Public Meetings & Notices

SMD Airport Users Meeting - October 11, 2005

5/18/2008

SMD AIRPORT USERS MEETING
October 11, 2005

Dates to remember:

November 9, 2005 8am to 5pm
Hangar Inspections – Or by appointment with the       Airport Supervisor.

November 11, 2005 - Deadline for written comments on the new Draft of Minimum Standards and the draft Ordinance of Airport Regulations for Smith Field.

December 13, 2005 - Follow-up Meeting of the Airport Users Group - 5:30 pm

The Airport Supervisor, Tim O’Donnell led off the meeting with a summary of various issues at Smith Field Airport. His comments included remarks about the theory of accepting AIP funding from the Federal Government. He remarked that AIP Funding is not a fix all, and is not always a great idea. He believes we are on firm footing with the Airport Authority funding that will likely result in spending of 8 to 10 million dollars over the next 5 years on SMD Airport improvements.

Upcoming Projects – SMD

2005 –
RAN Hangar Upgrade – Early December through spring of 2006.
New Hangar Door
Interior Repairs to the walls
Electrical Upgrade
Heating System Upgrade

Repainting and update of all Airport Markings to include hold short markings for Rwy 31
We will see new Movement/Non Movement area lines included in this upgrade of markings. These lines are useful in designating secure movement areas. New X Markings designating the closed 18 / 36 Runway are also on the plan. This project is scheduled for completion yet this fall.

2006 - * AWOS Project (Still tentative at this time) This project is likely to be funded by the Authority pending availability of funds. The AWOS is being planned to report visibility-wind-ceiling-and altimeter setting.
* T-Hangar Construction – No teardowns are planned initially. The likely site is just north of Hangar G.
* Electrical Upgrade to Hangars A, B & C.
* Pavement Project – Asphalt Overlays to Taxiways and aprons between Hangars D, E, F & G.
* Upgrade & install Runway Lighting. MIRL’s to include pilot controlled intensity on Rwy 5 & 23.

Future – * New Airport Entrance.
* New Security fencing and gates.
* VASI hopefully to be replaced with a PAPI system.

A question was raised among the attendees as to the status of the repeater system that rebroadcast an ATC frequency from FWA that allowed pilots on the ground at SMD to talk with FWA Controllers. Mr. O’Donnell commented that although that this was not a project that has been assigned any specific priority, he thought it may be a candidate for future Federal AIP Funding.

Mr. Kim Pontius from IVY Tech reported to the group that since the inception of their Ground School at SMD they have graduated 30 plus students, and the current enrollment includes 10 students. Mr. Pontius also announced that IVY Tech had recently received $15,000.00 in grant funding to conduct a feasibility study for an Airframe / Powerplant school in this region.

Mr. Bob Smeltz commented that he thought a lighting project for runway 13 / 31 would prove to be a positive future enhancement to the facility for a number of reasons, safety being a primary reason.

Mr. O’Donnell also stated that he has an open door policy at the Airport, and that he welcomed all input from the Airport users. He also took a moment to describe and delineate his responsibilities as the Airport Supervisor and the responsibilities that Smith Field Air Service will continue to fulfill at Smith Field. Tim stated that his job is to enforce the Standards as set by the Authority, act as the landlord of the field, and to ensure proper maintenance of the grounds. He further stated that Smith Field Air Service will continue to administer the Hangar rents, operate the flight school, sell fuel, provide appropriate customer service to the users, and manage the scheduling of the various facilities at SMD.

Mr. O’Donnell explained that the Hangar Inspections would be conducted on November 9 to ensure compliance with the rules & regulations (as proposed). He assured the group that the inspections will not be conducted in a heavy handed fashion. The intent would be to identify potential safety issues, and then communicate those specific concerns to the tenant. No initial enforcement action is at all anticipated or planned. He also remarked that they were also planning to measure each hangar space to determine square footage data.

Mr. O’Donnell remarked that the displaced thresholds of Rwy 13 / 31 are in the discussion phase at this time. The core issue of course is whether the expense of eliminating the displaced thresholds could outweigh any value of the additional runway length and the issues of safety.

The FBO Request for Proposals Standards are still being worked on at this time. The Authority hopes to have them ready for release by Early November. Mr. O’Donnell also informed the group that the Smith Field Web-Site (www.smdairport.com ) will see further development as time goes on. Also, the Airport layout plan is back on the front burner, as FAA has a new employee assigned to the ADO in Chicago, and they have placed this issue high on their priority list for completion.



Submitted by Geoff L. Robison