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Director's Dialogue
At the end of last year the buzz on Capitol Hill was all about the looming sequestration. Sequestration, or what was coined as the "fiscal cliff," was to come into force on January 1, 2013; However, Congress and the President avoided resolution by simply extending the deadline to March 1, 2013.
Sequestration is a procedure in U.S. law that limits the size of the federal budget. It sets hard caps on the amount of government spending within broadly defined categories as well as sets in-place automatic budget cuts. If my understanding is correct, the sequestration plan is to reduce the U.S. Federal Budget by $1.2 trillion.
I'm sure you have all seen the news and know that a resolution regarding sequestration was not reached by the March 1, 2013 deadline. So how does that affect us here at FWA? This is a great question and one that I'm not sure anyone can clearly answer just yet.
Several of the federal agencies have published anticipated actions as a result of the budget reductions:
FAA - $600 million in reductions
Secretary LaHood announced the potential closing of over 100 air traffic control facilities, eliminating the overnight shift at over 60 facilities and reducing preventive maintenance and support for all air traffic control equipment. If you are interested, you can read this information release from the FAA. At this time, FAA furloughs could happen as early as April 7, 2013. We are still uncertain as to what hours our air traffic tower will be closed, but it is becoming clear that our tower will not be open 24 hours daily. This does not mean the airport will be closed. During the hours when our tower is closed, there are pilot procedures in place for arrivals/departures in an uncontrolled airfield.
TSA - $300 million in reductions
What we have seen is some basic information such as: hiring freeze, no overtime, and possibly eliminating the checkpoint LEO reimbursement program. TSA is informing the public to expect longer wait times at security checkpoints.
Customs and Border Patrol - $700 million in reductions
It is uncertain what cuts may happen, but some areas have been disclosed as follows:
- Contracts: Certain contracts and other forms of expenditures would likely be discontinued or limited, while new contract awards would be delayed or cancelled.
- Cut travel, facilities maintenance and supplies: Operational and administrative expenditures in these and other areas would be cut.
- New hiring would cease, including hiring of new agents and officers.
- Potentially prevent airports from adding new international flights.
The Defense Department will likely begin the process to furlough more than 800,000 civilian employees. This will include National Guard military technicians who are unique to the federal workforce because they must be members of the National Guard to qualify for their jobs.
The 122nd ANG based here in Fort Wayne will be forced to furlough 200 guard personnel. This will result in nearly a month's pay to each of those workers. It will also impact training by cutting flying hours by 18 percent.
As we receive more information about what effects we could see locally, we will continue to share this information with the public and the media.
We look forward to sharing with you many other airport happenings in this edition of our e-newsletter.
Thanks and enjoy.
Scott D. Hinderman, A.A.E.
Executive Director of Airports
Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority
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Air Service Update
Book your Spring Break vacation with Allegiant
The winter blues may have you down, but you can escape to three different non-stop Florida destinations from FWA this spring to enjoy some fun and sun. Throughout March and April, Allegiant will be operating many flights each week to Orlando/Sanford, Tampa/St. Petersburg, and new this year, Punta Gorda/Fort Myers. For complete schedules and fares from FWA, visit www.Allegiant.com or call 702-505-8888.
Allegiant now booking seasonal flights to Myrtl e Beach
Looking for a great place to spend your summer vacation? Visit Myrtle Beach! Allegiant will again be adding seasonal service to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina this summer. Travelers can now book direct flights between Fort Wayne (FWA) and Myrtle Beach (MYR) fo service beginning May 16. Visit www.allegiant.com to make a reservation, or call their reservation line at 702-505-8888. Additional Flights to Minneapolis beginning this summer Great news for business travelers! Delta Airlines will be resuming their daily flight to Minneapolis (MSP) on March 3, and then adding a second daily trip from June 10 - August 12. To book flights on Delta Airlines visit delta.com or call 1-800-221-1212. |
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Airport News
Passenger boardings up at FWA in 2012
Boardings at FWA were up 2.35% for 2012, equaling approximately 284,465 passengers. This is welcoming news, considering other area airports did not fair as well in 2012.
WANE Newschannel 15 did a fantastic report about the boardings increase and interviewed a few passengers in the terminal. Check out the full report on their website by clicking this link.
Airport Authority names new Director of Administration and Finance
 The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority welcomes Robin Strasser, C.P.A. as the Director of Administration & Finance. In her role, Strasser will direct the day to day business and financial functions of the Airport Authority, as well as oversee management of the accounting and finance, human resources, information technology, marketing and administration, purchasing, and property management departments.
A lifetime resident of the Fort Wayne area and a graduate of IPFW, Strasser has 26 years of experience in accounting, finance, and management. Strasser comes to the Airport Authority from Fort Wayne Public Transportation Corporation/Citilink, where she served as controller for the past four years. Prior to her work with Citilink, Strasser spent eight years as a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual and STAR Wealth Management. She also served in various CFO/Controller positions in Fort Wayne for nonprofit organizations for seven years and was a member of the audit staff at Baden Gage & Schroeder LLC for seven years. Airport Authority acquires former Pleasant Center School and property At January's board meeting, the Airport Authority board went forward with a plan to accept nearly 10 acres of property from Fort Wayne Community Schools. The property houses the former Pleasant Center Elementary School, which was closed in June 2010 and has remained empty. Indiana law allows the transfer of surplus school property to another governmental entity upon mutual agreement. No money was involved with FWCS; the property was simply transferred. The airport will now be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the property. By owning the land, which is within a mile of one of the runways, the Airport Authority can control any kind of future site development. |
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Airport Projects
Airport Authority launches new public website
 | | An example of the responsive design of the new website |
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority is proud to announce the launch of a new public website. The newly designed fwairport.com incorporates all of the information previously found on separate websites for the Airport Authority, Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA), and Smith Field Airport (SMD). The redesign incorporates bold colors, sleek graphics, and new navigational tools that allow web users to find information about all areas of airport operations and air travel from both Fort Wayne International and Smith Field Airports.
The site was developed by Reusser Design, LLC, a local Roanoke-based web development company. Reusser Design developed the site to be device-responsive, a revolutionary way of organizing information onto a fluid grid, which displays content on any size screen: mobile, tablet, laptop, or desktop. This eliminates the need for separate mobile sites for each screen width available. This makes social sharing easier, as well as provides a flawless user experience across devices.
Some other key features include:
- Flight Tracker: This most-used site feature has been re-engineered to work across multiple devices in various widths.
- Solicitations & Bidding: FWA now offers a solution for contractors to order plans online for airport projects.
- Online rental payment: Tenants who rent hangar space at FWA or SMD can now make payments online.
- News / Blog: The site now has an area where the most recent news and contests can be easily posted and accessed by users, keeping them up-to-date on airport happenings.
- Easy Editability: Airport Authority has full control over the content on their site, with easy back-end access and publishing functions to take control and manage the site content.
So make sure to go check out the new www.fwairport.com before your next trip, and let us know what you think!
New upgrades coming soon to the FWA terminal
 
Passengers traveling through FWA this spring may have to pardon our dust as we make some upgrades to the terminal building. This project is not a full renovation of the terminal building, but because no updates have been made since the terminal expansion and renovation in 1994, the building is due for a "facelift".
Travellers can expect new paint, some new flight information displays, updates to the columns, and improvements to the kids play area. There will also be some light renovation to expand the Welcome Center and the Business Center near the upstairs gates will get some new furniture and workstations.
Project painting and construction began in late February and will hopefully be complete by the end of spring. Make sure to check out these new improvements the next time you fly!
Smith Field terminal building set to move this summer
This summer the Airport Authority has plans to move the terminal building into the former Ivy Tech building on Ludwig Road. As you may recall, Ivy Tech outgrew the building used for their Airframe & Powerplant program, so they built a new facility at Smith Field off of Cook Road.
Before move-in can take place, however, some minor renovations need to be completed to make the building more "customer-friendly." The fuel farm also needs to be relocated near the new facility. The addition of interior furnishings and inclusion of an exterior observation patio are being incorporated into the project. Right now, the project is scheduled to be complete near the beginning of May. A more formal announcement will be made to the public once the move is completed. |
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Airport Events & Recognition
Santa lands at Smith Field for Toys for Tots Toy Drive
On November 29, 2012, the Airport Authority hosted the first "Santa's Landing" event at Smith Field Airport (SMD). The public was invited to watch Santa arrive on a helicopter piloted by Chuck Surrack of Sweetwater Sound and the owner of Sweet Aviation flight school. There was music and refreshments for those who attended, and after Santa arrived, each child was invited to visit with him indoors. Admission to the event was a new, unwrapped toy donation for Toys for Tots.
The event was well received by Toys for Tots, parents, and children alike. As a result, the Airport Authority hopes to make this an annual event. To see news coverage an photos of the event, check out the links below.
FWA staff and hospitality hosts wrap packages for "Holiday Gift Wrap Station"
As a thank you to passengers and a reminder that all gifts should always be left unwrapped when going through security, FWA hosted a Holiday Wrap Station again this year, where airport volunteers and employees wrapped gifts free of charge. The Holiday Wrap Station was available post-security during business hours the week before Christmas.
Gifts should be left unwrapped when traveling because Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel may need to gain access to items at the security checkpoint. If passengers choose to wrap their gifts, they are encouraged to store them in their checked bags or ship them ahead.
1st Quarter "Art in the Airport" Feature - Rod Kuhn
 
Fort Wayne resident and retired school teacher, Rod Kuhn, is this quarter's "Art in the Airport" featured artist. In college, Rod majored in journalism with a specialization in photography, and, at the last moment, added education. That decision kept him gainfully employed for over 28 years, 16 years of which were at Homestead High School. Rod's display features some of his favorite photography throughout his career. Many of the photos center on patterns, colors, and shapes found in architecture.
To view more of Rod's work, look through the online album of this display on the airport's Facebook page. Many of the pieces on display are currently for sale, and inquiries regarding purchasing prints should be directed to Rod at roddkuhn@gmail.com.
Airport Authority Staff Available for Speaking Engagements in 2013
Looking for a speaker for your class, club, or an upcoming event? Did you know the staff at the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority is available to meet with your group free of charge? We have very educated and experienced people who can meet with you to discuss topics ranging from aviation/airport careers, the history of the Fort Wayne Airport, airport operations and safety, the hospitality industry, air service challenges, economic development at the airport, and more. Our staff can speak at your meeting or you can arrange meetings at the airport. We can address small or large crowds and groups of all ages.
To arrange a speaking engagement, please contact Michele Platte at mplatte@fwairport.com or 260-446-3422 with your group name, contact information, topic you would like discussed, and the date(s) you are interested in meeting, and Michele will work with the staff to make such arrangements.
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Business Connections
Advertising at the Airport
The Airport Authority is partnering with Michiana Business Publications, Inc. to sell advertising space at Fort Wayne International Airport and Smith Field Airport. Michiana Business Publications, Inc. is the publisher of Business People magazine. To learn about advertising opportunities at FWA and SMD, please contact Michiana Business Publications at 260.497.0433.
Upcoming Solicitation & Bid Opportunities
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FWA Airport Statistics
2012 Passenger Numbers
4th Quarter Enplanements (Oct - Dec 2012)
2011 67,340
2012 69,937 Increase of 3.86%
YTD Enplanements (Through December)
2011 277,938
2012 284,465 Increase of 2.35%
Total Passengers (Enplaned and Deplaned)
564,777 YTD December 2012. Increase of 2.26% over YTD December 2011.
Cargo: 24,365,746 lbs YTD December 2012. Increase of 9.40% over YTD December 2011.
Annual Economic Impact: $323 Million (Source: Aviation Association of Indiana)
SMD Airport Statistics
 Fuel Sales: 51,728 gallons (YTD December 2012) 39,465 gallons (YTD December 2011) Annual Economic Impact: $8 Million (Source: Aviation Association of Indiana) |
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WANT TO MAXIMIZE YOUR VIEWING EFFICIENCY?
Your current default mailing list is set to General Interest. You may select the mailing lists you wish to join by updating your profile using the link at the bottom of this newsletter. By doing so, you will only receive timely information about the items and issues that interest you most. Please view the following list of options and their descriptions: Air Service
This mailing list will receive periodic updates about air service changes and other types of air service marketing updates. The frequency of the updates will be on an "as-needed" basis.
Airport Development
Subscribing to receive Airport Development notices will provide you with updates and information about airport land planning, property development, leasing opportunities, Foreign Trade Zone activities and other business opportunities on and near Fort Wayne International Airport and Smith Field.
FWA Tenants
This email list will be for Airport Authority tenants at Fort Wayne International Airport. The list will be used to communicate news and airport information for our tenants. The length and frequency of the email will be driven by necessity.
This will be a quarterly email covering a variety of airport and aviation related issues. The articles will be overviews of projects, air service issues, and airport events/happenings. It is anticipated to be about 3 pages in length.
Subscribing to receive International Trade notices will provide you with updates and information on Foreign Trade Zone 182 activities and opportunities, the National Foreign Trade Zone Board, the Midwest World Trade Association, and information and links related to importing and exporting, U. S. Customs and to organizations focused on international trade.
This email will be a periodic email sent out based on legislative activities. Demand and activity will determine the length and frequency of these emails. It is anticipated that the frequency will be less than weekly but more than quarterly.
Members of the Media
This email list will be for members of the media. It will be used for future media announcements and media events. Emails will generally be limited to one page in length and will be disseminated as demand warrants - approximately one per month.
Smith Field Airport
Periodic updates will be made through this format in order to keep our stakeholders and general public informed about the constantly changing conditions of our community's general aviation airport, Smith Field Airport.
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FORT WAYNE-ALLEN COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
About Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority
The Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority (FWACAA) was created in 1985 and is responsible for managing the Fort Wayne International Airport and Smith Field. Since FWACAA's inception, Fort Wayne International Airport has undergone an aggressive improvement plan which included expansion of the terminal and parking areas, upgrades to the runways, and the creation of an Air Trade Center and Foreign Trade Zone to promote economic development in Northeast Indiana. As a result of FWACAA's commitment to customer service, Fort Wayne International Airport was recognized by USA Today as one of the friendliest airports in the nation. The Authority is governed by a six-member board appointed by both the Mayor of Fort Wayne and the Allen County Commissioners. For more information about the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority, visit www.FWAirport.com. |
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