Possible acceptable sites for a new airport to replace Friedman Memorial will be spelled out publicly in greater detail August 5 and August 6 by a team from the Federal Aviation Administration and the consulting firm of Landrum & Brown.
The report, described by Friedman Memorial Airport manager Rick Baird as "significant," will first be made to the airport's authority at its regular monthly meeting on August 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the conference room of the old Blaine County Courthouse. Similar reports will be made at public meetings the next day August 6 from 10 a.m. to Noon and 6 to 8 p.m. at a place to be announced.
Among the eagerly anticipated findings is a list of possible sites that have passed muster in the first phase of a long-range Environmental Impact Statement study conducted by Landrum & Brown.
Cayla Morgan, of the FAA's northwest regional office, said that some sites have been eliminated, but others not initially recommended have been added for study. She did not elaborate on which sites have been eliminated or added.
Baird said the report is expected to also include data on projected aircraft traffic at various sites; an analysis of the economic impact on air carriers and the community of a new airport distant from the existing field, and requirements for a new airport at certain sites to make them operationally state-of-the-art.
The mandatory EIS study could continue for two years.
Friedman Memorial has been declared out of compliance by the FAA for handling increasingly larger, faster aircraft. However, it continues to operate with some limitations. Assuming no major funding or approval obstacles develop, a new airport could be operational by 2017.
At the regular meeting Tuesday night, July 1, the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority:
● Reviewed the upcoming 2008-2009 budget in which Baird said there would be no increases in rates and charges, although projected revenues in several categories are anticipated to drop.
● Gave temporary approval for selling beer and wine to the airport gift shop, J. Alyson. The board agreed to review the approval in several months.
● Was alerted by Baird to increased aircraft traffic July 3-6 for the traditional July 4th holiday, plus the annual flurry of corporate jets arriving for the Allen & Co. media conference at the Sun Valley Resort. Baird said he expects about the same amount of VIP jets as during the 2007 meeting, which attracted enough corporate aircraft to fill the airport's parking ramp.
