Airport Topics

FAA Western - Pacific Region 

Volume V Issue 1 November 2016

We’re back...

We are happy to present our revitalized Airport Topics. As I 

made my way around the Region these past few years, you 

have made it clear that this form of communication from the 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is appreciated and 

was missed. I would like to personally thank my team for 

putting this newsletter together! 

OUT WITH THE OLD YEAR IN WITH THE NEW!

This past year brought many challenges to the Western Pacific 

Region! I would like to highlight some of our noteworthy 

achievements during Fiscal Year (FY) 2016:

 We partnered with the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the Hawaii Department of 

Transportation (HDOT), the Port of Oakland, the Monterey Peninsula Airport District, and our FAA 

Lines of Business to complete our final six Runway Safety Area projects within the Western-Pacific 

Region (AWP). All AWP Part 139 airports met the December 31, 2015 deadline required by Public 

Law 109-115 passed by the Congress.

 We partnered with our FAA Lines of Business, airport sponsors, and other stakeholders to address 

high visibility Runway Incursions at Honolulu International Airport (HNL), Las Vegas McCarran 

International Airport (LAS), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

 We partnered with the cities of Phoenix, Prescott, and Mesa to initiate airfield geometry studies at 

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Ernest A. Love Field (PRC), and Falcon Field 

(FFZ). These studies were funded by FAA to support the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) 

Runway Incursion Mitigation (RIM) program and will address Runway Incursion hotspots by 

exploring opportunities for correcting complex airfield geometry.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

In this issue: 

Mark McClardy

Message from the Director’s Desk 1

AWP Spotlight 4

Planning and Programming 6

Safety and Standards 7

Honolulu ADO News 10

Los Angeles ADO News 15

Phoenix ADO News 17

San Francisco ADO News 19
 2 

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

(continued)

 We conducted Special Emphasis meetings with airport executives at Montgomery Field , Tucson 

International Airport (TUS), Hayward Executive Airport (HWD), San Francisco International Airport 

(SFO), and LAX to explore ways to strategically address re-occurring Vehicle Pedestrian Deviations 

(VPD). As a result of our partnerships with the aforementioned locations, as well as other airports in 

the region, AWP reduced the number of VPDs from 65 recorded in FY 2015 to 46 recorded in FY 

2106. We are pleased to report that AWP’s airports did not have any recorded Category A or B 

VPDs during FY 2016.

 We partnered with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT – Aeronautics) to conduct 

Wildlife Hazard Assessments (WHA) for Chandler (CHD), Mesa Falcon Field (FFZ), Phoenix Deer 

Valley (DVT), Phoenix Goodyear (GYR), Glendale (GEU), Scottsdale (SDL), Marana Regional 

(AVQ), and Casa Grande (CGZ). These assessments will be used to determine if a Wildlife Hazard 

Management Plan (WHMP) will be necessary for each facility.

 We collaborated with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) to conduct WHA’s for 

Carson City (CXP) and Minden-Tahoe (MEV) and the Hawaii department of Transportation (HDOT) 

to update WHMPs at their Part 139 airports statewide.

 We kicked off discussions with the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) to 

develop a program to complete all Pavement Maintenance Management Plans (PMMPs) for all nonprimary airports on a rotating schedule over a three to four year period. In addition, we are working 

with CALTRANS to assist them with hosting a website that will house the results of the PMMPs, 

making the results easily available to the airport, their consultants and the FAA. We plan to partner 

with CALTRANS to roll out these initiatives in FY 2017

 We partnered with a variety of stakeholders including HDOT, Commonwealth Ports Authority, 

Guam International Airport Authority, United States (U.S.) Department of Agriculture, U.S. 

Department of Interior, and United Airlines, along with Civil Aviation Authorities, and Airport 

officials from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, and Federated States of 

Micronesia to improve the safety of commercial service airports throughout Micronesia. In doing so, 

we provided technical assistance to each nation in a variety of areas including implementation of a 

Safety Management System based governance structure and compliance with the International Civil 

Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirement for conducting Full Scale Emergency Exercises at the six 

commercial service airports located throughout Micronesia.

 We worked closely with our Nevada stakeholders, building relationships and conducting 

unprecedented outreach statewide.

 We partnered with the Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) and our FAA Headquarters to resolve 

challenging, politically sensitive issues pertaining to the implementation of the TUS Airfield Safety 

Enhancement (ASE) program, which consists of a complicated multi-agency land exchange that once 

completed could:

1. Enable TAA to enhance the level of airfield safety by addressing runway incursion hotspots at 

TUS.

2. Construct a new full length, center parallel taxiway and new runway.

3. Make US Air Force Plant 44 whole with respect to Air Force owned land needed to relocate 

TUS facilities necessary to build a new commercial service runway at TUS.
 3 

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

(continued)

4. Provide TAA owned land needed to support potential job creating development proposed by 

Raytheon Missile Systems, the city of Tucson, Pima County, and the Arizona Air National 

Guard. FAA has initiated an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and is studying the 

proposals. 

 We partnered with LAWA, the newly formed Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA), and 

our FAA Headquarters to review, facilitate, and process the transfer of Ontario International Airport 

(ONT) from LAWA to OIAA. The transfer was completed on November 1, 2016.

 We partnered with Inyo County, the Town of Mammoth Lakes, and other stakeholders to explore 

opportunities to address air service needs for the region.

FY 2017 promises to be just as challenging given the Continuing Resolution that we are currently 

operating under until December 9, 2016. Despite our expected challenges, I am proud to announce that 

by popular demand, we intend to host the FAA Airports Conference in early June, 2017! We expect to 

send save the date cards in the coming months so please plan to support this educational event. We will 

provide more information on our FY 2017 initiatives in the future issues of Airport Topics. In the 

meantime, I encourage you to work closely with your Airport District Office and/or Airport Certification 

Inspector to ensure a very successful FY 2017!

Mark A. McClardy, Director, AWP Airports
 4 

AWP SPOTLIGHT

B et t y E asl e y

It is our pleasure to Spotlight those in the aviation 

community who have a love for aviation and make 

things better for the rest of us. These special 

individuals bring attention to the great industry we 

all work in and the benefits it gives to local 

communities. The first Spotlight is Betty Easley 

of the Hawthorne Airport (HTH) in Hawthorne, 

Nevada. 

Betty is a volunteer who puts in countless hours to 

make Hawthorne Airport a place that pilots want 

to visit. Betty has always loved aviation, she says 

“If you are paid it’s a job, if you volunteer it’s 

love.” As a child she looked skyward for the 

airplanes and jets. In the 9th grade her family 

moved to Clearfield, Utah, near Hill Air Force 

Base. She was in love with the jets and Hill Air 

Force Base was where she first saw the 

Thunderbirds. As a child, her bedroom was full of 

model airplanes she assembled and books she read 

Betty Easley

about aircraft. 

In 1965 she moved to Hawthorne, Nevada to teach Primary/Elementary music and engage in her other 

love - horses. However, her eyes continued to be drawn skyward whenever an aircraft flew overhead. 

The real turning point for Betty was in 2007, during the Steve Fossett search, when numerous 

helicopters came to the Hawthorne airport for fuel. She observed what pilots were doing and realized 

there were small things she could do to help them out and be a part of the airport and aviation. 

The more she was around pilots and planes the more she realized ways to encourage the aviation 

community to recognize Hawthorne as a good place to visit. She started out by purchasing the 

airport’s first car in December 2007, the next vehicle was purchased in the summer of 2008. A surplus 

15 passenger Caltrans van was received in spring 2010 - just in time for the Marine Reserve ATC to 

use during the Javelin Thrust Reserve Training. The vehicles are available for pilot use, when they 

come to Hawthorne Airport.

Betty also started writing articles for the Mineral County Independent News in December 2007 and 

contributed aviation articles connected in some way to Hawthorne Airport. There are scrapbooks in 

the pilot’s lounge with all the articles. Pilots and others can request reprints of the articles which she 

emails out to over 300 contacts each week. 

But Betty’s talents don’t stop there. Betty is also an accomplished photographer. She sold her pictures 

before focusing on aviation. When she turned to aviation photography she promised to never accept 

money for her photographs—she simply considers them gifts to the pilots she photographs. Her 
 5 

AWP SPOTLIGHT

B et t y E asl e y (c ont inu e d)

photographs have been featured within and as the cover for the Comanche Flyer and Aerostar Log. 

Being a volunteer she loves that she can set her own hours, but keeping with her dedication to the airport 

and the pilots, her hours are 24/7. She will go to the airport anytime that someone comes in or she is 

needed. She proudly informed me that Tony Hughes, who she calls “a wonderful man” does back her up 

on the rare occasion she isn’t available. 

When pilots do insist on donating for her effort, she puts the money in an account at the Credit Union 

called the “Pilot Donation Fund.” Just three of the items the Pilots Fund has paid for are; the AC unit to 

keep the AWOS equipment room at 70 degrees, a new UNICOM radio for the FBO, and a super nice 

rolling ladder for pilots that need height to fuel their planes. 

Customer service isn’t her only goal, she is fanatical about safety, with Foreign Object Debris (FOD) 

runs and condition reports to pilots whenever needed. For her work with FAA investigators and her 

safety activities, she was awarded the FAA Western-Pacific Region Flight Standards Division challenge 

coin and certificate award at the Reno Air Races in 2015. 

Betty’s energy and drive to make Hawthorne Airport the best it can be, is inspiring to say the least. In 

Betty’s words ‘”I love that I am able to serve the aviation community and promote HTH and Hawthorne. 

Through this service I have made friends I would have never met and even though I’m not a pilot, the 

aviation world has accepted me as one of their own and that is the highest honor they can give me.” 

Betty is one of those rare individuals who has found her passion and is willing to put everything in to 

make it great. Fortunately, some pilots have rewarded her with something that, for Betty, money can’t 

buy--their appreciation and an incredible flight. She mentioned one of her most memorable flights was 

an hour long flight in a Nevada Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk around Lake Tahoe. 

For Betty the last 9 years have been the happiest and most fulfilling in her entire life. I know some of 

you have wanted to steal Betty for your airport, but she is staying at Hawthorne. We are all grateful and 

hope she continues to love what she does for many more years to come. If you’re in the area be sure to 

stop in and see Betty--the refrigerator is kept stocked, and there is a snack bar, computer, WiFi, All-inOne printer, microwave, plus loaner cars so you can stay overnight or enjoy a meal in town. Oh- and be 

sure to say Hi to Betty for all of us!

Robin Hunt, Deputy Director, AWP Airports
 6 

PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING

FY 20 16 Ai rp ort Im pr o vem ent P ro gram (A IP ) R esu lts

The FY 2016 AIP grants program ended on September 30. The FY 2016 program was more challenging 

to manage than the past few years because the funds were appropriated in three increments. Incremental 

funding delayed some grant offers awaiting award of full sponsor entitlements and also contributed to a 

high percentage of discretionary delayed until the last few months of the program. We appreciate the 

combined efforts of our airport sponsors, consultants and the staff in our Airports District Offices in 

working together to award grants based on construction bids or negotiated costs.

The chart below indicates funding by State and Pacific Islands. The amounts are broken down by 

Sponsor Entitlement (passenger, non-primary and cargo entitlement), State Apportionment and 

Discretionary. A total of 236 grants were issued (Arizona 33, California 142, Nevada 24, Hawaii 12 and 

Pacific Islands 25). The total grant funding was $435 million, including $240 million discretionary. 

These amounts compare to FY 2015, in which 200 grants were issued for a total of $452 million, 

including $247 million discretionary. 

Richard Chao, Airport Program Specialist, Planning and Programming Branch, AWP-610

Fund Types AZ CA NV HI Pacific Total

State Apportionment $7M $21M $5M $1M $2M $36M

Entitlement $26M $87M $16M $20M $10M $159M

Discretionary $25M $154M $29M $7M $25M $240M

Total: $58M $262M $50M $28M $37M $435M
 7 

SAFETY AND STANDARDS

Va n qu ish ing th e VP D

This publication is directed primarily towards 

airport management to be disseminated to all levels 

of personnel working at your airfield. Vanquishing 

the Vehicle/Pedestrian Deviations (V/PD) can be 

accomplished through a solid partnership between 

the FAA and airport management. The 

responsibility of making sure that the proper 

safeguards are in place; however, lies squarely on 

the shoulders of airport management. Please use 

this information and all that follows as a guide by 

which to provide a safer environment at your 

airfield.

In the past year, AWP has experienced two V/PDs 

involving Transportation Network Companies 

(TNCs) (Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, etc.) where vehicle 

operators drove into airport movement areas, 

searching for their customers. One incident 

involved a TNC vehicle that drove down an active 

runway. As the popularity of TNCs increases, so 

does the possibility that these TNC drivers will be 

involved in V/PDs. Airport management can, 

however, take steps to decrease that possibility. 

TNC customers request a ride from a TNC by using a smart phone mobile application. Location of the 

customer is registered by the customer entering a specific address. The location of the customer is then 

depicted as a GPS location fixed on a map. Further clarification of the customer location or restrictions 

to the pick-up area may be relayed to the driver by cell phone communication or a text message. 

Theoretically, this system of locating the customer should keep the driver out of trouble. Unfortunately, 

this is not always the case.

Customers who request a pick-up at a fixed base operator at a general aviation (GA) airport may expect 

to be picked-up at an inappropriate location like a ramp area. Or they may wait for the TNC inside of a 

building which skews the GPS location of the customer. This is where the trouble begins. The TNC 

driver, who is often under a time restriction to affect his/her pick-up, will gain access to the airfield by 

piggy-backing through a closed gate or driving through an open gate. A tenant may also allow the 

driver access to the airfield without providing a positive escort. The TNC driver follows their GPS 

navigation system in a vain attempt to find the customer. The driver is ignorant of vehicle operations on 

airports and, ultimately, drives on an active taxiway or runway.

Larger airports with central terminal areas have negotiated very specific pick-up locations with the 

TNCs servicing their airport. Both the drivers and the customers are aware of these locations. These 

locations are published on airport websites and are identified with signs at the airport. At GA airports, 
 8 

SAFETY AND STANDARDS

Va n qu ish ing th e VP D ( cont inu ed )

however, these areas are either not well defined or non-existent. 

If your airport is serviced by a TNC you can take steps to prevent drivers from entering the movement 

areas:

 Designate a specific pick-up area where customers will meet their TNC drivers

 Communicate the location of these pick-up areas with the TNC

 Post signs identifying the designated TNC pick-up area

 Educate tenants not to allow TNC drivers through secured gates

 Educate tenants to be alert for TNC drivers attempting to piggy-back through gates

 Do not allow TNC drivers to make pick-ups on the ramp areas

Should a TNC gain access to the airfield educate tenants to challenge the driver and provide a positive 

escort for the entire time the TNC vehicle is inside the perimeter fence.

Transportation Network Companies are here to stay. By implementing a few new procedures at your 

airport and by emphasizing a few old procedures, TNC drivers can operate safely while conducting 

their business at any size airport.

Reproductions of this, past and subsequent issues of Vanquishing the VPD are available on FAA’s 

Website: 

http://www.faa.gov/airports/western_pacific/newsletter/

Steven Oetzell, Lead Airport Certification Safety Inspector, AWP Safety and Standards
 9 

SAFETY AND STANDARDS

W e st ern-P a c if i c R eg ion W e lc om e s N ew Ai rp ort C er ti fi cat ion Sa f et y 

I nsp e c tor

The Western-Pacific Region recently selected Jose “Tony” Bordallo as our newest Airport 

Certification Safety Inspector (ACSI) joining the Safety and Standards Branch in the AWP Regional 

Office. Tony brings 17 years of experience as an Airport Operations Duty Manager from the Guam 

International Airport. He is certified by the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) as an 

Airport Certified Employee (ACE). He is also certified in Airport Business Operations by Airports 

Council International (ACI). Tony has participated in numerous Aerodrome Workshops throughout 

many of the Pacific Islands and conducted training courses specific to 14 CFR Part 139. Tony and his 

wife Angela have moved to southern California from Guam. They have two children: Ana and Alfred. 

Last but not least, is Lilo, their loyal German Shepard. 

Tony reported for work on October 3, 2016. Welcome aboard Tony.

Steven Oetzell, Lead Airport Certification Safety Inspector, AWP Safety and Standards

Jose “Tony” Bordallo
10

HONOLULU ADO NEWS

HNL Taxiway (TWY) Z spans the entire frontage of the overseas terminal building to the Diamond 

Head hardstands at an estimated 6,533 lineal feet. Taxiway Z receives a significant amount of both 

departing and arriving aircraft originating from, or arriving at, the Overseas Terminal. Additionally, the 

portion of Taxiway Z adjacent to the terminal apron receives a significant amount of static aircraft 

loading from aircraft that have been pushed back from their departure gate onto the taxiway pavement. 

This is a contributing factor to the significant amount of load-related distress including “alligator” 

cracking and rutting that is currently present on Taxiway Z.

The original pavement was constructed with asphalt concrete and was in continual need of repair and 

this project will reconstruct Taxiway ‘Z’ with Portland Cement Concrete which is a much more durable 

product. The project work area is approximately 75-feet by 6,533-feet and includes a 10-foot wide AC 

pavement transition area on both sides of the taxiway. Other work items include sawcutting, cold 

milling, excavation, painting and striping, and other related improvements. The project also includes 

design and construction management services.

The project is funded with Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) in the amount of $50,000,000.00, to include 

design, construction management, testing , and construction services.

On Dec. 7, 2012, CH2M Hill Inc., was awarded the design contract.

On December 12, 2014, Lyon Associates Inc., was awarded the construction management services 

contract.

On April 17, 2014, Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. won the construction contract. On July 2, 2014, the 

notice to proceed was issued for a construction period of 741 calendar days. There were 21 phases of 

construction estimated at 30 days per phase to allow for demolition, construction and cure time. Phase 

21 included replacing the temporary paint with permanent markings. The project went through rigorous 

design evaluation for wing tip clearances and jet blast effects, construction phasing coordination with 

the airport, airlines, FAA HCF Air Traffic Organization and the FAA Honolulu Airports District Office. 

All 21 phases were evaluated under the Safety Risk Management (SRM) process and a full panel of 

subject matter experts convened in October 2013.

The project was successfully completed 4 months ahead of schedule on March 28, 2016, without any 

airfield incidents. The phases impacted many terminal gates forcing full closures and others with tow in/

out procedures. The hours invested in pre-coordination of each phase and a team of dedicated and 

responsible airport staff, engineers, inspectors, contractors, and air traffic controllers played a major role 

in the success of this project. 

The project scope was amended and increased (by three phases) within the allowable amounts to include 

adjacent areas that were also badly deteriorated. This triggered another SRM panel review using the 

same coordination/notification process as a base line.

H ono lulu In te rna tio nal Ai rp or t (H NL) - R e con stru c tin g T a xiw ay Z
11

HONOLULU ADO NEWS

This is the construction limits on Phases 1-20. Phase 21 included restriping with permanent 

markings.

Fig. 1 - Setting up the slip form paver and laying out the steel baskets. It take at least 5 dump 

trucks of Portland Cement Concrete to prime this Gomaco GHP 2800 for production paving.

Hono lulu In te rna tio nal Ai rp or t (H NL) - R e con stru c tin g T a xiw ay Z 

( c on tinu e d)
12

nt and coordinates.

HONOLULU ADO NEWS

H ono lulu In te rna tio nal Ai rp or t (H NL) - R e con stru c tin g T a xiw ay Z

( c on tinu e d)

Fig. 2 - Slip form paver in action. All elevations and corrections are continually triangulated 

using GPS equipme

Fig. 3 - The FAA mix design of the Portland concrete finished product extruding from the back 

of the paver (left side) is so stiff it does not need any side forms.
13

HONOLULU ADO NEWS

H ono lulu In te rna tio nal Ai rp or t (H NL) - R e con stru c tin g T a xiw ay Z

( c on tinu e d)

Fig. 4 - Sunrise photo after completing a nights worth of work.

Currently the project is in phase 22. Demolition is in process and should be ready to pour PCC soon. 

The original team players are still onboard and we are looking for another successful 3 months of 

construction. With this successful project in its final phases, HNL is considering future plans to 

reconstruct the adjacent parallel Taxiway A at full length with PCC. HDOT and the FAA want to 

thank everyone who was a part of making this a successful project. Mahalo!

Steven Wong, Program Manager, HNL ADO
14

HONOLULU ADO NEWS

Al oh a t o Ron son Fo x - O ur N ew P ro gr am M ana g er

The FAA Honolulu Airports District Office is pleased to welcome our new Program Manager, Ronson 

Fox. Ronson joined us in August 2016 to replace Tyson Price who transferred to the Alaskan Region 

earlier this year. 

Ronson received his B.S. in Civil Engineering with minors in Leadership Studies and Math from the 

University of Colorado Denver. In college he was an active member in the American Society of Civil 

Engineers (ASCE) and Student Government, where he led charges to invigorate campus engagement 

and better the student experience. 

After graduating from CU Denver, he returned home to work for Swinerton Builders in Honolulu. As a 

Project Engineer, he worked on renovations of healthcare, education, and federal facilities. Early on, he 

was assigned to the Prince Kuhio (PJKK) Federal Building and Courthouse Renovation which houses 

the Honolulu Airports District Office. He excelled in on time and on budget project completion and 

worked well with architects and owners representatives to find smart solutions to complex issues in 

order to guide the projects to completion.

Fun Fact! In high school, Ronson was appointed by the Honorable Daniel K. Akaka to serve as a US 

Senate Page during the Spring Semester of his junior year. There he was given the opportunity to 

observe, study, and assist the most deliberative legislative body in the world.

Ronson is excited to join the Western-Pacific Region Airports Division and looks forward to partnering 

with our airport sponsors in American Samoa, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Midway, Molokai, and 

Palau in continuing to build effective programs in the Pacific. 

Join us in welcoming Ronson to our FAA Ohana!

Ron Simpson, Manager, HNL ADO

 

Ronson Fox
15

LOS ANGELES ADO NEWS

The Los Angeles ADO has recently had some exciting new additions to our staff. We’d like to take this 

opportunity to introduce a few folks in our office who will be helping us provide the highest level of 

customer service and support to our airport sponsors.

Lemuel del Castillo joined the ADO in October 2015. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees 

in Civil Engineering at California State University, Los Angeles. Lemuel has recently completed a 

series of developmental activities in the ADO and the Regional office and is ready to assist our airport 

sponsors as a fully-fledged Engineer/Program Manager. Lemuel will be assigned to airports mostly in 

Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Diego counties.

I’d also like to welcome our new Community Planner Brenda Perez to the ADO. Brenda has previous 

work experience as a Community Planner with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the 

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Brenda received her undergraduate and Master’s Degree in 

Urban and Regional Planning from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She will be assigned 

to airports primarily in Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Diego counties.

Finally, I’d like to reintroduce Sarwar “Sam” Samad. Sam has been working full-time as the national 

union representative for the past decade, and we’re excited to have him back as an Engineer/Program 

Manager here in the ADO. Sam will have assigned airports mostly in Kern, Orange, and San Bernardino 

counties.

Dave Cushing, Manager, LAX ADO

L o s An g el es Ai rp or ts D ist ri ct O f fi c e ( A DO ) W el c om es Ne w Em plo y e es 

Lemuel del Castillo Brenda Perez Sam Samad
16

LOS ANGELES ADO NEWS

K e y Fo cu s A r ea s fo r th e N ew Fis c al Y e ar

I’d also like to use this opportunity to remind our airport sponsors of a couple of requirements that the 

ADO will be focusing on in the upcoming year.

First, please remember that the Safety Management Systems (SMS) requirement that has been in place 

for all large and medium hub airports was extended to all small hub airports as of June 1, 2016. Federal 

actions like Airport Layout Plan and Construction Safety Phasing Plan approvals will require that an 

SMS determination be made as part of the coordination of the document. That determination may 

require that a SMS panel be conducted. As such, please work with your assigned Planner and/or 

Engineer to allow for an appropriate amount of time for the additional coordination and completion of 

the potential panel.

Lastly, a few words on Airport Layout Plans (ALPs). For some time now, the Los Angeles ADO has 

engaged in a practice of “revalidating” ALPs. Please be aware that, as per our national Standard 

Operating Procedure on ALP approvals, the only types of approvals that will be made by our office are 

conditional (NEPA will be required before a future project depicted is started), unconditional (NEPA 

has already been completed for all future projects depicted), and mixed (some future projects have 

NEPA completed, some don’t). 

There are also two types of informal revisions for ALPs. The first is called a minor development/

correction, which is commonly referred to as a “pen and ink”. This revision will receive an approval 

letter from the ADO for the specific change, as well as an unsigned stamp on any revised pages of the 

ALP. The stamp will refer to the date of the approval letter and the date of the current approved ALP. 

The ADO will use discretion to determine if a change is too significant to be considered a minor 

development or correction. The second informal revision is the as-built. As-built drawings are required 

at the completion of a project to provide an accurate depiction of the current layout of the airport. No 

new future project may be added in an as-built. As-built drawings will receive an unsigned stamp to 

acknowledge the date of receipt of the document. Please keep in mind that neither of these informal 

revisions replaces the current approved ALP, and a new ALP approval may be required, at the ADO’s 

discretion, if too many informal revisions have been made.

Patrick Lammerding, Assistant Manager, LAX ADO
17

Dee Phan joined the ADO as an Environmental Protection Specialist (EPS). Ms. 

Phan previously worked at the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) serving as 

an Environmental Protection Specialist in the FTA Region VII (Missouri, Iowa, 

Nebraska, Kansas, and parts of Illinois) office. 

As an Environmental Protection Specialist, she was responsible for the 

environmental review and compliance of all transit projects in her region. She 

also assisted other FTA Regional offices on transit projects in various 

states during her 5.5 years with FTA. Ms. Phan has extensive experience in 

various subject matter areas including historic resources (Section 106), Section 4

(f), threatened and endangered species (Section 7), transit noise and 

vibration. Prior to her work at FTA, Ms. Phan worked as an Environmental 

Planning Specialist at the Arizona Department of Transportation, where she was 

responsible for the environmental review of highway projects.

Ms. Phan also worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation—Wetlands 

Unit specializing in surface water quality, wetlands, and Section 404 

permitting. Ms. Phan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Science and 

Secondary Education from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and a Master of 

Arts degree in Environmental Studies from University of Illinois in Springfield, 

Illinois.

On October 31, 2016, Michele Tuhy joined the ADO as our new Management 

Assistant. Michele has worked for the FAA since 2008 and comes to us from 

the Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) where she was an 

Aviation Safety Assistant. 

Michele has extensive experience with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 

requests, budgeting, scheduling, administrative policies, document review, 

inventory management, and recordkeeping. Prior to her work with the FAA, 

Michelle worked as a Finance Technician while serving in the United States 

Marines Corps. Please help us welcome Michele to the ADO team.

N ew Fa c es in Ph o eni x Air po rts Dis tric t O f fi c e ( AD O ) — W el com e t o D e e 

P han an d Mi ch el e T uh y!

PHOENIX ADO NEWS

Dee Phan

Mike N. Williams, Manager, PHX ADO

Michele Tuhy
18

PHOENIX ADO NEWS

P ho en ix AD O is Go ing Gr e en!

As you all know, making timely drawdowns on your grants is a must. Section 5-45 (a) of The AIP 

Handbook states; “Under 49 CFR § 18.41(d)(3) (2 CFR § 200.327, Financial Reporting), sponsors must 

submit payment requests at least every twelve months starting from the date of the grant acceptance. In 

addition, 49 CFR § 18.41(b)(3) (2 CFR § 200.327, Financial Reporting) allows the ADO to require the 

sponsor to submit payment request as often as every three months (quarterly). It is the FAA’s 

expectation that the sponsor will request payment commensurate with project progress, which would 

lead to reimbursement requests more frequently than quarterly.” 

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has target drawdown percentages for each fiscal year 

that the FAA strives to meet. By improving communication and providing education and guidance to 

our sponsors regarding drawdowns, we’ve been able to accomplish this goal. It is with great pleasure 

to announce that for the first time in the ADO’s history we were able not only to meet but to exceed 

every one of our quarterly and yearly drawdown goals. This has always been a collaborative effort 

between the ADO and our sponsors and we wish to thank each and every one of you for your hard 

work in FY16. Without your continued efforts, we could not have reached this milestone. We look 

forward to continuing on our path of success with you in FY17!

OMB Target Balance Vs. Actual Regional Balance

Grant Year FY15 FY14 FY13 FY12

Target: 9/30 (40%) (19%) (9%) (4%)

PHX ADO 35% 8% 3% 1%

AWP 44% 13% 6% 1%

(Behind by $45M) (Ahead by $28M) (Ahead by $12M) (Ahead by $14M)

Note: AWP exceeded the goal. Averaging over 4 years, AWP is $9M ahead. 

Vannessa Sellman, Program Specialist, PHX ADO
19

SAN FRANCISCO ADO NEWS

T o ge th er W e Can D o So Mu ch !

My first day at the San Francisco Airports District Office (ADO) was June 1, 2015; FY 2015 was 

nearly three-quarters of the way complete. A couple of months in, it became clear to me that we, the 

collective we, ADO, sponsors, and consultants were not taking full advantage of Airport Improvement 

Program (AIP) funds. We were allowing funds to sit for just shy of a year before putting them under 

grant. We were allowing funds to expire and leave our state to be used in other parts of the country. 

We were not in a good place, but lets put that all aside, I want to focus more on where we are and a 

vision for where we are going. 

FY 2015 was rough for us all; let me share some stats:

 We issued our first grant offer July 17, 2015; the fiscal year was over three-fourths done.

 We issued 70 grants, with over 65% being offered in the month of September.

 Total value of grants being executed was about $93.4 million.

 We carried over $38.2 million, $4.3 million of which was expiring funds that was lost to our 

aviation system.

Part of FY 2015 that is hard to measure is the number of grants that we had to delay because sponsors 

and their consultants were not ready to move forward meeting all of the AIP grant requirements. This 

created frustration for the airports trying to get work done and frustration for our team that was trying 

to promote aviation improvements. It’s safe to say that none of us were pleased with the way the year 

went. 

When we accelerated our ACIP meetings in October of 2015 and threw out the challenge to have bids 

in hand by May 1, 2016 for FY 2016, I think I heard a collective gasp both from the ADO team, the 

sponsors and their consultants. We were on an aggressive schedule to make a change in how we all 

managed the AIP. Change we did; as we moved through FY 2016 the ADO staff and you, the aviation 

community of Northern California, consistently exceeded expectations. Instead of July, our first grant 

offer went out in April; matter of fact we had five grants offered in April. The ADO had committed to 

reward those sponsors that had bid openings by May 1st by funding more than just their base bid with 

State Apportionment; we were able to do that. Those that had bid openings later in the year were not as 

successful at getting additional funding.

An area where all of us worked together in a big way was dealing with expiring funds. Instead of 

carrying over those funds to be used in other parts of the country, we all worked together and kept the 

dollars in California. It was great to watch those transfer agreements flood into our office. It was even 

better hearing that airports weren’t looking to be paid back; instead they were focused on keeping the 

funds in our state to support “our” needs.

So what do the stats look like in 2016 for Northern California? 

 Instead of one grant offer in July we had over 50% of our grant offers out by the end of July.

 We executed 105 grants valued at $133.3 million; $40 million more than we granted last year.
20

SAN FRANCISCO ADO NEWS

 While the rest of the country had record carryover amounts we actually brought our numbers down 

by $9.0 million to $29.2 million.

 Expiring funds dropped dramatically from over $4.0 million to $9,382. That shows what happens 

when we all pull together and focus not just on our “own” needs, but the needs of our own 

community, the airports of Northern California. 

As you can see, we made substantial improvements in just one year, which shows that together we can 

make big changes! As Helen Keller was known to say; “Alone we can do so little; together we can do 

so much.”

Along that same vein, at the Association of California Airports (ACA) annual conference in Lake 

Tahoe for the past two years I have reflected upon President Kennedy’s challenge to our country to put 

a man on the moon, which we did. I challenged the attendees at ACA, and I am hoping to inspire you 

now, to help identify our “man on the moon” challenge for the airports of California. I hope each of 

you will give some serious thought to this, discuss it with your counterparts, kick it around at your 

meetings; make sure you “think big”, “dream big”, and prepare to “do big” things for the future of our 

California system of airports. I look forward to hearing what you come up with.

Jim Lomen, Manager, SFO ADO

To ge th er W e Can D o So Mu ch ! ( c ontin ue d )
21

I am pleased to announce the selection of the ADO’s new Lead Civil Engineer, Azra Hussain. Azra is a 

civil engineer with more than 20 years experience, of which 15 years is in aviation. Her experience 

includes; being a Project Manager with the Indianapolis Airport Authority, a Project Engineer with 

Lockheed Martin working on designing FAA Infrastructure Support projects, and an Environmental 

Manager at a consulting firm working on aviation projects.

Since 2013 she has been working as a Program Manager in the Chicago Airports District Office. Azra 

Hussain has a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of South Carolina, and has held 

a Professional Engineer (PE) license from the State of Indiana for over 10 years. She will be reporting 

to work on November 14, 2016. Specific airport assignments will be identified and shared with our 

sponsors after her arrival. 

Reginald Dones joined the ADO in May 2016. He has a degree in mechanical engineering with a 

minor in construction management from the University of Texas. He is a combat engineer with 2-

Bronze stars, a Humanitarian recipient and a Commissioned Army Combat Engineering 

Officer. Reginald comes with more than 20 years’ experience working as an engineer, of which 13 

years is in transportation and aviation. Reginald’s military training and experience contributes greatly 

to the goals and objectives of the ADO. 

Veronica Baron joined the ADO in June 2016. She is a civil engineer and a graduate of Arizona State 

University. She has more than 5 years of experience in construction and transportation planning and 

design. Her experience includes; being a Project Estimator with Superior Gunite and Engineering/

planning intern for Parsons Brinckerhoff. She brings a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to the ADO 

Team. Veronica is currently working on a special project that has national significance for the 

Airport’s line of business, after which she will be taking on specific airport assignments in Northern 

California. 

Jim Lomen, Manager, SFO ADO

W e lc om e San F ranc i sc o Air po rt s Dis tr i ct O f fi c e (A D O ) Em pl o y ee s

SAN FRANCISCO ADO NEWS

Azra Hussain Reginald Dones (on right) Veronica Baron
22

Organization 

Contact AWP Offices: 

Find AWP Online:

http://www.faa.gov/airports/

western_pacific/ 

FAA Western Pacific Region

Airports Division

P.O. Box 92007

Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007

310-725-3600

Honolulu Airports District Office

P.O. Box 50244

Honolulu, HI 96850-0001

808-312-6028

Los Angeles Airports District Office

P.O. Box 92007

Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007

310-725-3644

Phoenix Airports District Office

3800 N. Central Ave

Suite 1025, 10th Floor

Phoenix, AZ 85012

602-792-1060

San Francisco Airports District Office

1000 Marina Blvd, Suite 220

Brisbane, CA 94005-1835

650-827-7600

WESTERN—PACIFIC SUGGESTION BOX

If you would like to suggest an article or topic for the 

newsletter, please contact the ADO Manager for your area. Be 

prepared to provide information, photos, and references to 

material if requested. 

If you would like to be added to the e-mail list for this 

publication, please contact the FAA Western Pacific Region, 

Airports Division Office. 

Contact information is given above.