- April 26, 2024
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To extend or not extend the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport's runway.
We've gotten a lot of reader feedback regarding this proposed project. Several letters published in last week's edition posed a lot of questions for the city on this topic. We compiled them into a list and submitted them to the city for answers. Here is what the city had to say:
Residents have continuously stated that the city is ultimately planning a 400-foot extension to the east. Is this in the city’s future plans?
There is no planned or proposed 400-foot extension to the east. The current project is a 600-foot extension to the west. An eastern runway extension project would need to be a part of the projects explored as part of the next airport master plan update in 2025.
Did the airport runway extension project play a role in the city not seeking out another golf course lessee?
No.
Have airport users expressed an interest in NetJets?
The Environmental Assessment Report for the original runway extension project indicated interest in fractional jet ownership (like NetJets) from three area businesses. The Ormond Beach Municipal Airport will, however, will remain a B-II airport, so no matter what third-party may have interest in utilizing the airport, it must use aircraft within the current fleet mix regulations set by the FAA for the airport.
What is the FAA Airport Hazard area and how does it impact homeowners?
The FAA has established no such area. Volusia County has established an airport hazard protection zone that applies only to properties within unincorporated Volusia County. Please see https://library.municode.com/fl/volusia_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIC OOR_CH72LAPL_ARTIIZO_DIV8SURE_S72-296AIPROVZO. There are 1,228 parcels in unincorporated Volusia County within the County’s Airport Hazard Protection Zone.
The Noise Abatement Task Force in 2009 resulted in a voluntary set of guidelines for pilots and flight schools. Are these guidelines still in play? If so, what is the city doing to try to make sure pilots are following them?
The set of Voluntary Noise Abatement Procedures developed by the city’s Noise Abatement Task Force remain in effect. Staff regularly communicates with local flight schools and airport users in an effort to remind and encourage compliance with these procedures. When the tower is open, it broadcasts the voluntary noise abatement procedures along with current flight conditions over broadband radio. When the tower is not open, pilots may call the Automated Terminal Information System (ATIS) to receive information on current flight conditions. It includes information about the voluntary noise abatement procedures, so each pilot receives this information every time they fly.
When was the last time that the Airport Fund paid back loans to the city’s General Fund? When do you expect the General Fund to be made whole?
Since funding must be paid on capital projects prior to receiving reimbursement from the grant agencies, it is likely there will always be the need for at least a short-term loan to the Airport Fund. The last time the loan balance was zero occurred in 2005, with payment being made at that time. There are too many variables to predict when the loan will be fully repaid.
At the OB Life meeting, it was stated that the runway extension would generate about three more operations a day. Why is this worth the cost of the extension?
Airport improvement projects are performed for the benefit of all airport users and are based upon an assessment of the current needs of airport users and the National Airspace System. Maintenance and improvements at all public-use airports are funded by users of that system. Longer runways provide for a safer flight environment and give aircraft operators more flexibility on the configuration/utilization of the aircraft during takeoff.
Many citizens appear to have walked away from the OB Life meeting disappointed because they felt the way the workshop was structured did not allow them to be heard. Would the city consider holding a different kind of public forum in the future regarding the airport?
The city answered all 178 questions that were asked by the residents at the OB Life meeting. This citizen engagement series format has proved to successfully facilitate civil discourse between residents and the city and improves overall transparency. There will be another meeting as a requirement of the FAA upon completion of the Supplemental Environmental Assessment for the runway extension project. All comments will be forwarded to the FAA.
When first looking into the originally proposed extension of 1,000 feet to the west, the city was ultimately unable to acquire easements. What process did the city undergo to attempt this, and why did it fall through?
The FAA required the city to acquire three avigation easements needed to secure the Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) described in the original scope of the project, which was a 1,000 linear foot westward extension of the runway. Through the city’s engineering firm, property owners subject to the necessary easements were approached to determine their level of interest and there was none.
Why does the city nor its consultant have a survey of the specific airport property boundary lines?
Survey work at the airport is performed on an as-needed basis. Illustrated airport property boundaries are based upon the recorded legal description of the property, as is common practice.
A question about C-II aircraft was also asked at the OB Life meeting. The city stated it plans to remain a B-II airport. Can you explain the differences between these two types of aircraft? Why are C-II aircraft mentioned in the draft SEA?
The Ormond Beach Municipal Airport will remain a B-II airport. An Airport Reference Code of B-II is typical for an airport that serves small, single engine aircraft and some larger general aviation aircraft. A B-II airport can serve aircraft with an approach speed of 91 to 120 knots and a wingspan of 49 to 78 feet. A C-II airport can serve aircraft with the same wingspan as a B-II airport, but with higher approach speeds of 121 to 140 knots. Environmental assessments for airport projects examine a wide range of factors in order to determine appropriate development goals based upon assessed needs.
You previously stated that some properties have been identified by FDOT as having trees obstructing the approach to the existing runway? Have the affected homeowners been notified of this? Does this apply to all of the homeowners whose properties border the airport on the west side?
Potential obstructions that have been identified by FDOT for both the existing and extended runway involve primarily five parcels west of the airport in unincorporated Volusia County. Official notification of the affected property owners is coordinated through Volusia County.
