An Approach to Determine the Need for Expanding Small Airports: A Case Study

1 Airports play an important role in the economic vitality of communities and surrounding areas. In developing and expanding an airport, there are many different variables that must be taken into account. One fundamental aspect of airport expansion is the need to hangar aircraft. The purpose of this study was to investigate constituent. interest in building at least 10 new T-hangars and expanding the Blair Municipal Airport's (K46) services located in rural Blair, Nebraska (Washington County). A descriptive study questionnaire developed specifically for this study was used to collect the data from 1,232 certificated pilots in five surrounding counties of the Blair Municipal Airport. The study found that interest in developing the Blair Municipal Airport exists. Most of the interest conveyed through the survey questionnaires was from pilots who fly primarily for recreation; however, pilots who fly equal amounts of time for recreation and business trips in addition to pilots flying for business only were a significant reportable part of this study. Major complaints reported from the survey questionnaires include the lack of adequate facilities on the airport itself, substandard hangars, and no availability of maintenance and line services. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Developing and expanding an airport and its associated infrastructure is often an arduous, time consuming task. The capital required for airport development comes at a significant cost and forecasted benefits of such an investment are often the subject of spirited debates. For airports that have scheduled airline service, daily revenue flow is often predictable (Kaps, NewMyer, Lanrnan & Sigler, 2001) that often provides the potential to justify further airport expansion. Some airport authorities have a preference for larger aircraft that can cany more passengers over smaller, general aviation aircraft (Kovach, 1998). Conversely, airports with no scheduled airline service and consequently, no daily predictable revenue flow, must often face insurmountable and even hostile challenges to grow and expand their existing facilities and services. In any type of airport development and expansion forecasting program, it is imperative to research projected social, environmental, economic and technical forecasts as it pertains to the airport master plan (Wells, 1996) and for airports with no scheduled airline services, the challenges are even greater. Often times, the non flying public will demand justification of tax dollar expenditures for developing and expanding an airport that is often perceived as useless or non-applicable to the ordinary citizen. Granted, the primary benefits of an airport is the time saved and cost avoided by travelers who use an airport over the next best available alternative (Federal Aviation Administration, 1992) although there are many other indirect benefits to the non flying public as well. According to Dempsey, Goetz, and Szyliowitcz (as cited in Pmther, 1998), public support must include citizen education and participation. Convincing the public (especially the non-flying public) that developing and expanding an airport can benefit their local communities is perhaps the most difficult challenge for most airport authority board members to overcome. During the next six to twenty years as the City of Blair and southern Washington County, northern OmahalDouglas County continue to grow and develop, a runway capable of accommodating larger business aircraft will become necessary (Coftinan Associates, Inc., 2000). In addition to growth, the Blair Municipal Airport Authority has recognized two very important variables that have become quite favorable in developing the airport: geography and marketability. The Blair Municipal Airport, located less than ten statute miles from Interstate 680 (Omaha's northwest JAAER, Winter 2005 Page 27 1 Johnson: An Approach to Determine the Need for Expanding Small Airports: A Published by ERAU Scholarly Commons, 2005 Expanding Small Airports side), is geographically well positioned to capitalize on overflow general aviation traffic from Omaha's Eppley Airport. (Over eight airlines and freight operators conduct operations out of Eppley making it the busiest civilian airport in Nebraska.) The Millard Airport's single runway, located in southwest Omaha, is less than 4,000 feet and has no room for expansion. The Blair Municipal Airport is primarily surrounded by farmland and has room to grow. Unfortunately, the airport's current condition offers less promise than its future potential. Presently, the Blair Municipal Airport faces some major obstacles in providing high capacity reliever services. The single hard surfaced narrow runway is less than 3,600 feet, the existing hangars are dilapidated to the point that some local pilots have argued in favor of bulldozing them (despite the fact there is a waiting list to rent a hangar), and there is no availability of maintenance and line services. Airline and charter services are also non-existent. Primary users of the airport include an active glider club, pilots engaged in limited flight training, and other pilots who fly for recreational purposes. METHODOLOGY Subjects The population for this study included 1,232 certificated pilots residing in the following five counties surrounding the Blair Municipal Airport: Washington (57 pilots), Burt (18 pilots), Harrison (25 pilots), Dodge (82 pilots), and Douglas (1 050 pilots). A descriptive type survey questionnaire was developed by the Blair Municipal Airport Authority members and the city administrator to solicit opinions from area pilots. A response rate of 467 surveys (37.9%) was achieved; however, due to the fact that several surveys were not completed, inaccurately completed, or illegible, only 26 1 surveys (2 1.2%) were classified as usable for this study. It should be noted that not all the data collected from the 261 surveys were classified as usable. Two key assumptions made about the subjects during the study included: (a) The pilots had reasonable knowledge of the facilities at the Blair Municipal Airport; and (b) the pilots responded to the questionnaire in a sincere manner using their professional and experiential expertise. Research Instrument The instrument used to collect the data was a survey questionnaire developed specifically for this study. The survey was distributed by employees of Blair city hall to 1,232 certificated pilots via US mail. The survey was comprised of two sections. The frrst section incorporated a series of questions posed to the pilots concerning the need for hangar space, aircraft type requiring hangar space, primary type of flying activity, and willingness to buildllease hangar space at the Blair Municipal Airport. In response to the survey questions, respondents were directed to choose fiom a series of statements ranging from yedno responses to short answer selection. The second section of the survey instrument incorporated a demographic section. Responses left blank by the respondents were indicated by N/R (No Report) while responses checked as not applicable to a respondent were indicated as N/A. In evaluating the data presented in the following tables, rounding errors should be taken into consideration. DATA ANALYSIS Demographics Data from the survey questionnaires were compiled from the software program, Minitab (1998). The most significant demographic characteristics included gender, age, occupation, highest FAA certificate held, avekge t i p length, and years of experience as a pilot. Of the 261 respondents, 237 (90.8%) are male and 5 1 (4 1 .ON) are 5 1 years of age or older. DATA CROSS TABULATIONS The data from the study were incorporated into a series of cross tabulations for ease of comparison. Some of the research data illustrated in this section have been cross tabulated with demographic information in an attempt to provide a robust descriptive profile of the respondents. Rounding errors in the tables should be considered. In Table 1, an overwhelming majority of the respondents are male @=237, 90.8%) in comparison to female respondents @= 10,3.9%). Nearly one-half of all the respondents @=121, 46.4%) are males flying for recreational purposes although collectively, 106 males (40.6%) fly for business or combined recreationalhusiness purposes. Page 28 JAAER, Winter 2005 2 Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education & Research, Vol. 14, No. 2 [2005], Art. 2 http://commons.erau.edu/jaaer/vol14/iss2/2 Erpanding Small Airports