WYDOT Aeronautics Newsletter | Vol. 1, No. 1 | April 2017 The journey By Amy Surdam, Aeronautics Administrator I’ve been the Aeronautics Administrator for about a month and am learning vast amounts of information about airports, air service and all that is aeronautics. The folks in this industry are kind, patient, professional and experts in their field. To better orient myself with the intricacies of this role and how the aeronautics world affects economic development in Wyoming, I have started a tour and will be visiting all of the 40 airports in our great state. I’d like to share my experiences with you through this blog. First Stop: Laramie Regional Airport Although I went to the University of Wyoming for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees, I had never had the privilege of visiting the Laramie Aeronautics Administrator Amy Surdam sits down with Laramie Regional Airport Regional Airport until March Regional Manager Jack Skinner during a visit to the airport March 14. Surdam 2017. plans to visit and tour all 40 airports in the state as a part of orienting herself to Jack Skinner is the airport the industry in Wyoming. manager and a very kind, gentle the Rochelle Gateway Center Concrete Paving Award. soul. He was instrumental in the from the reclaimed snow fence In 2018 the 150-foot-wide, recent completion of the beautiful trim and paneling to the light 8,500-foot-long runway will be General Aviation (GA) terminal. fixtures crafted by Frontier Iron resurfaced. This GA facility was funded with Works in Buffalo, WY. Also on the forefront is lots of private donations and The recent apron a remodeled and expanded about $800,000 of WYDOT reconstruction was just passenger terminal. This remodel funds to total $2 million. It is recognized by Colorado- and expansion will accommodate truly the gateway into Laramie Wyoming Chapter of the a larger TSA screening area and when traveling via the sky. The American Concrete Pavement passenger holding area. The interior finishes mirror that of Association for its Excellence in Read more inside On the horizon: • The Cheyenne Regional Airport will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its new terminal at 9 a.m. April 25 near the airport administration building. Features of the $2 million general aviation terminal in Laramie were • The construction portion intended to mirror the Rochelle Gateway of the group pavement Center, with reclaimed snow fence trim maintenance (crack seal) and paneling and light fixtures crafted by Frontier Iron Works in Buffalo. project is scheduled to begin during the middle of May. From the front over the last several years (12,402 in 2013 now up to 14,979 in 2016). need for larger holding areas • The Aeronautics As you might be aware, President is an outcome of the industry Commission will meet Trump has proposed a new transition to jets that carry 50 or on May 2 and 3 in budget, which would eliminate more passengers. Cheyenne. The meeting all EAS funding in the nation. It Laramie is one of the two will include the swearing goes without saying that if the Wyoming airports (Cody is the in of the new members EAS program were eliminated, other) that receives Essential Air and training. For more this would have a large impact Service (EAS) funding from the information or to join by on Laramie Regional Airport and federal government. Laramie telephone, please contact could potentially cause a loss of air receives a little more than $2 the commission secretary service. million a year. This funding helps at (307) 777-3952, email According to an economic Laramie’s airport ensure two [email protected] impact study funded by WYDOT in flights a day during the business 2013, Laramie’s Regional Airport week and one flight a day on economic annual impact on the the weekend on United Express region is more than $20 million. operated by SkyWest Airlines. This is an incredible impact to the In 2012, Laramie only had 7,065 region. Preserving and enhancing enplanements. With the switch to Laramie’s Regional Airport and SkyWest and the reliable service Air Service will be vital for this that came with it, Laramie has seen community moving forward. a steady increase in enplanements Welcome our new commissioners Welcome Commissioners: Additional Commission Information: Please join us in welcoming our three new If you wish to view the Commission’s impending commission members, including Mr. Chuck Brown schedule for 2017, or to download business meeting of Wheatland, representing district 1, Mr. Bruce information, please visit: https://goo.gl/ZvewZ8 McCormack of Cody, representing district 4, and Dr. Sigsbee Duck of Rock Springs, representing the district at large. What’s up? WYDOT Air Service Program Manager Sheri Taylor was selected to serve on the US DOT group “Improving Air Service to Small Communities,” which will examine obstacles to attracting and maintaining air service in small communities. Taylor selected to serve maintaining air service into magazine is very well done, and on “Improving Air Service small communities, and a great opportunity to positively to Small Communities” developing recommendations tell Wyoming’s economic Sheri Taylor, WYDOT Air for maintaining and improving development story by a third- Service program manager, service for Congress. The group party media source. Read the was selected to serve on is investigating mechanisms such magazine at https://goo.gl/ a working group (WG) for the as the Essential Air Service and TZBWTy. US DOT titled “Improving Air the Small Community Air Service Service to Small Communities”. Development Programs, as well Senator Thune (SD) wrote this as identifying solutions for the WG into statute in 2016. There pilot shortage, funding shortages, are 25 members participating in air carrier issues and innovative this group from small airports, strategies that have established regional airlines, Air Line Pilots public private partnerships for Association, Regional Airline air service. Association and state agencies We look forward to sharing (DOTs), that are tasked with the report with you in the near submitting a report to the future! secretary of transportation no later than June. This report will State magazine to be inserted then be forwarded to the Senate in “Hemispheres” Transportation Committee The “Dossier: Wyoming” that will be working on FAA magazine will be in every seat reauthorization in 2017. pocket of every United domestic The group is looking and international flight as an at several items such as insert into “Hemispheres” obstacles to attracting and magazine for April. The Aeronautics Division | 200 E. 8th Ave. | Cheyenne, WY 82003 | (307) 777-3952 Flying high Laramie Regional Airport Regional Manager Jack Skinner (left to right) and WYDOT Aeronautics Division Engineering & Construction Program Manager Brian Olsen meet with members of the engineering team from Jviation. • An apron reconstruction project completed recently at the Laramie Regional Airport was awarded with an Excellence in Concrete Paving Award by the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the American Concrete Pavement Association. The project included complete reconstruction of portions of the main apron and was funded by the Federal Aviation Administration, WYDOT and the for commercial and business aircraft at Laramie Regional Airport. The project will the airport. The project was designed and help ensure a safe operating environment managed by Jviation of Denver, Colorado..