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 spec (ops-spec) to fly CRJ700s at Friedman, thus triggering a CRJ700 specific EA.

 

New 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 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.   This will be guided by the alternatives identified in an Airport Planning Study. The SMS review process helped to provide a framework for the scope of work for this study.

 

New 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

 

Previous Updates:

• During the SMS Review, a safety case analysis identified four primary areas of design deficiencies at FMA. In priority order, they are:
  • Runway Safety Area
  • Runway Object Free Area
  • Runway - Taxiway Separation
  • Runway - Aircraft Parking Separation
• At the May 1st FMAA meeting, Dave Mitchell from T-O Engineers, the Airport's engineering firm and Airport Manager, Rick Baird, gave a presentation outlining an approach to developing the ALP scope of work. The Board agreed with their recommendations. Highlights include:
  • "Dual Paths"
    • Move forward with the airport relocation process.
    • Plan for improvements at the existing site in a tiered process:
      • Only do the steps that are necessary.
      • Phase improvements to limit costs and impacts to the community.
      • Focus on improvements that help retain, improve and develop air service.
        • Meet standards, where possible.
        • Where not possible, pursue Modifications of Standards.
        • Research opportunities for improved reliability.
      • Analyze options within the existing fence, then look at options outside the fence, if necessary.
    • The Board agreed with the recommendation to start the process by looking at alternatives. The primary reasons for this were that our needs are not demand driven, but rather fixing what we have, and that we are going to need FAA buy-in early, even to study some options.
    • The Board gave guidance that the following were "off the table":
      • A plan that will encourage larger aircraft to use Friedman.
      • Any option that includes a different runway alignment.
      • Major increases in runway length.
    • With guidance from the Board, Airport Staff will now go about developing a formal scope of work for review and feedback from the Board at the June 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 the evaluation of operational feasibility, identifying additional or new funding sources, locating a feasible site and building community support.

 

New 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:

• Friedman Airport Staff and Fly Sun Valley Alliance have been working with the Boise Airport (BOI) to partner on an Air Service Development Grant application.
  • Grant would open up service with a major airline connecting hub in the South/Southeastern U.S. Targets would include Dallas/FT. Worth (DFW), Dallas/Love Field (DAL), Houston, (IAH) Houston (HOU), and Atlanta (ATL)
  • Concurrent with the establishment of air service to the Southern US, Seaport Airlines has committed to implement connecting service between Boise and SUN. This will provide near-seamless air service from dozens of points in the South.
  • Though BOI would be the official sponsor, grants submitted in partnership with other communities are generally well received.

 

General

 

New Updates:

• At the June 5 FMAA meeting, the Board approved the implementation of new communications tactics.
  • Goal remains to be open and transparent while proactively communicating with the public as efficiently and effectively as possible.
  • Concerns were the volume of one-on-one email correspondence was overwhelming the Airport Manager and not the most efficient or effective way to communicate.
  • New tactics include:
    • Airport Solutions Update Presentations - regular presentations to local rotaries and economic development groups.
    • Friedman Airport Tours - small in person tours that take the public onto the taxiway to physically show them the areas of deficiency.
    • Coffee Talks/Backyard gatherings - small gatherings at local eateries throughout the Valley or in the homes of interested citizens aimed at providing access to the Airport Staff and encourage face-to-face communication.