October 7, 2004
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Aviation
3704 172nd St NE Ste K2 – Arlington WA  98223

Aviation Advisory Committee members in attendance:
Barbara Tolbert – Experimental Aircraft Association
J. Scott Plank – Aviation at Large
Peter Anderson – Galvin Flying Service
Kirk Kleinholz – Washington Pilots Association
Russ Keyes – Aviation at Large
Dale Carman – Washington Airport Management Association
John Sibold – WSDOT Aviation
John Shambaugh – WSDOT Aviation
Denise Scott – WSDOT Aviation
Nisha Hanchinamani – WSDOT Aviation

Guest Speaker:
Bill Olfert – Research and Planning Coordinator, Aviation High School

Aviation Advisory Committee members not in attendance:
Dick Larman – Community Trade and Economic Development
Carol Key – Federal Aviation Administration
Doug Maples – City of Yakima
Dale Newell – Civil Air Patrol
Tim Brooks – Kenmore Air Harbor
Dan Burkhart – National Business Aircraft Association
Jeffery Robb – Washington Airport Management Association
James Morasch – Washington Public Ports Association
Bonnie Hilory – Museum of Flight
Jerry Richardson – Community Airports Association
Mary Place – City of Yakima

Welcome
John Sibold, WSDOT Director of Aviation, welcomed committee members and outlined the meeting agenda, which included:

• Aviation High School Update
• Land Use Policy Update
• System Plan Update
• Regional Air Service

Update – Aviation High School
Nisha Hanchinamani introduced Bill Olfert, Aviation High School Research and Planning Coordinator. Olfert showed committee members news clips illustrating the local media attention that Aviation High School has generated. Since opening its doors this fall, Aviation High School has made history by being the first themed high school on the west coast. They have 104 students enrolled, a third of them females. Olfert also said that student must undergo a rigorous application process to be accepted into the high school; therefore, an effective learning environment is created because students are there by choice. Olfert explained that one of the high school’s many initiatives is to provide mentors to all the students. Hanchinamani and Olfert are working together transmit information about the mentorship program through WSDOT Aviation’s email alert system.

Olfert pointed out that Advisory Committee member Peter Anderson also serves as the Chair of the Aviation High School Board and is able to provide the committee with updates on current events at the high school.

Sibold said that he was impressed with Aviation High School’s effort to educate and encourage the next generation of aviation professionals.  He mentioned that WSDOT Aviation continues to work to define its role in aviation education.  He said that WSDOT Aviation would implement an aviation information clearinghouse on its web site at the end of the year.

Update – Land Use Policy
Sibold provided background for the state’s Aviation Land Use Program, stating that airport encroachment is a continuing and developing problem. To help with land use issues, a law was passed in 1996 that: 

• Requires towns, cities, and counties to protect public use airports from incompatible development.
• Requires formal consultation between airport owners, ports, pilots and WSDOT Aviation prior to adoption.
• Requires WSDOT Aviation to offer a technical assistance program consistent with state law.

Sibold said that the state’s Land Use Program strives to encourage partnerships, educate local jurisdictions on aviation issues, and coordinate compatible land use policies and implementation regulations. The Land Use Program encourages decisions to be made at the local level.

Determining Compatibility
Sibold explained that the state’s Land Use Program encourages local jurisdictions to examine the follow:

• Height hazards
• Noise
• Safety

Safety refers to using information about where accidents usually occur at airports.  Sibold said that Yakima, Paine Field, and Quillayute see problems with using safety data, mainly because:

• Not very many aircraft accidents occur.
• Concerned about how this will affect people who already inhabit incompatible areas.
• Concerned that planners will take state guidelines and use them to “on airport” uses.

In light of these concerns, the state has hired consultant Mead & Hunt to evaluate the Aviation Land Use Program.  Sibold said that the FAA thinks that land use should be a state issue, but State Aviation Directors believes a national policy around land use should also exist.  Directors are dealing with top officials at the FAA and will meet in Washington D.C. later this fall to explore this further.  Sibold said that WSDOT Aviation would present the findings of this study to the Aviation Advisory Committee before it updates the program.  Sibold said that the main standard of the Land Use Program should be whether it protects or weakens our current system of airports in Washington.

Questions and Comments:

Q: Will a specific airport be surveyed in this study?
A: No, this will be a complete survey that looks at the system as a whole.

Q: Are local jurisdictions obligated to prohibit development in places if they are deemed incompatible?
A: Jurisdictions have to stay consistent with the comprehensive plans they have in place.

Q: Who can appeal?
A: You have to be established as a “party of record.”  Anyone who attends these meetings can appeal.

Comment:  Land use policies should take into account different-sized airports.

Comment:  Land use policies lack the concept of mitigation.  There should be a statue in place that says development can’t occur unless you have the means to replace the airport.

Comment:  We should emphasize education – especially education to politicians - and it should be an ongoing process.  John Sibold does this nationally through the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO).

Comment:  It’s important to concentrate on the local level because cities and counties have plans that contradict themselves.

Update – Aviation System Plan
John Shambaugh updated Advisory Committee members on the Aviation System Plan. He said that recently the Aviation System Plan Working Group, which consists of aviation organizations, regional transportation planning organizations, local officials, and legislative staff, helped to develop a recommended classification system and prioritize demand factors. The recommended airport classification is:

• Commercial service
• Regional airports
• Local community airports
• Recreation and remote airports
• Seaplane bases

The System Plan Working Group also helped to prioritize demand factors:

• Access
• Airport Facilities
• Airport Services
• Expansion and Preservation
• Economic Opportunities

Shambaugh said that WSDOT Aviation would perform an analysis over the next couple of months and present the findings to the Aviation Advisory Committee for its review.  After deciding the final classification system, WSDOT Aviation will estimate the costs and attempt to find a funding mechanism. Performance measures will be re-evaluated if needed.

Update – Regional Air Service
Sibold explained that a national problem exists with regional air service disappearing from small communities.  Since the airline industry is deregulated, more and more carriers are pulling away from small communities and moving toward larger markets.  Sibold said that huge airport projects only increase the cost for regional carriers.

Sibold said that Washington, Oregon, and Idaho were considering asking the U.S. DOT to provide a grant that would fund a study to attract regional air service to small communities. Sibold said that Washington is considering its role in the study. Oregon wants to help every small community, but Washington thinks the more effective option is to encourage regional air service in the most strategic areas. Sibold said that Washington, along with Idaho, might play a lesser role in the study.

Questions and Comments:

Comment: Airlines will make the final decision inevitably according to what is most economical for them.

Comment: WSDOT Aviation needs to be a resource to small communities to help them help themselves.

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