Bob Sikes Airport, Above, Was Established in 1964 and Was Named After U.S
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News from the Florida Department of Transportation Aviation Office Florida Flyer www.dot.state.fl.us/aviation Winter 2013 INSIDE 2 Florida’s Focus on Freight 6 Register for Training Courses Photograph by Florida Aerial Services, Inc. 6 Bob Sikes Airport, above, was established in 1964 and was named after U.S. Con- Airfield Improvements gressman Robert Sikes. As a Congressman for northwest Florida from 1940 to 1978, Sikes helped make northwest Florida a military stronghold, and he helped preserve its for Licensed Airports beaches. 7 Interim Guidance on Bob Sikes Airport Land Uses within a ob Sikes Airport (CEW) is located water sports, as well as golfing and Runway Protection Bin the heart of Okaloosa County, shopping. Zone just three miles northeast of Crestview in northwest Florida. Situated on nearly One runway, new terminal 1,100 acres, Bob Sikes Airport is part of One runway serves Bob Sikes Air- the Okaloosa County Airports System port. Runway 17/35 is 8,005 feet long by 8 which also includes Destin Airport and 150 feet wide and is equipped with an Northwest Florida Regional Airport. instrument landing system. The airport Now Available! 2013 A popular vacation destination, can accommodate large military trans- Airport Directory and Okaloosa County is the home of Flor- port aircraft such as the U.S. Air Force Aeronautical Chart ida’s Emerald Coast with 24 miles of Boeing C-17 which is used to deliver white, sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. The area is known for world- class fishing, boating, diving, and other See Bob Sikes Airport, page 4 Florida’s Focus on Freight by Juan Flores s you may know, freight is a hot item Afor Florida Governor Rick Scott and Florida Department of Transporta- tion (FDOT) Secretary Ananth Prasad. In a video presentation premiered dur- ing the FDOT Florida Freight Leader- ship Forum on October 15, 2012, the Honorable Rick Scott addressed the ongoing pursuit of economic growth for the state through appropriately applied investments in the freight transportation system’s infrastructure. “Florida has a once in a lifetime opportunity, with the expansion of the Panama Canal, to transform the state’s economy to become a global hub of trade, logistics and export oriented man- ufacturing activities,” says Governor Rick Scott. Florida has stepped up as a leader, and the freight community is watching. The focus may be on all modes, but avia- tion activities are a big part of that effort. The recent completion of the Air Freight Freight transportation is an Cargo Study will have impacts, as well important item for Governor Rick as ongoing efforts to update the Florida Scott (center, in the above photo). Aviation Database and Phase 2 of the To facilitate involvement by the Airport Return on Investment Study. private and public sector in the Please note below some of the positive development of the Freight Mobil- press Florida is receiving lately. ity and Trade Plan, stages of di- rect engagements were scheduled. A “Top 10” innovation The Florida Freight Leadership For example, the Brookings-Rocke- Forum (above and right) gathered feller Project on State and Metropolitan executive and senior leadership Innovation recently named the FDOT of firms with corporate headquar- Freight Logistics and Passenger Opera- ters in the state, operating within tions Office (FLP) as one of the Top 10 the state, or those which the state State and Metropolitan Innovations to seeks to attract to the state. Watch—actions undertaken by states and metropolitan areas in 2012 that entire state’s freight interests rather Rockefeller Project, see the following seem ripe for meaningful impact in 2013 than those of individual ports and in- websites: and beyond, as well as for replication by termodal centers. Instead of dividing • http://www.aashtojournal.org/ other communities. This is noteworthy, money based on geographic equity the Pages/012513FDOTinnovation. as the Brookings Institute is consistent- state can now select projects that will aspx, ly ranked as the most influential, most deliver the greatest economic return on • http://www.brookings.edu/ quoted, and most trusted think tank. investment,” say Bruce Katz and Owen research/interactives/2013/ “By aligning infrastructure sys- Washburn in “Innovations to Watch,” innovationstowatch#default, and tems across the state through Florida’s January 18, 2013, at http://www.brook- • http://www.sunshinestatenews. Strategic Intermodal System and the ings.edu/research/interactives/2013/ com/blog/governors-office-un- state’s first ever Freight Mobility and innovationstowatch#default. loads-comments-supporting-port- Trade Plan, the FLP can consider the To learn more about the Brookings- improvements. FLORIDA FLYER 2 Winter 2013 FDOT’s Work Program Investments Governor Scott’s Florida Families First Budget for fiscal year 2014 fully funds the Florida Department Courtesy of airbridgecargo.com of Transportation’s (FDOT) Work Program investments. The FDOT budget is built upon the Governor’s vision to invest in job creation and to lower the cost of living for Florida’s families by prioritizing vital transportation projects to fa- cilitate economic development Overall, Florida’s air cargo activity is heavily concentrated at Miami International opportunities. Airport. With nearly 9.4 million pounds of air cargo capacity, Miami International accounts for 70 percent of the state’s total daily air cargo capacity. The complete tech- The Governor’s recommended nical report and the executive summary of the updated air cargo system plan will be Work Program budget of $8.3 bil- released in late February, and will be available on the FDOT Aviation Office website lion ensures the Florida Depart- at http://www.dot.state.fl.us/aviation/cargo.shtm. ment of Transportation plays a strong support role in improving As we prepare for the next set of Florida (see http://www.freightmoves- the movement of freight. The bud- Freight Mobility and Trade Plan events, florida.com/FDOT.aspx). get is designed to increase capac- I wanted to let everyone know we are Another major sub-page being added ity, reduce congestion, and create hard at work writing up a first draft of to the Logistics Portal is all about Inte- private sector jobs. our freight plan. We scheduled a webi- grated Logistics Centers (ILCs). There, nar on February 19 to present updates stakeholders can find information about The budget provides $169 million to the draft strategies critiqued at Busi- the Forum held February 20–21, 2013, for aviation improvements. “This ness Forum II: Plan Development last as well as details on the new ILC grant is the right time December. Look for a link soon on the program and associated rule in Florida to fund much plan website (http://www.freightmoves- Administrative Code (see http://www. needed trans- florida.com/home.aspx) for information freightmovesflorida.com/ILC_Forum. portation im- about the webinar discussions. aspx). provements,” An upcoming event that may be said Governor Freight plan sneak peak of interest is the Florida Chamber In- Scott. Stakeholders will get the “first ternational Days on April 1–3, 2013, at shot” at reviewing and providing feed- the Florida State University Conference back on the full draft plan at Business Center in Tallahassee. For more infor- Forum III: Plan Review on March 28. mation about the Florida Chamber In- Juan Flores is the Administrator over This event will be a full day forum held ternational Days, please see the follow- the Office of Freight Logistics and Pas- in Orlando, with more details to follow. ing websites: senger Operations (FLP) for the Flori- Please see the plan website (http://www. • http://www.flcham- da Department of Transportation. The freightmovesflorida.com/home.aspx) ber.com/wp-content/ FLP includes for a refresher on Freight Mobility and uploads/2013InternationalDays_ the Aviation Trade Plan past events and next steps. Agenda.pdf, and and Space- Regular visitors to the freight plan • https://floridaflcoc.wliinc25. ports Office, website will also have noticed that we com/external/wcpages/ Rail and recently began an expansion project! To wcevents/eventregistration. Motor Car- continue our commitment to working aspx?eventID= 4M5Y5N. rier Office, with agency partners, we are developing If you have questions about Flori- Seaports a larger Logistics Portal that will include da’s freight interests, please contact Juan and Water- tools and resources from a variety of Flores, State Freight Administrator for ways Office, sources. Information will still be avail- the Florida Department of Transporta- and Transit able on the Freight Mobility and Trade tion, at (850) 414-5244 or Juan.Flores@ Office. Plan, but it will become a sub-page to dot.state.fl.us. u the overall website related to logistics in Juan Flores FLORIDA FLYER 3 Winter 2013 Bob Sikes Airport Continued from page 1 helicopters to Crestview Aerospace Corporation. The runway’s asphalt pavement was rehabilitated in 2008–2009, and it remains in excellent condition. The pavement surface for the entire runway- taxiway system is less than five years old, and a major portion of the aprons has also been rehabilitated in the last couple of years. The airport’s fixed base operator is Emerald Coast Aviation, a privately operated maintenance shop offering air- craft repairs and servicing. Construction will begin on Emerald Coast Aviation’s Courtesy of Bob Sikes Airport new terminal in March 2013 with a pro- posed completion date of September BAE Systems hangar at Bob Sikes Airport. 2013. Economic impact Bob Sikes Airport is financially and aerospace industries because of aircraft. The company headquarters and self-sufficient and completely reliant its proximity to Eglin Air Force Base, parts distribution center are located at on airport-generated revenue; no ad va- Duke Field, and Hurlburt Field. The air- Bob Sikes Airport. lorem or general sales taxes are used to port already provides a home to several Air Methods maintains an opera- maintain, operate, or develop the airport.