ cuts known as sequestration and 0 etteville and Texarkana are 3 towers at airports in Fay- . could be looked at later for W v among 149 nationwide that possible closure, an agency ,7-, will close beginning next spokesman said. month because of feder- The FAA cuts are part ® ¢ al budget cuts, the Federal of larger federal across-the- 0 Aviation Administration an- board spending cuts totaling Z 3 pounced Friday. $85 billion. C q The agency, under pres- Still to be decided in this �4 sure to find $637 million in round of cuts is the fate of 0' spending cuts between now 65 control towers staffed by Q and Sept. 30, said it elect- FAA personnel, including the ed to keep 24 other federal one at Fort Smith Regional ® contract towers nationwide Airport, and the midnight open because closing them shift towers 72 other wasn't in the "national in- airports, including Bill and terest." Hillary Clinton National Towers at airports in Airport/Adams Field in Lit. p � Springdale and Rogers will tle Rock. remain open because they The only other Arkansas were two of 16 towers op- airport with a tower, North- erated under a "cost share" west Arkansas Regional program in which the gov- Airport at Highfill, is unaf- p �i1 O erning entities contribute fected by the announced or money to their operation. pending cuts. It's primarily a N Congress sets aside commercial service airport funds every fiscal year for with an FAA-staffed tower these towers, so the money See TOWERS, Page 3A 0 o a a N pk Arkansas Democrat V Gazette and takeoffs, they also serve said U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, open. That led to a reprieve for Towers as extra eyes on operations R-Ark., whose congressional the 24 contract towers that the on a field, whether it's aircraft district includes Texarkana. FAA decided to keep open. • Continued from Page to taxiing between the apron and "FAA Administrator Mi- The FAA said the national that already doesn't have a the runway, or vehicles driving chael Huerta seems to be interest considerations includ- midnight shift. across the airport grounds. taking a page from President ed: The managers of Fayette- General-aviation pilots are [Barack] Obama's playbook:' • Significant threats to na- ville Executive Airport and accustomed to the specific Cotton said in a statement. tional security as determined Texarkana Regional Airport procedures used to operate in "But the impact of these clo- by the FAA in consultation called the decision to close and out of airports that don't sures will be much deeper than with the Department of De- the 149 towers shortsighted have control towers, Luebbert the cancellation of schoolchil- fense or the Department of and compromising safety said, but commercial pilots are dren's White House tours — Homeland Security. Flying in and out of an not. many hardworking Arkansans . Significant, adverse eco- airport without a tower is "Those procedures work will lose their jobs and our nomic impact that is beyond something many pilots do fre- well only occasionally" at an state economy will suffer." the impact on a local commu- quently, said Ray Boudreaux, airport with a tower that clos- The Obama administration NTy,. manager of the Fayetteville es at night, he said. "General has stopped White House . significant impact on airport that also is known as aviation uses it all of the time." tours as part of the sequestra- multistate transportation, But at busier airports with tion cuts. communication or banking/ Drake Field. , bad ngweather, Federal officials they financial not an unsafe thing to night landings and takeoffs, had little room to maneuver * The extent to which an do," he said. "It's just that tow- it takes is one person using the in the budget when making the ers make it significantly safer. wrong frequency" to cause a control-tower cuts. airport currently served by "It's not the end of the midair collision or other mis- "We heard from communi- a contract tower is a critical world, but it's frustrating to hap, Luebbert said. ties across the country about diversionary airport to a large hub. think this kind of thing can He and other airport offi- the importance of their towers, actually happen." cials in the region are looking and these were very tough de- Texarkana and Fayetteville b Stephen Luebbert, manager at keeping their towers opera- cisions:' Transportation Sec- both made their cases. at the Texarkana airport, said tional on a limited basis. retary Ray LaHood said in a Boudreaux cited military closing the 149 towers was like "yes, our cities would be prepared statement. "Unfor- units from Little Rock Air turning off aviation's version of picking up the tab:' tunately we are faced with a Force Base and military in- traffic signals. But Luebbert said he didn't series of difficult choices that stallations in Oklahoma, Tex- "You can save a lot of mon- know whether Texarkana we have to make to reach the as and Louisiana that frequent ey disconnecting traffic sig- would pursue the matter alone required cuts under sequestra- Drake Field, which he said has nals, but at what cost to safe- or in conjunction with two air- tion" surrounding terrain that is ty?" he said. "We don't see this ports in Texas. Airport administrators had as a smart thing to do." The tower shutdowns rep- an opportunity to make their Air traffic controllers not resent 28 percent of the na- case that it was in the "national only monitor aircraft landings tion's aviation infrastructure, interest" to keep their towers A A SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2013 . 3A similar to what military pilots The budget cuts being see in Afghanistan forced on the FAA could pro- The airport also is a ded- vide the agency with political icated hurricane evacuation cover to make some of those site for military aircraft from changes. bases in Louisiana, Alabama "There's a tendency over and Florida time to have Congress direct Boudreaux also cited the more money to small airports tower's role in helping enforce than would probably be eco- the FAA no-fly zones above nomically justified" explained University of Arkansas football Robert Poole, an aviation ana- games and other mass gather- lyst at the Reason Foundation ings. The school's stadium is 3 think tank miles north of the airport. His own initial review of Texarkana officials cited the list released Friday showed their a'irport's proximity to the that many of the towers that Red River Army Depot and its will close around the clock use as an airport for Navy and are at airports with few or no Air Force training aircraft. scheduled passenger flights, Some aviation experts say, indicating that Friday's deci- the elimination of overnight sion would likely have little ef- shifts should have been carried fed on airline service, he said. out regardless of the seques- ter at facilities that don't have Information for this article was enough traffic to justify the ex- contributed by The Associated pense of staffing their towers. Press. o` �, It It g d I-ell It It It It I It It It Y • ti✓ { ,, 4�{ • '..,_-•y •tel" _ � i It Q f�{{3 It ?, � z It It 5'K s :: It- } It 3. It 5•i• TOWER: Four Full-Time, Two PartTime Workers To Lose Jobs CONTINUED FROM PAGE lA AT A GLANCE FAA regulations require Dues ORIGIN pilots at uncontrolled Fayetteville Executive Airport airports to communicate at Drake Field is owned and with other pilots on a operated by Fayetteville. common traffic advisory Drake Feld was established radio frequency. Pilots are in 1929 with the help of Noah required to coordinate their Drake, professor of geology departures and arrivals, attheUniversity ofArkansas, give position reports and who donated $3,500 to buy acknowledge other aircraft the land for the airport in the traffic pattern. Controllers logged more SMWCCMOFFAVrmvuu than 36,000 flight operations last year at the Drake Field tower, which is open from a fully funded tower and yet 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. we were closed because it's Four full-time and two fully supported by the FAA. part-time controllers will lose It has nothing to do with their jobs, Boudreaux said. who needs the tower more, The tower at Northwest that's what's so unbelievably Arkansas Regional Airport crazy." will not be affected. Boudreaux said there were Sens. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., other options to meet the and John Boozman, R-Ark., required budget cuts and opposed the tower clos- those could have been made ings and tried to prevent with no impact .on tower it but were unsuccessful, operations. Boudreaux said. In early March, the FAA Rogers and Springdale proposed to close 189 contract weren't on the list of towers air traffic control towers as being closed immediately but part of its plan to meet the will likely close at the end of $637 million in cuts required the government's fiscal year, under budget sequestration Sept. 30. . aimed at chopping $85 billion "I don't understand the from federal spending. whole idea behind that. The FAA made the decision Rogers and Springdale did to keep 24 federal contract not have a fully funded towers open that had been tower because they didn't proposed to close because have enough operations," doing so would have a nega- Boudreaux said. "We had tive impact on the national enough operations and had interest. Tayetrl ARKANSAS FAYETTEVILLE EXECUTIVE AIRPORT OPERATING SUMMARY MONTH ENDING 3/31/2013 AIRPORT BOARD OPERATING ACTIVITIES - ADMIN & MAINT 2011 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 Actual Budget Actual Budget Budget YTD Actual YTD REVENUE Rents d Leases 444,147 440,900 463,543 493,700 123,425 119,277 Aviation Fuel 114,865 119,500 157,525 129,600 32,400 18,091 Contract FBO 83,815 70,900 72,700 71,000 17,750 9.448 Miscellaneous 11,869 11,900 8,586 2,900 725 3,596 Operational Transfers - FEMA Reimbursement 15,857 - - - - - NON-OPERATING INCOME Sales Tax Revenue 29,733 26,000 25,449 25,600 4,267 376 Non-Op Miscellaneous (100) - - - - - INCOME RECEIVED FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 700,187 669,200 727,803 722,800 178,567 150,788 EXPENSES Personnel 331,465 341,673 319,057 336,276 93,244 86,942 Materiels 8 Supplies 12,990 22,545 21,315 22,155 5,539 2,380 Aviation Fuel Purchases 81,584 90.328 105,924 93,888 23,472 25.424 Services B Charges 200,230 231,896 225,132 226,122 56,531 33,611 Cost Allocation to General Fund 7,915 7,915 7,915 7,915 1,979 1 ,984 Maintenance 48,137 64,490 50,859 66,057 16,514 7,898 Interest on West GA Hangars Loan (accrued monthly) 13,237 6,328 6,328 5,862 1,466 1 ,466 INCOME USED FOR OPERATING ACTIVITIES 695,557 765,175 736,530 758,275 198,744 159,704 NET INCOME FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES - GAIN I (LOSS) 4,629 (95,975) (8,727) (35,475) (20,177) (8,916) OPERATING & CAPITAL - FBO OPS 2011 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 Actual Budget Actual Budget Budget YTD Actual YTD REVENUE Rents 8 Leases 25,000 1,042 - Aviation Fuel 1,643,867 68,494 41,646 Miscellaneous 6,083 253 981 INCOME RECEIVED FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES - - - 1,674,950 69,790 42,627 EXPENSES Personnel 180,901 7,538 1,800 Materials 8 Supplies 8,923 372 92 Aviation Fuel Purchases 1,321 ,296 220,216 22,286 Services 8 Charges 139,451 23,242 5,175 Cost Allocation to General Fund 16,667 2,778 - Mainlenance 13,541 2,257 495 Capital Investment 98,437 98,437 45,000 INCOME USED FOR OPERATING ACTIVITIES - - - 1,779,216 354,839 74,848 NET INCOME FROM FBO ACTIVITIES - GAIN I (LOSS) - - - (104,266) (285,049) (32,221) INVESTING ACTIVITIES 2011 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 Actual Budget Actual Budget Budget YTD Actual YTD NON-OPERATING INCOME Interest on Investments 5,098 7,800 4,041 4,200 1,050 903 Other - Unrealized Gain (Loss) on investments - - (753) - - - CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS EXPENSE 07039 AIP #38 Correct Rurnvay 16 Safety Area Deficiency Phase III 391,775 - - - - 10022 AIP #39 Wildlife Hazard Assessment 33.205 - - - 3 - 10028 Airport Fuel Farm Repair (512) - - - - 11017 Airport Security Improvements 128,693 51,095 51,078 - $ - 11019 Airport Stom water Protection Plan Update 2,500 - - - 11023 AIP #40 Pavement Rehab 8 Re-Marking 252,069 - - - 12002 Hangar Rehab - 4248 S School - 263.250 262,623 - Is - 12011 Executive Hangar Office Addition 32,504 26,473 300.369 - 12012 AIP #41 Pavement Rehab 8 Re-Marking Phase II - 147,252 117,176 - - USED FOR INVESTING ACTIVITIES 802.631 486,301 454,061 296,169 (903) FINANCING ACTIVITIES 2011 2012 2012 2013 2013 2013 Actual Budget Actual Budget Budget YTD Actual YTD LOANS Payments on Loan Principal (accrued) 28,030 15,530 15,530 15,530 3,882 3,882 One-time Paydovm on Hangar Loan 305,626 - - - GRANTS STATE / FEDERAL Due/Received from State Grants on Fed Projects 195,779 34,417 27,156 - - Due/Received from AIP #38 Correct RW 16 RSA Phase III 372,186 - - - _ - Due/Received from AIP #39 Wildlife Hazard Assessment 51,343 - m Due/Received from Dept Aero - Fuel Farm Repair - - - - ' - Due/Received from Dept Aero - Airport Security Improvements - 144,000 143,816 - - Due/Received from AIP #40 Pavement Rehab 8 Re-marking 239,465 - Due/Recelved from Dept Aero - 80/20 Hangar Rehab - 210,600 210,098 - m Due/Received from AIP #41 Pavement Rehab 8 Re-marking Phase It - 105,741 104,828 - - Due/Received from Dept Aero - 80/20 Executive Hangar Office Addition - - - 240,822 "- - NET INCOME FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES 525,118 479,228 470,368 225,292 (3,882) AIRPORT CASH BALANCE 616,222 513,174 623,802 413,184 579,685 CURRENT ENCUMBRANCES (CAPITAL) MICE TASK ORDER #9 - Plans, Specs, Proj Admin. Exec Hangar Office Addition 6,031 10,027 Centerpoint Contractors Inc - Construction, Exec Hangar Office Addition 289.675 289,675 Payments by Property Owners - NRight Hangar project fire sprinkler system (33.000) (33,000) LONG TERM LIABILITIES Hangar Loan Principal 201,886 198.004 APPROVED GRANTS (Not yet accrued) - CAPITAL PROJECTS Slate Grants on Federal Projects - - StateGrant - Exec Hangar Office Addition 240,822 240,822 AIRPORT CASH MINUS LIABILITIES (292,231) 355,801