u.s. Department of

Transportation

Office of the Secretory

of Transportation

Memorandum

Subject: Payout procedures as a result of the temporary closure

of Billings Logan International Airport (Billings,

42

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From: ennis J. DeVany, Chief

EAS & Domestic Analysis Division, X-53

To: Gregory Frazier, Resource Directorate, S-3.6

Date:

Reply to Scott Faulk, X-53

Attn. of: Ext. 69967

Billings Logan International Airport (Bill

On July 22, Silver Airways, Inc. ("Silver") provided notice that Billings Logan International Airport

(Billings, Montana) will be closed for all flights due to runway construction and resurfacing from

approximately 9:00 AM on Friday, July 26th through 6:00 PM on Sunday, July 28th, and again from

9:00 AM on Friday, August 2

hd through 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 4th

•

Silver currently provides subsidized EAS between Glasgow, Glendive, Havre, Sidney, and Wolf

Point, to Billings, Montana. The level of service and subsidy levels per flight for each community

. are as follows:

EAS Community . Subsidy per Round Trips per

Fli2ht Week

Glasgow $962 12 RTs per week

Glendive $985 12 RTs per week

Havre $959 12 RTs per week

Sidney $1,709 17 RTs per week

Wolf Point $1,240 12 RTs per week

It has been our policy, on a case-by-case basis, to pay EAS air carriers the usual subsidy rate when

airports have been closed on the grounds that the circumstances are beyond the air carrier's control

and there are only minimal cost savings to the air carrier while they lose all of the revenue. The air

carriers would only save on fuel and a portion of maintenance because they would not be able to tum

back aircraft or lay-off personnel. Consistent with this precedent, we ask you to compensate Silver

in accordance with the above table, for the period of July 26th through July 28th, and the period of

August 2

nd through August 4th

•

Attachment
From: Mickey Bowman [mailto:mbowman@gosilver.coml

sent: Monday, July 22, 2013 3:57 PM

To: Devany, Dennis (OST); Frazier, Gregory (OST)

Cc: Faulk, Scott (OST); Steve Jones

Subject: FW: FW: Billings Mt weight restrictions and runway closures.

Importance: High

Dennis and Greg.

Please see the note below relating to a Runway Shutdown that will keep us from operating at BIL on two

upcoming weekends. Specifically from 900am on Friday July 26 through 600pm on Sunday July 28 and

then again from 900am Friday Aug 2 through 600pm Sunday Aug 4

th We are actually doing better than

most carriers as we are able to use the secondary runway for all but these two weekends when it will be

shut down as well as they resurface the intersection. I want to verify that we will still receive

compensation as this is out of our control.

MB

Mickey Bowman I Vice p'resident EAS& Network Planning

OSnQveu-

~ ~ .AIRWAYS

Email: mbowman@gosilver.com

Office: +1 954-302-5929

Mobile: +1270-303-8719

From: Ploehn, Kevin [mailto:PloehnK@cLbiliings.mt.us]

Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 1:3S PM

.To: Mickey Bowman

Cc: Annin, Kim

Subject: FW: FW: Billings Mt weight restrictions and runway closures.

Micky,

We received the following update from the FAA this morning which is good news. Regarding Linda

Sackman's notice, that information is correct. The weekends of July 26-28 and August 2-4 are when the

main runway work intersects Runway 7/25 so both runways will be closed on those weekends. Runway

7/25 will remained closed during the week between those two weekends but the main runway 10L/28R

will be open.

Kevin Ploehn

Assistant Director of Aviation and Transit

City of Billings Logan International Airport

1901 Terminal Circle, Room 216

Billings, MT 59105

(406) 657-8484
From: Steve. Engebrecht@faa.gov [mailto: Steve. Engebrecht@faa.gov]

sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 9:21 AM

To: Annin, Kim

Cc: Binford, Tom; Dave.stelling@faa.gov; 'Gene Wasia'; Heather Mosser; Ploehn, Kevin

Subject: Re: FW: Billings Mt weight restrictions and runway closures.

KimThe airspace review was completed earlier this week. There were no objections to temporarily increasing

the pavement strength of Runway 7125 during the Runway 10Ll28R construction project.

There was a response from Flight Standards that the airport coordinate with the airlines directly (station

managers) regarding the unavailability of Instrument Approach Procedures (lAP). including circling

approaches. I have a call into Flight Standards to verify the intent of this comment. I believe it refers to

the fact that the RW 1OL and 28R GS and LOC will be off, therefore unavailable to use to make visual

contact with the airport. and then break off to land on Runway 7 or 25. However. you should still have

RNAV (GPS) approaches available to Runways 7 and 25. Regardless. this comment doesn't affect the

ability of Silver Airways to temporarily use Runway 7125.

Here is the Flight Standards response:

No Flight Standards Objection to temporarily increase pavement load allowances. However, case review (including

CSP 2012-ANM-853-NRA) does not specifY direct prior coordination with all scheduled air carrier operators

concerning unavailability ,,(instrument approach procedure(s) (lAP) including unavailability of circle to land

operations. (Proposed substitute runway 7/25 (5503 X 75) may not be compatible with all operator aircraft

normally being used, per payload andfuel weights vs. landing and takeoff considerations.) Although automatic

NOTAM D should occur reference NA of lAPs, prior direct coordination by Airport Operations with all scheduled

operators is mandatory but can be accomplished thru operator station manager('i). Affected scheduled operators are

Horizon (Q400), Allegiant (MD83), Delta (Skywest - CRJ), United (A3l9), and United Express (Republic - Q400).

Steve L Engebrecht, P.E.

Civil Engineer

Helena Airports District Office
steve. eng ebrecht@faa.gov

PH (406) 449-5279

FAX (406) 449-5274

from: "Annin, Kim" <AnninK@ci.billings.mt.us>

To: Dave Steliing/ANM/FAA@FAA, Steve EngebrechtlANM/FAA@FAA

Cc: "Binford,Tom" <BinfordT@ci.billings.mt.us>,"Ploehn, Kevin"<PloehnK@ci.bitiings.mt.us>,'Gene Wasia' <gwasia@m-rn,net>,

Heather Mosser <hmosser@m-m.net>

Date: 06/28/201308:07 AM

Subject: FW: Billings Mt weight restrictions and runway closures.

Davel

Canyou please check on the status of the 7480 form? Any information would be helpful.

Thanks, • ,

ka

From: Mickey Bowman [mailto:mbowman@gosilver.com]

Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2013 9:02 PM

To: Annin, Kim

Cc: Ploehn, Kevin; Binford, Tom

Subject: Re: Billings Mt weight restrictions and runway closures.

Kim

We desperately need an update on whether or not the FAAis going to allow this operation. We are running out of

time ro notify our passengers.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 20, 2013, at 9:22 AM, "Annin, Kim" <AnninK@cLbillings.mt.us>wrote:

Mickey,

I checked the status of the 7480 regarding the weight change with the FAAon Tuesday and was told it is still being

reviewed by the FAAand they couldn't give me a time frame when it may be done. We will call you as soon as the

FAAmakes a decision. Also, we have noticed your are selling tickets for the weekends of July 26 and August

2. Even if the weight restrictions are increased, during these weekends RW7/25 will be closed as the

rehabilitation of RW lOL/28R crossesRW7/25. Pleasecall me if you have any further questions. (406-657-8482)

Thanks,

Kim Annin, eM. Manager of Construction Engineering and Planning