REDLANDS >> City staff is continuing to work with pilots on improving the Redlands Municipal Airport.
Members of the Airport Advisory Board Wednesday were updated on the city-owned airport’s business plan, facility maintenance, grant funding and the upcoming Hangar 24 AirFest and 9th Anniversary Celebration May 20.
Here’s the latest:
• Board members will compile a list of needs at the airport that could be funded using proceeds from the Hangar 24 AirFest, hosted by Hangar 24 Charities.
“Hangar 24 Charities has expressed an interest in giving back to the actual airport itself,” said Will Hamilton, senior administrative analyst with the city. “They’ve given back to several other community organizations or nonprofits.”
The donation could be used to make improvements to the airport lobby, signage and new landscaping to help prevent soil loss due to runoff, he said.
“We can make a creative list,” said Chairwoman Ingrid Biglow.
• Pilots on the airshow subcommittee will be making some recommendations for this year’s event, such as posting more “no smoking” signs in the kids’ zone, asking the city to send a letter to the airport users two weeks prior to the event and ensure the dumpsters are picked up the following Monday.
Biglow also suggested some guidelines be given on the use of pop-up shades during the event.
• Staff plans to address erosion occurring along the fence line between the airport and Santa Ana River to the north.
“It’s a multi-layered issue,” Hamilton said. “The erosion itself is problematic because any runoff can create an issue with (foreign object damage) on the actual runway and the taxiway that can lead to some damage toward the aircraft.”
The erosion has also formed some breaks in the fence, which could allow wildlife and homeless people staying in the wash to get through, he said.
• City staff is working to update the leases on city-owned hangars at the airport and working with fixed base operators, which are the largest lease holders, Hamilton said. They also have been conducting hangar inspections and talking to hangar tenants on maintenance needs they have identified. Staff is working to fix the gate card entry system and is still working with the Federal Aviation Administration and California Department of Transportation on updating the airport’s permit, he said.
• The city has secured three grants through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airports Capital Improvement Plan, Hamilton said.
Some of the grant funding is being used to install runway and taxiway lights, navigation aids and signage.
Hamilton said he has drafted an application for the second phase of the project.
• Pilots are still seeking the installation of a wash rack at the airport, but funding is the biggest issue, Hamilton said.
“Once we get done with the lighting and signage project and any possible updates to airport documents, that is something we will re-explore,” he said.
The Airport Advisory Board meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every even-numbered month in the City Council Chambers, 35 Cajon St.
Source: http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com
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