Engineer Offers Runway Plan That Leaves CR 100E Open
Posted
John DeGroff-
A proposed option for airport expansion that does not involve the closing of CR 100E was heard at Tuesday night's Aviation Board meeting.
Ken Ross of NGC Group, an engineering firm from Indianapolis, introduced the plan to the board and those in attendance. "We looked at some alternatives to road closure itself, and came up with a loop design that would swing the road around," he said. "This is by no means a final design, this is just a concept. It's going to take some further analysis."
The loop around the proposed runway extension would add six tenths (0.6) of a mile to the existing road. According to Ross, at 40 mph this would increase any commute on CR 100E by less than a minute. There would be no stop signs or hard turns, making the loop a smooth drive.
The airport owns roughly 40 acres on the east side of CR 100E which has been rented out as farm land for years. While this loop road concept would require more land, acquiring it is not viewed as a problem at this time.
"Without dealing with the road, the FAA would not approve a runway extension or any other kind expansion," Ross said.
In a letter to airport manager David Beall, dated December 7, 2010, Gregory N. Sweeny of the FAA states, in part:
"The presence of CR N 100E is a primary reason for the constraints placed on the existing runway configuration and any possible runway alterations or extensions. Unless the road is removed or relocated the airport cannot do the following:
1.Reclaim the 901' of runway pavement lost due to runway safety area (RSA) needs.
(We would note that if runway 9/27 is improved the FAA will have to impose Declared Distances on the runway 9 end due to the presence of the Localizer being within the RSA. This would cause a displacement of the runway 9 landing threshold 200' to the east and this 200' would not be usable by landing aircraft in either direction.)
2.Install an approach lighting system on the runway 27 end. An approach lighting system is needed to lower the ILS (glide slope) minimums to 200-1/2.
3.Extend the runway to the east by any amount.
(Keep in mind that any of the above would also require analysis of the powerline for its effect on the proposed runway configuration and required disposition.)
I hope that the above helps to clarify the impact that the presence of CR N 100E has on the ability of the airport to make any improvements to runway 9/27."
While it's too soon to come up with an exact price, the board does not want the project to exceed $5,000,000 because of the extra work involved with cost analysis. This price would also have to include moving existing power lines, and environment and economic impact studies.
FAA funds that are made available for such projects are derived from aviation taxes. The FAA will fund up to 95% of the cost of such projects, with 2 1/2% coming from state funds, and 2 1/2 % from local sources.
Barry Lintz, a pilot for Biomet, also spoke briefly and addressed this cost issue. "There's a lot of misconception about how this thing gets funded," he said. "As the board knows, and as the aviation guys know, in the 1970s the FAA created the airport, airway trust fund. The idea was that a ticket tax, a fuel tax, and a tax on charters would go into that fund. They are mandated, when their budgets are approved, to spend that money.
"I don't take the position that I put money in this, so I deserve money back, but I did a little research. In 2010, Biomet contributed over $560,000 to this trust fund."
Lintz feels that since the FAA uses these funds for airport expansions and upgrades, as well as discretionary spending, such projects are being funded by the end users.
It was pointed out also that the loop road proposal is just that-currently only a proposal. No real work could be done before more public input is included, and all impact studies are done. A year would be the shortest amount of time before any projects could start, but as the board pointed out, 2013 would probably be a more realistic time frame.
In other business:
n The board announced the purchase of 62 acres for $432,000 at the Stevens Property Auction.
n Tree removal near runway 18 will start after January 1st.
n Total anticipated FAA funds in fiscal year 2011 are $469,078.
n The board agreed to the same meeting time for 2011.
Aviation board members are John Yingling, Paul Grossnickle, Gene Zale, Jay Rigdon and Joe Thallemer.
