Snohomish County Airport Paine Field

Transcription

1 Snohomish County Airport Paine Field

2 PUGET SOUND REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE REGIONAL AIRPORT SYSTEM The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is the planning agency for the central Puget Sound region, which comprises King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. The region has a population of 3.7 million and 2 million jobs. PSRC is designated the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) by federal law and the Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) under state law. The agency engages in three primary lines of planning on behalf of the region: Growth Management Planning, Economic Development Planning, and Transportation Planning. VISION 2040, adopted in 2008, is the region s long range strategy for growth, the economy, transportation, and the environment. The Regional Economic Strategy, updated in 2012, is the region s plan for maintaining a strong, healthy, and competitive economy. Transportation 2040, adopted in 2010, is the region s long range multimodal transportation plan. It lays out a strategy for investing in roads, transit, ferries, bike and walk facilities, and airports. The region s airport system comprises 26 public use airports and two military airfields. Sea-Tac International Airport is the region s primary commercial service passenger airport. PSRC has engaged in planning for the region s airport system since PSRC REGION 75 cities and towns 4 counties 4 ports 3,700,000 people 2,000,000 jobs ECONOMIC IMPACTS AND BENEFITS According to a 2012 Aviation Economic Impact Study prepared by the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division, the region s busy GA airports contributed over $35 billion in total economic benefit. These figures include taxes generated by airport activity, impacts from visitor spending, and impacts from airport businesses, which include the region s aerospace manufacturing sector. REGIONAL AIRPORT SYSTEM 26 public use airports 2 military airfields 3,900 based aircraft 33 million annual passengers 1,900,000 annual takeoffs and landings The region s airport infrastructure is critical to production, testing, certification, and delivery of commercial aircraft. NextGen improvements at airports supporting the region s aerospace industry could provide additional economic benefits by reducing airfield and airspace delay and congestion, improving access during bad weather, enhancing efficiencies on the airfield, and improving safety. Of course, all benefits of NextGen need to be balanced against the cost to implement in light of public policy, available financial resources, business case analysis, and other factors. The region s airports provide access to the worldwide air transportation system, enabling a wide range of activities, from passengers to air cargo; business and corporate aviation; flight training; traffic reporting; forest fire fighting; and medical and emergency evacuation. Whether we use them or not, our airports are working for us.

3 PREPARING BUSY GENERAL AVIATION AIRPORTS FOR NEXT GENERATION TECHNOLOGIES The PSRC NextGen study was funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). PSRC retained the services of Systems Engineering and Technology (SeaTec, LLC) as technical consultant. In addition, a project advisory committee (PAC) was formed to provide ongoing input and advice. This group included representatives from FAA; the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division; airport sponsors; airport tenants, businesses, and pilots; the Boeing Company (including Boeing Business Jets); Alaska Airlines; Aviation High School; and the Washington Airport Management Association (WAMA). The NextGen study identifies proposed improvements at the region s busy airports to optimize future airport capacity, efficiency, safety, and environmental benefit, for communities, aircraft operators, pilots, and airport sponsors. The study builds upon current and planned advances in NextGen systems, methods, and techniques for Navigation (RNAV and RNP), Communication (data links, SWIM, and remote ATS facilities), and Surveillance (ADS-B). At the airport level, the study identifies improvements to airport infrastructure and facilities (runway and taxiway improvements, airport surveys, obstruction removal, etc.), with specific plans for each busy airport. NextGen can ease congestion in busy airspace With Optimized Profile Descent arriving aircraft reduce engine power and coast to the runway, using less fuel and reducing noise under their flight path. A key finding of the study is the recognition that at present, the region s closely placed airports have mutually interfering airspace use demands that often affect capacity and efficiency. These airspace interactions also create environmental and noise impact for communities. With new NextGen capabilities, particularly Performance Based Navigation (PBN) and its key element RNP, more accurate aircraft flight path trajectories are now possible. The result: enhanced capacity, improved efficiency, reduced user cost, lower environmental impacts, and community noise relief. A key goal of the PSRC NextGen study is to help prepare the region s airports to take advantage of FAA's NextGen advances in air traffic services, to better serve the region's air passengers, air cargo movement, commerce, manufacturing, business, military and security operations, and recreational use of airspace. Another study goal is to optimize aviation related capabilities and services while minimizing environmental and noise impacts on the region s communities.

4 WORK TASKS AND SUMMARY RESULTS TASK 1: Identify busy airports where NextGen technology could be beneficial Of the region s 28 public use airports, over 90% of the activity (aircraft takeoffs and landings) occur at the 10 largest airports (excluding Sea-Tac). In 2010 these airports were home to over 3,500 based aircraft (including 212 multi-engine piston aircraft and 117 jets) and served over 1.2 million aircraft takeoffs and landings (of which 684,000 were itinerant operations having origins or destinations outside the region). This study task reviewed the level and type of aircraft activity (visual versus instrument, local versus itinerant, etc.), the number and type (fleet mix) of based aircraft, and airport users, to determine the latent need for improved navigation capabilities and enhanced access during bad weather. This analysis found there are 13 airports worthy of more in-depth analysis to determine if NextGen technologies offer worthwhile benefits. See chapter 5 of the report for more details. BUSY AIRPORTS (as defined in the study) Boeing Field Renton Thun Field Tacoma Narrows Harvey Field First Air Field Lake Union Seaplane Base Paine Field Auburn Bremerton Arlington Crest Airpark Kenmore Air Harbor

5 TASK 2: Inventory busy airports to determine their preparedness to implement NextGen - This work included review of airport planning documents, site visits, and interviews with airport management to document current conditions. Information was collected on airport facilities, lighting and navigation aids, runway approaches, weather minimums, obstructions, and airport design and geometry relative to FAA airport design standards. For more information, see chapter 5 of the report. Arlington Airport King County International - Boeing Field Bremerton National Airport Tacoma Narrows Airport TASK 3: Identify airport design and operational deficiencies This task, called gap analysis, compared existing airport facilities and conditions (as documented in the inventory task) with FAA requirements to meet NextGen criteria. If current conditions fall short of FAA requirements the analysis shows a gap. The gap analysis identifies specific issues airport sponsors could address to improve all-weather access using NextGen Technologies. Critical components of the gap analysis were runway length and width, presence of a full length parallel taxiway, runway-to-taxiway separation distance, dimensions of the runway safety area (RSA), obstacle free zone (OFZ), and object free area (OFA), and approach lighting. This gap analysis is contained in chapter 6 of the report. The table below shows summary results of the gap analysis. For each airport the symbol OK means the airport meets FAA standards for NextGen applications for these criteria. The symbol X means the airport has some type of deficiency which would need to be addressed to accommodate NextGen.

6 SUMMARY OF GAP ANALYSIS Runway Length Runway Width Runway Safety Area Full Parallel Taxiway Taxiway Width Runway- Taxiway Separation Obstacle Free Zone (OFZ) Object Free Area (OFA) Runway Approach Lighting Glidepath Qualification Surface Arlington Airport OK OK X OK OK OK OK X OK X Auburn Municipal OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK X Bremerton National Airport OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK Crest Airpark OK X X OK OK X X X X X FirstAir Field X X X X X X X X N/A X Harvey Field OK X X X X X X X X X Kenmore Air Harbor - Kenmore n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Kenmore Lake Union n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a King County Int'l Airport Boeing Field OK OK X OK OK OK OK X OK X Pierce County Airport Thun Field OK X OK OK OK OK OK OK X X Renton Municipal OK OK X OK OK X OK X OK X Snohomish County Airport Paine Field OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK Tacoma Narrows OK OK OK OK OK X X X OK OK TASK 4: Develop a capital improvement plan (CIP) Using the results of the Gap Analysis, this task lays out a NextGen implementation plan for each airport. The plan identifies capital improvements (with a scoping analysis of estimated costs) and other actions which could be taken to address gaps for each airport. Typical capital improvements include runway and taxiway widening; new parallel taxiway; taxiway relocation; runway and taxiway lighting; and obstruction lighting, marking, and removal. Other actions include airport master plan and airport layout plan updates, obstruction surveys, and land acquisition for runway safety areas, approach protection, and acquisition of avigation easements. Additional suggested actions include technical evaluation and design of new NextGen approaches to establish Performance Based Navigation (PBN), Required Navigation Performance (RNP), and vertically guided approaches, typically Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance (LPV). The table below identifies capital improvements (with estimated costs) and other actions for consideration at each airport. Airports wishing to implement NextGen to enhance access should assess the benefits and costs of these actions and improvements. Most of the region s busy airports will need to prepare updated Master Plans and/or Airport Layout Plans (ALPs), obstruction surveys, and address existing obstructions by lighting, marking, and/or removal. Other improvements recommended include land acquisition for airfield redesign/reconfiguration and runway protection zones (RPZs); evaluations for LPV, RNAV, and RNP approaches; runway and taxiway widening and/or extensions; provision of parallel taxiways; land acquisition for runway protection zones; runway and taxiway lighting; and hold line and guidance sign improvements. Other recommendations are listed specific to Harvey Field, Renton Airport, Crest Airpark, King County International - Boeing Field, and Snohomish County - Paine Field. For more information, see Chapter 7 of the report. NextGen improvements are not recommended at FirstAir Field, Harvey Field, Kenmore Air Harbor (Kenmore), or Kenmore Lake Union for two reasons: (1) NextGen improvements are not warranted from a business case or financial perspective (e.g., costs would far outweigh benefits); and (2) such improvements would not produce significantly enhanced access for pilots or airport businesses.

7 SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS Obstruction Extend (E) or Update Prepare Evaluate LPV, Acquire land Add Runway (R) Relocate Taxiway Cost Estimate Lighting, Widen (W) Parallel Master Obstruction RNAV, RNP for airfield or Taxiway (T) Hold Lines and for Planned Marking, Runway (R) or Taxiway Plan/ALP Survey Approach redesign or RPZ Lighting Guidance Signs Improvements Removal Taxiway (T) Arlington Airport X X X T $855,000 Auburn Municipal X X X LPV/RNAV $457,000 Bremerton National Airport X X X $300,000 Crest Airpark X X X X WR New $8,265,000 FirstAir Field n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a $0 Harvey Field * X X ER X T $3,311,400 Kenmore Air Harbor - Kenmore n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a $0 Kenmore Lake Union n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a $0 King County Int'l Boeing Field * X X X $2,150,000 Pierce County Airport Thun Field X X X WR T X $3,765,000 Renton Municipal * X X X RNP X X $60,700,000 Snohomish County Paine Field X X $8,550,000 Tacoma Narrows X X X Relocate X $5,570,000 * Other proposed improvements not incuded in the table above: Harvey: Relocate power lines; convert existing asphalt runway to parallel taxiway; relocate Airport Way; install AWOS. Renton: Lower blast fence; RNP procedure; extended RSA; reconfigure displaced thresholds; reconfigure connecting taxiways. Crest Airpart: Hangar removal and/or relocation. King County Int'l - Boeing Field: Install Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) to lower RNP approach minimums. Snohomish County - Paine Field: Acquire avigation easement for Runway 34 RPZ. TASK 5: Identify strategies and system applications Implementation of NextGen will require a collaboration of numerous agencies and groups acting toward a common goal. These groups will need to consider how the pieces fit together, including airspace improvements (e.g., development of flight procedures, standards, and approaches); the area surrounding airports; training; supporting infrastructure; airport improvements; and the needed equipage on aircraft that use NextGen-capable airports. This task was built upon earlier tasks to produce an implementation strategy for each airport. Each strategy describes airport-specific actions addressing the following (for more information, see Chapter 8 of the report): Airport goals and objectives Assess NextGen options with respect to airport goals and objectives; identify stakeholders; and identify costs and benefits from NextGen technology implementation. Airspace infrastructure Availability of low altitude ADS-B coverage; airspace overlaps or conflicts/interaction with neighbor airport airspace and procedures; ATC impact from new NextGen procedures and practices; regional airspace considerations (dominant airport determines traffic flows?); ATC challenges managing procedures as is and with NextGen; and availability of neighbor airport cooperation. Airport infrastructure - Airport survey currency and format; airport design compliance with LPV and/or RNP TERPS requirements; and airport control of near obstacles, roads, etc. Flight procedures and minima - Existing instrument approaches and departures; prospective NextGen instrument approaches and departures; seasonal weather analysis; and lower weather minima benefits versus costs. Tenants and itinerants Typical NextGen equipage of: commercial aircraft, private aircraft and anticipated new tenants/itinerants.

8 Community and environment Community expectations; airport advisory committee(s); anticipated new services and community business impact; community noise sensitivity and mitigation possible with NextGen; and communications strategies to inform neighbors. NextGen 10-year horizon Evaluate specific effects of NextGen communications, navigation, and surveillance technologies. Business case analysis NextGen implementation costs; NextGen implementation benefits; funding sources; and time frame to implement. SUMMARY OF NEXTGEN STRATEGIES Establish (pioneer) regional GBAS Participate on Regional Airspace Committee Explore/Implement RNP/GBAS to Reduce Minima, Improve Access Explore/Implement GPS/LPV Approach to Reduce Minima Align Procedures to Reduce Airspace Congestion Establish Public or Boeing Special Procedures Establish AWOS and/or GPS Approach Use NextGen to Reduce Community Noise Impacts Arlington Airport X X Auburn Municipal X X X X Bremerton National Airport X X Crest Airpark X FirstAir Field n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Harvey Field X X Kenmore Air Harbor - Kenmore n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Kenmore Lake Union n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a King County Int'l Boeing Field X X X X X Pierce County Airport Thun Field X X X Renton Municipal X X X X X X Snohomish County Paine Field X X X X X Tacoma Narrows X X NEXTGEN BENEFITS NextGen is the largest, most complex improvement program ever undertaken by FAA. Over the next 15 years FAA, airports, and airlines will make large investments in equipment, training, and procedure development to implement NextGen. These investments will yield significant safety, economic, and environmental benefits to the traveling public, airlines, airports, and airport communities. These benefits include: More direct routing and reduced travel time Less delay (35% by 2018 estimated savings = $23 billion) More efficient use of capacity (airspace and airports) More flexibility for pilots (avoid terrain) Less fuel used Reduced impact on air quality Enhanced safety Reduced noise on communities around airports

9 Actions and investments identified in the PSRC NextGen study could produce the following benefits: Regionwide: Enhance capacity and reduce airspace conflicts between Sea-Tac Airport, Boeing Field, Paine Field, Renton Airport, Auburn Airport, and McChord Air Force Base/Gray Army Airfield (both at Joint Base Lewis-McChord). Renton: Support the expanding Boeing 737-MAX program and other airport users by improving bad weather access, reducing airspace congestion, and improving the efficiency of the airfield. Seattle and the Region: Reduce noise impacts by keeping more traffic over Elliott Bay and the Duwamish. Initial benefits will be gained through the Greener Skies program at Sea-Tac Airport. Additional noise reduction benefits may be realized with NextGen implementation at the PSRC regional level, as well as airport specific improvements at Renton Airport, Boeing Field, Tacoma Narrows, and other airports. Bremerton: Enhance business and economic potential by improved all-weather access. Busy Airports: NextGen improvements identified in the PSRC study could be incorporated into Airport Master Plans and Airport Layout Plans. Another goal of the study is to support FAA & WSDOT funding for NextGen improvements at the airport level and through regionwide airspace improvements. NEXT STEPS The findings and recommendations contained in the NextGen Study suggest a range of next steps. These actions might apply to individual airports, groups of airports (as in sub-regional airspace or other technical studies), the regional airport system, or the statewide airport system. FAA has expressed an interest in using the PSRC project as a template for similar studies in other parts of the country. WSDOT s Aviation Division may also use the PSRC study as a statewide model. Results of this work may feed into the following: Airport Master Plans Airport Layout Plans Airport obstruction surveys Airport GIS documents Airport studies to implement NextGen Sub-regional or regional airspace studies Regional Airport System Plan update Statewide NextGen study CONTACTS AND INFORMATION Stephen Kiehl, Principal Planner skiehl@psrc.org C:\E Drive\NextGen\Reports\NextGen Executive Summary - FINAL - April docx