Improvements to Friedman Memorial Airport (FMA) - The FAA has told us that FMA has design deficiencies that, if not remedied, could result in the reduction or elimination of air service. As such, the FMAA has instructed airport staff to work with the FAA to explore what fixes can be done to the existing airport. This exploration will likely take the form of an Airport Layout Plan (ALP) planning process.

 

New Updates: NONE

 

Previous Updates:

• Meeting with the FAA is scheduled for April 2 in Renton, WA. *
• Attendees on behalf of FMAA will be Airport Manager, Rick Baird and Dave Mitchell from T-O (the airport's engineering firm)
• We anticipate the meetings will be with managers in the FAA's Northwest Mountain Regional office (Carol Suomi, Stan Allison, and Sandy Simmons). Carol Suomi will determine if other departments of the FAA will be included.

 

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 the evaluation of operational feasibility, identifying additional or new funding sources, locating a feasible site, and building community support.

 

New Updates: NONE

 

Previous Updates:

• Meeting with the FAA is scheduled for April 2 in Renton, WA. *

 

Regional Jets at Friedman Memorial Airport - FMA recently submitted a Change Proposal to the FAA that asks if the Letter of Agreement (LOA) between the airport and the airport control tower can be modified to include regional jet-type aircraft (RJs).

 

New Updates: NONE

   

Previous Updates:

• The FAA has taken control and possession of the Change Proposal and incorporated additional questions to be assessed in the Safety Management System (SMS) review. Specifically, in addition to the FMAA's question about including commercial RJs with wingspans up to 95' in the LOA, the FAA has included all General Aviation (non-commercial) Approach Category C aircraft. The current LOA does not include General Aviation aircraft.*
• We have previously articulated that an unintended consequence could be that other airfield procedures will be scrutinized in the SMS review. The decision of the FAA to take control and possession of the Change Proposal increases the likelihood of such scrutiny.
• The FAA also articulated that the SMS review should determine the number of RJ operations per year that the airport control tower can handle without severely affecting the capacity of the airfield. They believe this will help FMAA understand when we may outgrow the existing site.*
• Evaluation panel to be established in the next two weeks. Anticipated panel members from FMAA will be the Airport Manager, Manager of the Air Traffic Control Tower, and the Manager of Atlantic Aviation, at a minimum. The Airport Manager will be seeking guidance from the Chair and Vice Chair subsequent to FAA recommendations for panel participants with particular expertise.
• We expect answers within the next 100 days.

 

General

 

New Updates:

 

When the FAA suspended the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) study in August, 2011 citing cost and environmental concerns, they asked us to go back to the community, determine a path forward and let them know what we want to do.  As Airport staff prepares to meet with the FAA on April 2, it is worthwhile to review what the FAA told us when they met with the community just after the suspension last fall:

 

• They are committed to their partnership with FMAA and the community and will continue to work with us toward a solution
• Design standards are the backbone of the National Airport System and meeting the appropriate standards is the starting point for consideration of options
• In addition to design standards, reliability is a concern and will be a factor in selecting viable options
• The best way to promote continued commercial air service is to meet standards and improve reliability
• As we work towards full compliance with FAA design standards, alternatives that allow work to be done in a phased approach make the project much more affordable and attainable

 

After soliciting community feedback and getting a good understanding of the concerns, we have directed Airport staff to discuss the following in their upcoming meeting with the FAA: 

• The engineering study that indicates reliability can likely be improved at Friedman Memorial Airport
• The FMAA Passenger Demand Analysis that highlights the large amount of leakage from FMA to the Boise Airport
• Possible improvements to the existing site that will help the community retain, improve, and develop air service. This exchange will likely lead to a discussion of a necessary Airport Layout Plan (ALP) planning process.
• How to continue the pursuit of a replacement airport as the likely best long-term solution for this community in the face of new economic realities.

 

Updates on the April 2nd meeting with the FAA will be provided at the April 3, FMAA meeting.

 

Previous Updates: 

• Discussions are underway to merge Flyfma.com and Flysvra.com. We expect a proposal to be presented at the May FMAA meeting.