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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFlying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission - 07/13/2023APPROVED MINUTES FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023 7:00 P.M. CITY CENTER 8080 MITCHELL RD COMMISSION MEMBERS: Chair: Dan Dorson Vice Chair: Marc Morhack Commissioners: Bob Barker Vinod Pillai Nick Rogers Michael Lawrence (Business Representative) Blaine Peterson (Airport Manager) COMMISSION STAFF: Scott Gerber, EP Fire Chief Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary MAC STAFF: Jennifer Lewis Jack Egan STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: No students representatives for this meeting I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Dorson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commission members were present. Residents Liz and Hiroshi Takeuchi and MAC rep Michelle Ross joined the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Morhack moved, seconded by Lawrence to approve the agenda. Motion carried 7-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Barker moved, seconded by Pillai to approve the minutes of the April 13, 2023 minutes. Motion carried 7-0. IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS Hiroshi Takushi suggested that notice be given that NOAA coming in advance, as there might be reduced noise complaints, since there were never any noise complaints with the FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION July 13, 2023 Page 2 Air Expo. Dorson replied MAC was being proactive but he liked the idea. He suggested those with plans to do nighttime currency work to contact Lewis’s office beforehand. V. FOCUS TOPIC FOR THE MEETING a. May 11th nighttime pattern work and follow-up Dorson stated a large part of the work of the commission was communication to residents, many of whom had concerns about noise. Gerber displayed a PowerPoint and Dorson explained some Facebooks posts from residents on the Eden Prairie Facebook page juxtaposed with coinciding MACNOMS/air traffic. Dorson went through a particular case involving an aircraft from the Department of Commerce that had eight to ten touch-and-goes late in the evening on May 11th,. Lewis explained her office had received several complaints in addition and in this case the involved aircraft were identified, and the twin-engine pattern was a contributor. NOAA pilots were in town and took the opportunity to get their nighttime currency, and they were unaware of the noise sensitivity and voluntary restrictions. However, their chief pilot offered to contact Lewis, although he had not at the time of this meeting. In follow-up to the noise complaints, Peterson and Lewis researched how visible and apparent information was for non-local pilots to identify the voluntary noise restrictions for Flying Cloud Airport. They identified information was missing in the chart supplements, so Peterson took steps to correct this, and Lewis made sure that online links (which were found to link to the Flying Cloud home page) linked to the more accurate details. This was a temporary mission that subsequently left the area of Eden Prairie, but their awareness was raised. Barker asked for and received clarification this was a springtime recurring operation. They had also run operations in Eden Prairie in 2022. Dorson stated he did not expect to have fewer than three planes during the quiet time of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. due to medical flights and other operations. Lewis stated this was an opportunity for more information and better communication, and she hoped the NOAA pilots would come and present on their mission. Morhack noted there were three or four other planes doing pattern research at the same time, and asked if they would be reviewed as well. Lewis replied they had received letters. It was difficult to determine if they were local operators; she knew one was not. Fifty complaints had been received that night. Lewis stated the MSP also had a Facebook page and this was under discussion as an outreach vehicle. Barker asked if Nextdoor should be explored. Michelle Ross stated the airport was looking into Nextdoor as a way to post information. Lewis added social media was a way to receive information, but it was second-hand. News articles was one way to respond publicly to complaints. Conversations about the use of social media was continuing. Morhack asked if there was a way to post specific response to complaints, with private information scrubbed, so residents could know it did not fall into a “black hole.” FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION July 13, 2023 Page 3 Nighttime activity on June 23 through June 26 had also been a concern. Dorson noted this was the night of the Taylor Swift concert, so he had assumed audience members were flying in for the concert. However, the data revealed only one jet showing activity around this time. The BE40 on Saturday night caused noise, as did a medical services operator. Lewis stated she was setting up a meeting with these operators in early August. She hoped to have a report for the next meeting. Barker asked if they were to grow the business, what the commission could expect as activity. Peterson replied they were not planning to expand the business in the near future. Barker asked if there were plans to change their fleet makeup, as the Beech jet and the King Air were quite noisy. Dorson stated this was the key question. b. Long Term Comprehensive Plan Update - MAC Peterson explained the Critical Aircraft Focus Area. The runway length was capped at 5,000 feet per Minnesota Legislation, and would not be extended. A runway could not be shorter than this, also. Runway alternatives, especially EMAS Beds, were being explored that would accommodate increased aircraft approach speeds, and other dynamic improvements. EMAS (engineered material arresting system) was comprised of lightweight, crushable material placed at the end of the runway to safely stop an aircraft that overruns the end of the runway. This was a onetime use, FAA approved mitigation strategy when a full standard runway system was not feasible. Gerber displayed a PowerPoint showing several EMAS Bed placement variations proposed for the airport. Barker noted the 5,000 requirement was a MnDOT standard, although it was not universal. He added this length was also mandated by the Final Agreement, and urged that this be stated as a requirement to give it more visibility. Peterson agreed, and stated it had been mentioned in some instances. Barker asked for and received confirmation these future plans for the hangars would impact some ballfields. Peterson added the City was aware of this. VI. STANDING DISCUSSION ITEMS a. NOISE REPORT – MAC Lewis presented the noise report. The second quarter of 2023 saw a 61 percent decrease in the number of complaints from the second quarter of 2022. There were complaints from 56 households as opposed to 53 at this time in 2022, nine of which were new households, seven in Eden Prairie. Nighttime complaints for this quarter saw a 58 percent reduction, with 35 households as opposed to 39 households in the second quarter of 2022. There were 1,097 complaints to FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION July 13, 2023 Page 4 date in 2023 as opposed to 2,811 at this time in 2022, and 215 nighttime complaints as opposed to 514 in 2022. 70 percent of the complaints came from the east side of this airport, which was an increasing trend and one that contradicted past data. Dorson stated he found this interesting, since winds favorable to takeoff came from the west. Barker asked if this was due to the smaller number of households reporting. Lewis there were six or seven households submitting the highest number of complaints, about 75 percent. These were largely on the east side. On the west side households close to the south parallel runway usually lodged daytime complaints. Barker asked if there was an effort to communicate to developers about airport activity, and Peterson stated it was in the development agreement signed by the purchaser. Rogers asked if there was an attempt to communicate about patterns that generated complaints. Lewis stated she did follow up with aircraft operators, and was setting up another meeting with flight school. Generally, a complaint was matched with the operation, and nighttime operators received a letter offering mitigation information. Sometimes, however, noise was unavoidable so runway preference could be changed, or nighttime operations discontinued if possible. Lewis stressed the MAC worked with operators on what they could do, but not everyone could make a change. Pilot seminars were held twice a year at which resident concerns were shared. An analysis of operations showed an increase, including at night. There was a 16 percent overall increase in operations in the second quarter of 2023 as opposed to 2022. Nighttime operations increased 33 percent. Peak times for complaints (10:00 p.m. to midnight) saw a 10 percent increase, however there was a decrease in the first quarter of 2023. There was also a decrease in January in complaints around the 6:00 a.m. hour. However, there was an overall increase in February through June of 14 percent. b. ORDINANCE 97 MONITORING – MAC Peterson stated there were 14 operations that violated the 60,000-lbs weight rule. Two large companies from the east coast that had not used Flying Cloud Airport in the past violated five times each during business hours. These were full stops, not touch-and-goes. He was trying to find the right person to contact regarding this. c. AIRPORT INCIDENTS AND OPERATIONAL UPDATES – MAC Peterson stated there had been three incidents. A pilot of an experimental aircraft experienced engine issues. The issue was resolved safely. He added the Air Expo would be held next week. The A-10s would be flying in on Saturday, but unfortunately there would be no F-16s this year. The National Weather Service would make an appearance. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION July 13, 2023 Page 5 Peterson announced that construction of the Taxiway Hotel holding area had been completed, a day ahead of schedule. d. LONG TERM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE – MAC Peterson stated there would be an in-depth update in October. VII. OLD BUSINESS a. Recap of the May 18th tour of the airport Gerber displayed a PowerPoint and Dorson explained the former student representatives spoke with mosquito control, walked through Elliott Aviation with Eden Prairie Mayor Case, visited the control tower, et cetera. VIII. NEW BUSINESS Gerber stated there would be six new student commission members. They would have an orientation in August and attend the October meeting. IX. UPCOMING EVENTS AND TOPICS FOR FUTURE FCAAC MEETINGS X. ADJOURNMENT The next FCAAC meeting will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in Heritage Room I. MOTION: Morhack moved, seconded by Barker to adjourn. Motion carried 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m.