Consulting engineer Dan Clinton reported at last week’s airport meeting that the Federal Aviation Administration was sending a Master Plan expert to CCA to talk with Manager Michael Pfeifer about the future of the airport. Clinton said preparing a Master Plan is scheduled for next year. He warned the commission the process for developing Master Plans is fairly slow, and begins by engaging someone to prepare the plan. The FAA requires there to be a technical advisory committee to gather input for the plan, but the end result should include everything the commission wants done in the foreseeable future including adding hangars, purchasing more property and extending the runway.
Commissioners voted to authorize Clinton to advertise for someone to write the Master Plan. He will report back at the September meeting.
He also said the grant package for replacing the runways lights (PAPIs and REILs) had already been delivered to County Judge Sam Barr and a resolution supporting the project was on the Quorum Court agenda for the Monday meeting. Clinton mentioned the new lights should mean a savings on the monthly utility bill.
Clinton also submitted a grant from supplemental appropriation funds from the FAA to seal coat all the apron areas in front of hangars, plus he said the commission could take advantage of another 50-50 matching grant for safety area repairs along the runway and taxiway which he estimated to be about $10,000, meaning CCA would pay only about $5000.
Clinton said another task the commission needed to perform was to advertise for an engineer/consultant. He said it was appropriate for them to do so every three to five years, so commissioners voted unanimously to pursue advertising for an engineer/consultant agreement.
Manager’s report
- Pfeifer said the FAA sent a plane to make obligatory approach passes to check the runway lights, and Pfeifer informed the crew of plans in process to replace all PAPIs and REILs.
- 2017 audit is underway.
- Rep. Steve Womack is tentatively scheduled to have a news conference at CCA during October.
- During June, there were 164 operations; 1213 gallons of fuel sold for $5401.
- During July, there were 183 operations; 1547 gallons of fuel sold for $6885.
- The crew that will navigate a drone to shoot a video of the airport met at CCA. Pfeifer said they asked for a pilot so they could video a plane taking off and landing at CCA with a drone close behind shooting the footage. Pfeifer said the raw footage would be handed off to commissioner Sandy Martin for editing into a promotional video for CCA.
Next meeting will be Friday, Sept. 21, at 12 p.m.