Huntingburg Airport Board meeting

The Huntingburg Airport Board meeting occurred on Monday evening.

Airport Manager Travis McQueen began the meeting with the manager’s report.

Dubois County Flight Services was unable to provide a fuel report due to an employee being involved in a traffic accident.

A Cessna 172 used for flight instruction was struck by a vehicle recently. A Dubois County Flight Service employee backed a tractor into the propeller while the aircraft was parked on the ramp. Another aircraft is available for the 14 students enrolled in flight instruction currently.

Masterbrand Cabinets requested approval to post a new sign over their hanger similar to the other corporate hangars at the airport. The sign they are proposing to put up is similar to an existing sign Masterbrand has at their hangar currently. Masterbrand will pay for the new sign. The board was unsure if it was necessary for Masterbrand to receive approval for the placement of the new sign. Rayme Eckerle made a motion to approve the sign if there was no restrictions and it was approved unanimously.

McQueen informed the board of a part-time position being filled at this time.

Huntingburg Airport’s website is almost complete.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is going to be looking for six designated sites throughout the United States for Unmanned Arial Systems (aircraft). McQueen stated due to the rural location of the airport and the proximity to several military bases he was going to attend a webinar on the process of being considered for the designation. More than likely the unmanned aircraft will be operated by the Department of Defense.

McQueen informed the board that a Sam Schwoeppe of Schwoeppe Dairy was at the meeting to request the opportunity to cut alfalfa on Airport land. She stated the alfalfa needs mowed within the next week or it will begin to lose value. Additionally she would like to mow the field approximately every 28 days. The board approved a short term contract with Schwoeppe Dairy at published rates for alfalfa for the immediate mowing and then would open up bidding for approval for a long term contract for mowing the alfalfa at the next meeting.

The board discussed an individual wanting to lease a hangar as an exclusive lessee rather than sharing a hangar with another entity. The board directed McQueen to meet with the individual and solicit a proposal for the use of the hangar.

After the manager’s report Chris Snyder from Woolpert Engineering addressed the board on the future plans of the airport expansion. Woolpert followed up with FAA after the decision made at the last meeting. The FAA is amiable to seeing the new plans. Based on the FAA’s stance, Woolpert prepared a plan for the board to consider.

Snyder explained if the airport wanted to move forward with a 500 ft extension three things would need to be started. A cost analysis of the expansion, an impact study with an environmental study and an assessment of moving County Road 200. A concern mentioned by Snyder from the Dubois County engineer is that the volume of traffic has steadily risen since the last traffic study was completed in the early 1990’s.

The assessment and proposal to move the county road will have to be presented to the County Commissioners for approval.

Once they have the commissioners’ approval, the FAA’s approval, and have notified the affected parties they could potentially move forward with the project in 2012.

The most recent proposal for the airport expansion may require the railroad be moved to the east or the FAA would have to give a variance for the runway protection zone (RPZ). Snyder stated he doesn’t think the FAA will have an issue with the railroad.

Eckerle was concerned about costs for fill dirt due to the grade of the land where the expansion will occur. The airport must comply with grade limits set by the FAA and currently the profile is too steep. Snyder stated there were design elements to alleviate some of the grade problem.

Eckerle raised a concern about the FAA’s stance on the increased length and the RPZ on the west side of the runway. This was a major concern for the location of U.S. 231. Snyder stated at this point the FAA is not going to require an extended RPZ at this time if the airport extension plan does not include any construction on the west portion of the runway. Eckerle directed Snyder to “get it in writing”.

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