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Big plans take off at Mammoth airport |
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Monday, 12 May 2008 |
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By Ken Koerner
Register Staff 5-10-2008
Maintenance needs, coupled with runway rehabilitation and terminal remodeling to allow for a resumption of commercial air service, will result in the closure of the Mammoth-Yosemite Airport from mid-May through September.
The closure – described as the next big step step in the Town of Mammoth Lakes’ pursuit of “destination resort” status – means that general aviation traffic headed for the Mono facility will be re-routed to the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport in Bishop beginning May 19.
Inyo County officials, grateful for the chance to welcome new aviators to their facility, indicate the Bishop airport is fully capable of accommodating the increased influx and helping ensure pilots and their companions reach their intended destinations.
Meanwhile, the Town of Mammoth Lakes is moving forward with plans at the Mammoth-Yosemite Airport in the wake of a recent development that, according to town officials, isn’t going to complicate the project. Town officials believe the recent court finding that it was in breach of a development contract with Hot Creek Aviation – and owes $30 million in damages – “will not affect commercial air service.”
The operational loss of the Mono airport is leading to alternative planning in terms of safety issues, since local emergency response teams “will lose their capability to fly injured persons out of the airport when deemed necessary.”
“There are more medical flights out of the hospital during the summer,” Mammoth Lakes Fire Department Fire Marshall and Division Chief Thom Heller has said.
In response to the airport closure, plans have been made to have two ambulances on-call in Mono County this summer.
“If someone needs to be flown out of the area,” said Heller, “we will drive them to Bishop in one of the ambulances and the second ambulance will cover the area.”
Other options for medical transportation are being considered.
Throughout this May-September construction window, Mammoth officials are advising “general aviators” that the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport in Bishop will be their primary alternative.
“I’ve been on the phone all day getting calls from people that are looking to move their planes down to our airport,” Eastern Sierra Regional Airport Lead Airport Technician Ken Babione said Thursday. “Nearly a dozen Mammoth-Yosemite aviators have already paid for confirmed tie-down leases.”
Local Bishop-based aviators won’t be “crowded out” of their regular spaces, Babione added.
“Everybody that’s already been here paying for their leases aren’t going to be inconvenienced,” said Babione, “and we’ll also hold some spots for transient tie-downs who just want to park their plane for the night or for a weekend.”
Hangar space is a different story, according to Babione, with no current hangar inventory being available for additional clients.
There are also plans being made to assist with the ground-travel needs of relocated pilots and passengers.
“We’re working with Pat Foster at Hot Creek Aviation to make things work as smoothly as possible during this summer closure,” Babione said. “Pat’s coming down here next week with some people from Enterprise Rent-A-Car to make arrangements for Enterprise to have a couple of cars here at the airport, too.”
The two Mammoth Lakes-based taxi companies have also been contacted and reportedly stand willing to do what’s needed to help people flying into Bishop get to their Mammoth destinations.
The Eastern Sierra Transit Agency (ESTA) has also been contacted to determine what schedule adjustments might be possible and at what cost.
Inyo County Second District Supervisor Susan Cash, in a discussion with Babione on Thursday, brought up ground-travel options as one possible contributor to the potential 20-30 percent increase in activity at the Bishop airport this summer.
“The idea of potentially adding an additional ESTA shuttle between Bishop and Mammoth on the weekend to accommodate dislocated flyers seems worth considering,” Cash said, “though it wouldn’t be something Inyo County should underwrite, from my perspective.”
While a primary aspect of what’s about to take place at the Mammoth-Yosemite Airport is focused around accommodating the commercial jets Mammoth interests hope will eventually arrive filled with well-heeled vacationers, the maintenance work scheduled for the summer is also deemed essential.
“Not only will the enhancements contribute to the potential commencement of commercial air service,” Town of Mammoth Lakes Airport and Transportation Director Bill Manning has said, “the town also desires and needs to complete the maintenance project to continue existing airport operations in a safe and efficient manner.”
The $6 million airport rehabilitation project consists of reconstructing runway 9-27, including 7,000 feet of 100-foot-wide pavement, 12-foot-wide paved shoulders on both sides of the runway, connecting taxiway grade adjustment, pavement grooving, shoulder grading, new runway edge lights and new marking signs.
This project will be “almost entirely funded” by the Airport Improvement Program of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to Manning.
The Town of Mammoth Lakes currently has an FAA grant that will cover the construction of the runway project. Manning explained that phase of construction work should be completed within 80 working days.
The second prong of the Mammoth-Yosemite Airport project includes the remodeling and conversion of the existing maintenance building into a new, commercial passenger terminal. That project’s scope includes minor exterior work; but also planned is extensive interior work, including a new check-in area, waiting area, Transportation Security Administration passenger and baggage screening area, plus handicap accessible paths and bathrooms.
The estimated cost of that construction phase is $1.5 million, with an estimated completion within 120 days of its start.
Regarding commercial air service at Mammoth-Yosemite Airport, the final Environmental Impact Statement relating to the reinstatement of regional commercial air service has been circulated. Town of Mammoth officials expect that a Record of Decision will be issued by the FAA as a result sometime this month.
There is no specific target date for when commercial air service to Mammoth might begin, or precisely how many such flights may be in the mix once all the final pieces of this air travel puzzle have been put into place.
As to whether aviators normally flying in and out of the Mammoth-Yosemite Airport might feel faced “by a lower-level of service,” Babione sees no reason why they would.
“Bishop does have some additional services that aren’t currently available at Mammoth-Yosemite,” Babione said. “For instance, we have an on-site aircraft mechanic – plus our fuel prices are considerably lower, our tie-down costs are lower and our ramp fees are lower. I think everyone will find more than adequate support during their time with us.”
Another feature of the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport that could prove beneficial for pilots is a recently-installed Localizer-Directed Approach (LDA) system, Babione explained, that adds flexibility and safety to landing pilots.
The Bishop airport also features a 7,500-foot runway and two 5,600 runways, as well as two, new GPS-approach devices.
“We’re well-equipped to comfortably handle just about any aircraft that heads in our direction,” said Babione. “And you can land 345 days out of the year here. I think our visiting aviators will be very satisfied.”
For additional information, contact Bill Manning at (760) 934-3813. For information about the Eastern Sierra Regional Airport in Bishop, call (760) 872-2971.
(Prior reporting by Mammoth Times Staff Writer Lara Kirkner contributed to this article.)
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 June 2008 )
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