WSDOT-managed airport planning

As part of the ongoing maintenance and operation for its group of state-managed airports, the WSDOT Aviation Division developed Airport Layout Plans (ALP) and accompanying technical reports (ALP Reports) to address basic facility and safety needs for the following airports:

• Bandera State Airport
• Copalis State Airport
• Easton State Airport
• Lake Wenatchee State Airport.
• Ranger Creek State Airport
• Skykomish State Airport
• Sullivan Lake State Airport
• Tieton State Airport
• Woodland State Airport

Review the completed Airport Layout Plans

These airports are not included in the FAA’s National Plan of Integrated Airports (NPIAS) and are therefore not eligible to receive FAA funding.  The ALP project was funded by the WSDOT Aviation Division through its airport maintenance and capital improvement budgets that are supported entirely through airport user fees and state aviation fuel taxes.  The ALP drawing sets were prepared in accordance with FAA and WSDOT Aviation technical standards for ALP preparation.

The group of state-managed airports provide basic general aviation facilities and support a wide range of uses, including recreation, resource management, aerial wildfire response, and emergency response. Most of the runways at these airports are unpaved and unlighted, and several of the airports are closed during the winter months.

The ALP Report provides the framework needed to effectively manage activities, maintain existing facilities, and guide future improvements that are cost-effective while considering potential environmental or community impacts.

The ALP drawings graphically depict current and future configurations of facilities, protected airfield areas, and the airspace associated with the airport. WSDOT Aviation will use the ALP drawings and the ALP report as the primary guidance to prioritize future improvements and investments at each airport.

Background

WSDOT owns seven airports, leases one and operates eight under conditional use permits. Fourteen state-managed airports do not have a current ALPs, other supporting drawings, or technical evaluations that Aviation Division staff can use to manage, plan, maintain, develop and protect the airports. The need for basic planning tools for the group of WSDOT airports has been identified by the Aviation Division for several years.

Century West Engineering Corporation has been selected to prepare ALP drawings and technical reports for five priority airports as the first phase of a multi-year project to develop ALPs for all WSDOT-managed airports.

The primary outcomes for each airport include:

• Infrastructure assessment
• An assessment of existing facilities, land ownership, and land use
• Define facility and maintenance needs for each airport
• Develop a capital and maintenance cost summary with prioritized projects identified
• Airport Layout Plan drawing
• Airspace Plan drawing
• Inner Approach and RPZ Plan drawing
• Land Use Plan drawing
• Exhibit A Property Plan drawing
• Technical Report

For the purposes of evaluating FAA and WSDOT-Managed Airport standards, all analyses will be based on the following assumptions:

Critical/Design Aircraft:

• Single Engine Piston Aircraft (Typ. Cessna 172, 206, Piper PA28)
• Aircraft Approach Category A (speeds less than 91 knots)
• Airplane Design Group I
• Small Airplane (12,500 pounds or less)
• Airport Reference Code (ARC) A-I (small) will be used to define appropriate design standards

Funding

WSDOT's Airport Aid Grant Program is funding 95 percent of the $150,000 ALP project for the first five priority airports. The WSDOT State-Managed Airport Operating Fund is contributing a five percent local match.

Project goals

The ALPs will define the short-term and long-term needs of the airport through a comprehensive evaluation of airport conditions and FAA/WSDOT design standards. The ALP's will provide specific guidance on making necessary improvements to maintain safe, efficient and user-friendly airports.

• Maintain an open public participation process.
• Develop an Airport Capital Improvement Program (ACIP) that will prioritize improvements and estimate project development costs and funding eligibility for the 20-year planning period.

National Airport System

These State-Managed Airports are not included in the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) and therefore, are not eligible to receive FAA funding.

State Airport System

Woodland State Airport is classified under the States Classification system as a "Local Service" airport in the Washington Long-term Air Transportation (LATS) System Plan. The remaining 13 airports are classified as Rural Essential airports.

Public involvement

The public involvement element of the planning process will provide opportunities for all interested individuals, organizations, or groups to participate in the project.

Schedule

*Schedules are pending for Little Goose, Lower Granite, Lower Monumental Airports (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Owned) and Stehekin Airport (Dept. of Interior Nat. Park Service Owned). Further negotiations with the owner agencies and available funding are pending.

Send any questions to the State-Managed Airports Manager Paul Wolf at paul.wolf@wsdot.wa.gov or 360-709-8034.