Changing the airport into a biz jet center

If I was a county official intent on converting Minden-Tahoe airport to a jet center, what would I do? Before I answer, a bit about myself and the airport development process.

I don't consider myself an expert on anything. But I do have five years experience as a jet transport pilot in the Air Force and throughout my 30-year career in county land use planning I was involved with airport planning. So I do know something about this, but you're always free to turn to the sports section.

So, how are airports developed in the U.S? When you fly, whether as an airline passenger or as a pilot filling the fuel tank of your own aircraft, you pay taxes into what is called the aviation trust fund, which is administered by the FAA. That fund is then used to pay for improvements to the aviation system, including local airports.

The FAA doesn't want that money wasted, so before it funds projects at a local airport it insists the airport have a master plan approved by the FAA. The FAA only funds projects that fit within and further the master plan. In doing so, the FAA attempts to assure an honest process. So you can't get federal money to build a big airport and then restrict it to small airplanes or only residents' airplanes or that sort of thing.

Our airport is an old Army airfield converted to civilian use many years ago. It's mainly served light planes and the soaring community, but some bigger boys too, like the firefighting tankers based there and some business aircraft.

Due to past concerns about the impact of the airport, voters here adopted an ordinance that restricts the weight of aircraft that can operate here. There is some dispute about the numbers, but the weight limit is well below what the County says is the actual physical weight capacity of the airport.

This has raised the question of whether the weight ordinance is discriminatory. That is, if we have a facility capable of handling, say, 110,000 pounds, is it discriminatory to then limit operations to 50,000 pound aircraft? The FAA thinks so, as does the biz jet crowd, and they are threatening lawsuits.

In my opinion the answer lies in the master planning process. If your airport master plan makes it clear that you're planning improvements only for smaller aircraft and the FAA accepts that, then the limitation is likely to stick. If you plan and build improvements suitable for larger aircraft then the FAA is going to insist that you let them in.

A bit more background. Differing types of operations don't mix well. You won't see gliders at LAX. In particular, jets have inherent conflicts with smaller piston aircraft and gliders. Jets operate at higher speeds, prefer straight-in approaches, are less maneuverable and are inherently in a hurry. Safety dictates that you get other users out of their way.

And, why jets here? Well, today's business jets aren't tethered to their passengers' locations. They're essentially time-shared and can be based anywhere. They're then flown to the passenger's pickup point, then to his drop off point, and then on to other passengers and eventually back to their base. It can make good business sense to base these aircraft in a place like Minden rather than, say, L.A.

So, if I wanted to create a jet center here, what would I do?

Well, first I'd prepare a master plan that includes the facilities desired by my future jet customers and that reduces conflicts by segregating jet operations from those with which jets are least compatible.

I'd keep this process low key and relatively private. And my premise would be that we have no choice. Since the airport is already capable of handling these aircraft we have to accommodate them, conveniently ignoring the fact that it was not a local decision to build that capability (it was the Army's) and that the airport was initially built without FAA trust funds.

In the process I'd answer the objections of traditional airport users, concerned that they are being pushed out, by promising them extensive new facilities (that of course may not materialize) and assuring them that they will be better off. And I'd characterize their complaints as self-serving whining.

I'd hold the mandatory hearing by the county commission to approve the plan but with only limited notice to the general public, pretending that this is simply an aviation community issue. I'd have the district attorney tell the commissioners they have no choice, that FAA rules require that larger aircraft be allowed in because we already took their money to improve our airport here and there. Again ignoring the fact that we never took their money to build the capability that we're now told dictates this outcome.

Then I'd ship the plan off to the FAA, confident that their bias in favor of a "bigger" system would guarantee approval.

Then, and only then, I'd turn to the voters and say we have no choice but to eliminate or modify the weight restriction. Our FAA approved master plan and FAA regulations require it. And if we don't do it, we're going to have lawsuits galore, spend a lot of money in the process, and lose in the end.

And I'd say, no, don't be silly, this isn't about jets, it's just about being able to get access to the funds we need to maintain and improve our little airport. So just relax and do what we say. You'll hardly notice the difference.

At first. But we all know intuitively that with jets come problems. More noise spread over a larger area. Greater risk spread over a larger area. Pressure on other aviators to get out of the way. Etc. etc.

So is this what's happening in Douglas County? I'm concerned that it is. But you should decide for yourself by getting more involved and becoming better informed.

There is information on the airport's Web site, www.mindentahoeairport.com. And for the counterpoint go to www.ourairport.org, where local residents concerned about the airport's future and its impacts on our community present their case for a different approach.

What I can tell you is that not all communities have simply done what the FAA or airport management tells them to do. Many have resisted, studied, argued and taken political action to gain control of their aviation future and make their local airport serve them and not the other way around.

In the end, whether Minden-Tahoe becomes a jet center will be up to us. Sit back and I think it will. The work to date makes that clear. Get involved and let officials know you object and it might not. The airport master plan is key to all this and it is being prepared now. If you need some motivation, just imagine a fleet of business jets dispersing early each morning and returning each night. Sort of like a mini FedEx hub. How does that fit with our quiet little Valley?

n Terry Burnes is a Gardnerville resident and former community planner.