May 2013 WAMA NEWS Washington Airport Management Association http:www.wama.us 2012 P.1 E.D.’s Message P.2 Spokane NOTAM P.3 Orcas Island Airport Executive Officers P.4 Trade Show The following slate of officers Scholarships and Board members was ATCT funding elected at the end of 2011. Pearson ‘box’ They will serve for two years. Come to the Conference and P.5 Airport Funding Day meet them in person. Check Vista Field the WAMA web site to follow their activities including P.6 FAA GA Study meeting minutes. Funding articles ----- PRESIDENT Executive Director’s Message Kandace Harvey Harvey Field What an exciting time for Washington State aviation these past few months. Some events were very encouraging, some not so much. Just to update and summarize VICE PRESIDENT these notable events: Bill Penor Paine Field WSDOT Senate Bill 5430 (joint effort)- While SB 5430 made so much sense to SECRETARY Dave Field those of us in the airport industry perhaps we should not be surprised that it WHPacific, Inc. did not get through the Ways and Means committee. It will certainly remain on our agenda for the future efforts. TREASURER Jennifer Skoglund Walla Walla Regional NW Conference Puyallup- The Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show PAST PRESIDENT was an interesting and exciting conglomeration of aviation interests, activities Ryan Zulauf and equipment. It was a great opportunity to communicate with the full Renton Airport spectrum of airport users. Aircraft were on display, flight training was available, hangars to build or rent, books and supplies and tomorrow’s EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS collectables today. There was something for everyone and when this event Rich Mueller rolls around next year try to be there! Grant County Airport Continued on Next Page John Haakenson Port of Benton Jamelle Garcia Auburn Airport Note from President Harvey Ron Russ Pangborn Field Our Rosario 2013 Conference is set and we have a value-packed Agenda with topics and speakers that attendees are sure to find informative, interesting and educational. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Gary W. Green AAE The conference will as usual include a business meeting. Be prepared to bring up new business if you have any. We will discuss our “action items” for 2013; we would like __________________ your ideas for items that you feel are important and should be taken on by the association during the coming year. Look on the web site at the current action list – that may give you ideas for other issues. (Look in the members only/WAMA Documents section) And save the date – you won’t want to miss this: The WAMA conference 2014 will be in May 2014 at Campbell’s Resort in Chelan. Closure of FAA Towers- Many dark clouds were forming over a number of airports around the country with the staffing cutbacks of air traffic controllers and the shut down of many towers. This could have been a stunning blow to the industry but the results of the action impacted Congress and they found a way to avert “the whole thing.” So at least temporarily it’s business as usual. Closure of Vista Field- It was sad news on April 16 when the Port of Kennewick’s three person commission voted to close down Vista Field permanently. This closure was inconsistent with recommendations from a $200k+ study conducted to determine the best course of action for Vista. Apparently a controversy had been brewing for while in Kennewick regarding the airport. One airport proponent there was quoted in the Kennewick newspaper - “ If the Port had spent the money they spent on the study on the airport instead we could have made a difference.” But the deal is done and it’s not our place to second guess the Port’s decision. On the WAMA horizon some very good things are happening, including: The agenda for the May conference is finalized and promises a terrific program. If you have not registered you should do it right away! This is going to be one of the best programs yet thanks to the hard work of the Conference Committee Our Membership Directory is in its final stages of completion. Only a few more days to get your information in the directory. Your immediate participation is needed to make this directory a meaningful and useful tool for WAMA members. Also submit your membership dues for 2013 as soon as possible! I am looking forward to seeing you all at Orcas Island’s Rosario Resort. GWG Spokane International Airport (GEG) Becomes the First Airport to Activate Direct-Entry Digital NOTAM System using Airport Self-Certification FAA has developed a “Direct-entry Digital NOTAM System”. The Federal NOTAM System (FNS) uses a NOTAM Direct-Entry tool, which is currently being deployed. The implementation process requires airport-specific training and the loading of data on the physical descriptions of the airport’s features. The new Airport Self Certification (ASC) application enables an authorized representative at the airport to view and verify information about features at their airport. If necessary, the representative can add or change information about their airport taxiways and aprons. Once the airport data is complete and accurate, then the airport representative can use the Airport Self-Certification application to authorize airport personnel to take the on-line training on the use of the NOTAM Manager System. The Self-Certification program eliminates the need for several people to spend multiple days at an airport training session, while still maintaining a high degree of safety and oversight from the FAA Program Management Offices. Anticipated deployment costs will be reduced by roughly 50-75%, enabling the Program Management Offices to conduct virtual training from their home offices and update critical airfield data via automation tools. The first airport to complete the ASC process is Spokane International Airport (GEG). Spokane International Airport activated the Digital NOTAM Manager System on March 25, 2013. One of the features of the Airport Self-Certification application is for an airport that is responsible for issuing NOTAMs for another airport, to certify that secondary airport through the ASC process as well. Spokane is responsible for issuing NOTAMs at Felts Field Airport as well as GEG. May 2013 Washington Airport Management Association Page 2 Orcas Island Airport http://www.portoforcas.com/ One of the highlights of the upcoming WAMA conference will be a tour of the Orcas Island Airport. You’ll have to arrive early to participate – it’s scheduled for 9:30 Wednesday morning. But it will be worth it. Airport Manager Bea vonTobel will lead the tour, and will get a little help from David Williams, the Port’s current on- call Engineer. Learn about the airport plans, the current improvement projects (essentially reconstructing all the pavements) and maybe some of the issues (like TTF). The 7:35 AM ferry from Anacortes will get you there in time, but instead, another night/day on the island might be exactly what you need to prepare you for the great agenda of the next two days. Or Kenmore Air’s 6:35 flight from Boeing Field will get you there and you’ll be 2 hours early. The Port of Orcas was established in 1958 by the citizens of Orcas Island to provide a safe airport that would serve both the local community and visiting pilots. The property and airstrip were purchased from the Ferris family for $14,000, through sale of $20,000 General Obligation bonds. The port, a public entity, is a municipal corporation created under the laws of the state of Washington. The Port of Orcas includes Orcas Island. By state law, the port may collect property taxes from property owners in the district to finance port improvements and operations. The residents of the port district are the owners of the Port. Bea vonTobel, Airport Manager May 2013 Washington Airport Management Association Page 3 Spreading the word on AIRPORTS, to our Pilot customers Gary Green with a little help from Dave Field, staff the WAMA booth at the Northwest Aviation and Trade Show. Gary logged two full days in the booth and made contact with lots of airport users, including Deb Wallace, Pierce County Airports (pictured). We worked at selling the need for increased funding to improve and preserve airports in the state. And more generally, to remind pilots that their activities depend a lot on having safe and efficient airports available. And that’s what WAMA members do. WAMA Spring Conference at Rosario Resort on Could things get any more screwed up? Orcas Island This great conference kicks off Wednesday morning First the control towers were to be shut down th May 29 with a tour of the Orcas Island Airport – or staffing reduced. That led to air traffic Lots of interesting things happening here; Then golf delays and lots of complaints. The Congress and a great variety of opportunities to partake of the couldn’t put up with that so now they are Orcas/San Juan environment. taking the money from the Airport The conference continues with networking Improvement Program. Apparently the opportunities galore; the annual WAMA business money that would be transferred from AIP to meeting; updates from FAA and WSDOT, and 15 ATCT operations is to come from that portion technical sessions, on planning, paving, lighting, of FY 2013 “apportioned” funds that are not expected to be used by airports in 2013. The marking, accounting, airspace etc; etc. “apportioned” funds include primary and non- The agenda is on the WAMA web site here. primary entitlement, cargo, state, system We hope you’ve already registered and reserved planning, Alaska funds, and perhaps others. lodging.