Regional Jets at Friedman Memorial Airport(FMA)- The recent Safety Management System (SMS) review resulted in the FAA approving regional jet-type aircraft (RJ) operations at Friedman under the existing Letter of Agreement with the control tower. The FAA has made a determination that for commercial scheduled RJs to operate at Friedman, an Environmental Assessment (EA) be completed. SkyWest Airlines has made a request to the FAA to modify their operations specification (ops-spec) to fly CRJ700s at Friedman, thus triggering a CRJ700 specific EA.

 

New Updates:

• Environmental Assessment is underway.

 

Previous Updates:

• At the June 5 FMAA meeting, the Board approved a Scope of Services from T-O Engineers in partnership with Mead & Hunt for an Environmental Assessment.
• The EA will evaluate impacts on air quality, fish, wildlife, plants, and surrounding areas, including noise.
• The EA process is extensive, with multiple opportunities for public review and comment.
• The estimated budget for the EA is $78,000, which will be funded by FMAA.
• The EA is expected to be completed in September.
• Such an EA is airline and aircraft specific, meaning this EA is to study SkyWest Airlines operating CRJ700s at Friedman.

 

Improvements to Friedman Memorial Airport - The FAA has told us that FMA has design deficiencies that, if not remedied, could result in the reduction or elimination of some air service. As such, the FMAA has instructed airport staff to work with the FAA to explore what fixes can be made at the existing airport.

 

New Updates:

• Recent feedback from the FAA's Northwest Mountain Regional Office has shifted the approach to a data collection process at Friedman.
• While we had been planning on a detailed, lengthy study, the FAA has requested a 90-day study to develop alternatives and their costs at Friedman.
• IMPORTANT: The FAA has said the alternatives analysis should not be restricted and may include alternatives that the FMAA has considered "off the table" as it is important to understand the costs and factors associated with meeting standards to determine the practicability of pursuing each option.
• A detailed consideration of the alternatives by FMAA utilizing the Guiding Principles and an in-depth public process will be a part of a future planning study.
• Though a different approach, we would have gone through this analysis regardless and it will give the FMAA and the FAA the information needed to make informed decisions.
• Next steps are coordinating with the FAA to finalize the Scope of Work and submit a grant application.

 

Previous Updates:

• At the June 5 FMAA meeting, Dave Mitchell from T-O Engineers reviewed a draft scope of work for the Airport Planning Study process. Study highlights include:
  • The goal is to identify ways to survive and thrive at the existing site, while efforts towards a new airport move forward.
  • The process is to analyze design deficiencies, develop alternatives and where alternatives are not feasible, explore modifications to standards. These are agreements with the FAA to provide an equivalent level of safety through non-standard methods.
  • The Airport Planning Study process also will explore potential improvements to reliability through both GPS/NextGen technology and ground based navigation options.
• Next steps are to present a final scope of work and fee structure for approval at the next FMAA meeting.

 

Pursuit of a replacement airport- A replacement airport is likely the best long-term solution for this community.  Critical components in the replacement airport process would include evaluating operational feasibility, identifying additional or new funding sources, and locating a feasible site and building community support.

 

New Updates:

• The proposed 90-day study will serve to inform the FAA on all matters related to air service for the community, including the pursuit of a replacement airport.

 

Previous Updates:

• At the June 5 FMAA Meeting, Airport Manager, Rick Baird, reported that the FAA had told him the Northwest Mountain Regional Office was consulting with Headquarters about the value of restarting the Environmental Impact Study that was halted in August 2011.

 

Retain/Improve/Develop Air Service

 

New Updates:

• The FMAA Board approved a proposal from Mead & Hunt for Air Service Consulting Services aimed at gathering information to increase enplanements by improving passenger usage at Friedman.
• The two primary areas of analysis are around measuring the true market seasonality of airport usage patterns and airfare monitoring to identify non-competitive airfares with competitive airports.


General

 

• Coffee Talk with Airport Manager, Rick Baird, scheduled for July 24, 7:30 - 9AM at Jesse's Country Grill in Bellevue.