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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFlying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission - 10/12/2023APPROVED MINUTES FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 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: Michele Ross STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Harshan Chandrasekar Jack Morrissette Leo Johnson Seth Johnson Bergen Papa Daniel Jian I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Dorson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission member Morhack was absent. Residents Kippy and Stu Stuhr, Angela and Tom Harris, and Mark Weber of Eden Prairie Local News joined the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Barker moved, seconded by Lawrence to approve the agenda. Motion carried 7-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Rogers moved, seconded by Lawrence to approve the minutes of the July 13, 2023 minutes. Motion carried 7-0. IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION October 12, 2023 Page 2 This was the first meeting for the new student commissioners. Dorson had the commission members introduce themselves for the benefit of the student representatives, and asked the student representatives to introduce themselves and state a Flying Cloud Airport fact. Angela and Tom Harris stated they lived on Woodridge Drive one block from Pioneer Trail and noticed more traffic, more helicopters. They wanted to know why. Kippy and Stu Stuhr stated that starting around 9:00am between September 8 and 23 there was a plane taking off every other minute all day for two weeks. She questioned the reason for a flight path over a residential area. Mark Weber of Eden Prairie News introduced himself. Gerber stated he had received more phone calls regarding noise between this meeting and the last. He had spoken with a resident with a last name of Christ who could not attend, and had also spoken to Jennifer Lewis regarding the volume and activity. V. FOCUS TOPIC FOR THE MEETING a. Long Term Comprehensive Plan Update Ross gave the update. Three stakeholder advisory panels had been held to date. There would be a stakeholder advisory panel held at the end of 2023 and at the beginning of 2024, and then a public meeting. No changes to runways (number, length or location) were planned. There would be additional information coming soon about the long-term plan. The project website was updated and would continue to be. Dorson stated this was a plan, put together every 10 years, to look at the needs of the airport because the airport accepts federal funding. Ross added this planning process would identify future needs, create an appropriate environmental review, and CIP funding. This plan was for 2040, covering the next 15 years, and examining what could be implemented in that time. The plan would be reviewed by the FAA and the Metropolitan Council, and funded as necessary. A preferred alternative would be narrowed down. Rogers asked who was on the advisory panel. Ross replied it was a 20-member panel that included tenant representatives, community representatives, and members from the Cities of Eden Prairie and Shakopee, Chamber representatives, and business representatives. b. Video comparison of noise typical to GA aircraft Ross showed a video explaining airport usage and typical operations, “What is General Aviation?” from the MAC YouTube site ( www.youtube.com/mspintlairport). This video FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION October 12, 2023 Page 3 had won a Telly Award. She noted that there were other videos that interested people could view such as a “Meet the Fleet” video that describes common use cases of small airplanes. Dorson then showed a short video that described the noise signatures of a series of smaller airplanes and helicopters as a comparison against future still-under-development electronic air mobility aircraft. The goal of the video was to show that just as jets have become quieter, technology may soon enable smaller aircraft to operate quieter as well. Resources: Macnoms.com Metroairports.org www.youtube.com/mspintlairport VI. STANDING DISCUSSION ITEMS a. NOISE REPORT – MAC Ross presented the noise report. She summarized the MAC operations and noise complaints response for the benefit of the student representatives. The noise reports could be found at: https://customers.macnoms.com/reports/ MAC Reliever Interactive reports at metroairports.org Community Connection -> Aircraft Noise Flying Cloud Airport represented 38.5 percent of operations of the total reliever airport system, and 27 percent of total airport reliever system noise complaints. First quarter 2021, 2022, and 2023 could be compared due to the change to the MACNOMS data, which allowed an “apples to apples” comparison. Beginning July 1, 2021 the MACNOMS methodology for counting ops was updated to more accurately reflect total aircraft departures or arrivals at MAC airports. In 2023 quarter 3, there were 42,493 operations and 2,332 nighttime operations. In 2022 quarter 3, there were 38,334 operations and 1,665 nighttime operations. In order of planes generating the most noise: Piston Jet helicopter Turboprop Unknown FAA tower counts were always higher than the MACNOMS data. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION October 12, 2023 Page 4 Complaints: In 2023 quarter 3, there were 1,812 complaints from 45 locations, and 395 nighttime complaints from 23 nighttime households. In 2022 quarter 3, there were 2,673 complaints from 51 locations, and 370 nighttime complaints from 29 nighttime households. Data was comprehensive, and complaints were accepted via email, online forms, other parties (Gerber, etc.). Ross displayed a map of the households filing complaints. Dorson noted that during the month of September we had winds coming out of a different direction (from the east) more than usual, shifting the noise of airplanes taking off more to the neighborhoods just to the east of the airport. This served as the answer to questions about why there was more noise from airplanes during a specific time in September. The wind was unusual for this time period. Kippy Stuhr stated she had counted 100-200 planes in one day. Dorson replied the commission has no authority to limit airport use as airplanes are using federal airspace, much like the city has very little control over traffic on I-494. The focus was on the education of pilots. Training had also sharply increased during and after the pandemic, resulting in more flights day and night. Barker added one of the commission’s roles was to try to find solutions voluntarily, such as having pilots fly to the other side of airport. The commission has no legal or regulatory enforcement. Discussion followed on which residents were being affected due to changing wind conditions. Barker noted a plane must take off and land into the wind, and prevailing winds usually were out of the west. Most of flights took off toward the west and that was when the plane would be the loudest. Wind could change and come out of the east, requiring a takeoff and landing toward the east. Barker suggested directing pilots to fly over green areas on the map, and not over residential areas. He stated the commission was trying where it is possible and safe to cultivate sensitivity and good habits. Gerber stated he had spoken with Kippy Stuhr, who had asked why the situation seemed different this time. There had been an increase in flights, and Ross had noted it as had Lewis. Dorson noted students often practice with a longer runway. Ross noted there had been an increase in eastern departures during that time frame. Barker added that jets and training helicopters might have added to the noise. Discussion followed on the flight paths over Woodridge Drive. Ross added that wind flows had been consistent for six to seven weeks, which was unusual, and which could add to unusual activity seen by residents. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION October 12, 2023 Page 5 Dorson asked residents to clarify the location of the helicopter that caused the noise complaints to aid in pinpointing what operation it may have been conducting. The resident indicated just northeast of the airport. It could have been mosquito control, training, or another commercial application. He expected this would be a one-off, not repeated behavior, as a helicopter hovering in that location would cause a traffic conflict with landing aircraft. There had also been an increase in the number of jets flown in and out of Flying Cloud Airport. b. ORDINANCE 97 MONITORING – MAC Ross stated there were some aircraft over 60,000 pounds that received a letter. There were 11 operations in July, 9 in August, and 15 in September. Barker asked the reason for the increase. Ross replied some were new pilots and aircraft, and were receiving the information for the first time. No changes had been made to the procedure of sending the letter. Dorson clarified for the benefit of the residents and the student representatives the final agreement between the Metropolitan Airport Commission (MAC) and the City of Eden Prairie disallowing airplanes over 60,000 pounds. There were no regulations preventing these planes from using Flying Cloud Airport. Discussion followed on the changing airport dynamics, which were often seasonal, with Lawrence explaining we should see far fewer Ordinance 97 infractions over the winter months due to less jet traffic overall. c. AIRPORT INCIDENTS AND OPERATIONAL UPDATES – MAC Dockery stated there were a couple of incursions that occurred within the last quarter but did not have numbers. There was a Runway Safety Action Team meeting scheduled for December 1. There would also be a Runway Safety Focus Action Team summit in December. d. LONG TERM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE – MAC Ross stated Eric Gilles would join the January meeting. VII. OLD BUSINESS Dorson stated he and Lewis had led a pilot safety webinar in which 650 pilots participated. VIII. NEW BUSINESS IX. UPCOMING EVENTS AND TOPICS FOR FUTURE FCAAC MEETINGS X. ADJOURNMENT FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION October 12, 2023 Page 6 The next FCAAC meeting will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in Heritage Room I. MOTION: Barker moved, seconded by Rogers to adjourn. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m.