Erie Airport Safety

Runway Safety
Runway configurations are a very important factor in terminal air safety. ERI was blessed with three runways for many years (pictured above). Runway 10-28 was closed a few years ago due to cost of maintaining and to open up an area where North Coast Air created a first class Fixed Base Operator (FBO) to service the corporate, commercial and general aviation aircraft that frequent Erie. This left us with runway 6-24 (northeast-southwest) and runway 2-20 (north-south). For an airport to have at least two runways is a major advantage (in the safety field). For many aircraft, dual runways can change a high crosswind condition from a difficult, potentially hazardous landing into a routine operation. When the main runway is unavailable due to: disabled aircraft, aircraft accident or routine maintenance (paving, patching, painting, snow removal, grass mowing, fixing lights, rubber removal, etc.), the secondary runway can be utilized.

The importance of a two runway airport was highlighted recently when Seattle had the 6.8 earthquake. Nearby Boeing Field (BFI) had 2" wide cracks in the 18" thick concrete of their 10,000 foot runway. The long runway is obviously closed now, but the good news is that planes under 12,500 pounds are now (3/8/01) able to use BFI's shorter 3,710-foot runway. Without this secondary runway, the airport would be totally closed to fixed-wing aircraft.

Why?
It is not uncommon to have strong winds coming off the lake from the north and from the south and south-southwest. A precarious situation is created for smaller commercial, air taxi and general aviation aircraft attempting to land and takeoff with high crosswinds present. Our secondary runway (runway 2-20) is a lifesaver to these same aircraft during these conditions.

Have we really thought this over... ????????
There was discussion by the Erie Municipal Airport Authority (EMAA) a few years back to close runway 2-20. This original proposal was met with strong opposition by our aviation community (commercial [FedEx], corporate, general aviation and controllers). Again last year, at the Technical Committee and public meetings for the update of the Erie International Airport Master Plan, the EMAA proposed the closing of runway 2-20. The only rational reason must be the monetary advantage of developing the land into commercial enterprises. The Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) and the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) are vehicles to foster development. The area encompassing the approach end of runway 20 has been submitted and approved for both of these programs. There is so much real estate near the airport that could be developed, but we're now talking about developing THE RUNWAY. We must look beyond our noses. If the airport will attract businesses for these reasons, then aircraft operations must be a crucial part of the decision. To take away a vital asset for aircraft operations make no sense.

This is the Runway !!
Who hasn't heard, in the mainstream media, of the massive air traffic delays being experienced nationwide? The only logical solution, being proposed, is increased infrastructure - CONCRETE - more runways. If Erie International Airport downsizes to one runway the three air carriers serving this community will no doubt experience more delays than they ever have. With only one runway to service all the ERI traffic, slower and smaller aircraft (which can routinely land on runway 2 or 20) will have to be integrated into the final approaches for the main runway. Faster air carrier aircraft and corporate jets will incur delays by having to follow the additional traffic demand on the sole airport runway. This is another fact we all must consider.

Erie's Hamot and Saint Vincent Hospitals are firmly involved in the national medical arena (transplant, bypass, etc.). Most "Lifeguard" aircraft (airplanes who transport patients/victims to urban hospitals) are single and twin engine airplanes. The vast majority of these aircraft are capable of normal operations on either of Erie's runways. Strong crosswinds without the option of a second runway could require aircraft carrying vital organs, etc to divert to an airport in Meadville, Jamestown or Ashtabula eliminating the timing that could be vital to life.

We have many visitors to the area in the summer months who arrive by aircraft. They rent cars, shop, visit the peninsula, stay over in hotels, dine in our establishments and are a vital part of our tourist industry. These same aviators rely on having an available landing runway during high crosswind conditions. Let's not give them another reason to go elsewhere for their vacations.

Federal Express advised us that company regulations prohibit landing when crosswind components exceed specified conditions. The norm was approximately 20 kts, which is very common at Erie. If runway 2-20 were not available for these occasions, their aircraft would have to return to Cleveland and ship all their cargo by truck. The loss of this secondary runway will actually denigrate the services Erie International Airport provides for the existing businesses in the community and reduce the service it has to offer prospective Erie County developers.

Flight Instruction is a vital cog in the flow of qualified pilots for the continued flourishing airline industry. Student pilots must learn to land on shorter runways as conditions dictate this on a regular basis. Emergency landings are often required on short runways. Without currency on short runway operations, a routine landing can turn into a catastrophe. Many aircraft accidents are attributable to strong crosswinds situations. We cannot afford to lose this solution to these conditions.

Runway 2-20...
Runway 2-20 measures 3,500 feet and is the only secondary runway at ERI. Runway 2-20 utilizes Medium Intensity Runway Lighting (MIRL) and has a recently installed Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) system to assist pilots in safer approach and landing by producing a "visual glidepath" to the runway surface. The city of Erie and the FAA have invested a considerable amount of tax dollars into the improvement and maintenance of this secondary runway. A runway at an airport is an asset that needs to be cherished and maintained to provide diversity and alternatives when our windy conditions dictate.

Let us pray that the results of the loss of the runway are not measured with human lives.

Is the City of Erie ready to accept the possible repercussions from making a decision
of this magnitude???

STATUS... UPDATE...

Update 6.12.2001
At the Erie Municipal Airport Authority (EMAA) Master Plan Technical Committee meeting the following proposals were submitted by C&S Engineers:
    1. Closing runway 2-20 and reverting to a one runway airport.
    2. Narrowing runway 2-20 down to 60 ft width and shortening it to 2,200 ft length
    3. Closing rwy 2-20 and rebuilding rwy 10-28 to a 2,044ft x 60 ft runway.

The crux of these proposals seem to be the existence of "valuable property at the approach end of rwy 2-20 that has qualified for inclusion in the Keystone Opportunity Zone. Addressing the usage of the area containing the approach end of runway 20, the Phase 2 Airport Master Plan report states that "non-aeronautical purposes that may better utilize the area".

Local general aviation pilots and controllers are very dissappointed with this news. Along with Erie NATCA, Jon Koester, Vice-President of the Erie Chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA #160) expressed his dissatisfaction with this proposed action at the Technical Committee meeting.

If this type actions bothers you... PLEASE......
Write to your local politicians and EMAA.
Also drop Erie NATCA an email at natcaeri@velocity.net

Erie Times-News articles regarding KOZ and FTZ.......

Erie is approved as a foreign trade zone

By Jim Carroll
Staff writer

The U.S. Department of Commerce on Wednesday approved Erie's application for Foreign Trade Zone status.

The approval will create a duty-free "trade island" that sponsors contend will help local companies compete more effectively in world markets.

"It's good news," said Raymond Schreckengost, executive director of the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority, the agency that spearheaded the effort and which will administer the foreign trade zone. "We knew it (the designation) was coming, and it is good news that it has been approved."

The approval was announced Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Phil English of Erie, R-21st Dist.

"The zone designation was critical to the competitiveness of our area," English said. "It will create jobs, encourage manufacturing and warehousing in our area, as well as support local economic development."

The application creates zones and subzones at the Port of Erie and Mountfort Terminal, at Erie International Airport, and at the trucking and warehousing operations of Team Hardinger Transportation 1314 W. 18th St.

"We have been waiting for it," said Sam Varo, one of the owners of Team Hardinger Transportation.

Varo said the zone will help manufacturers compete in the world marketplace and that will help companies such as his, which transport and store materials the manufacturers use.

A company such as Team Hardinger, for example, will be able to import parts for a manufacturer and store them duty free. The manufacturer would only pay Customs duties when the item they make is shipped out into the stream of domestic commerce. "If they (manufacturers) use imported components, the components can come in here, and rather than pay (Customs duties) on each component, they can pay on the finished product, which is a savings to them," Varo said.

Many other ports of entry and international airports in the country already have foreign trade zone designations, according to the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones.

English said the designation is vital to Erie. "If Erie and northwestern Pennsylvania are to support the economy of the future and provide jobs that will support a family, we must continue to expand into the global markets through opportunities such as this trade zone," English said. "Establishing this trade zone will open the doors to countless opportunities for our community."

Schreckengost said that as word of the zone's potential benefits spread, more companies expressed an interest.

"We have had a pretty good response," he said. "We are working with five companies now, and we have a sixth that is interested in talking."

Schreckengost said companies whose business involves import or export will have to examine what benefits a subzone could offer them, and decide whether to seek approval to become a subzone.

Erie International Airport Director Kelly Fredericks said at least two airport tenants might be able to benefit by subzone status — Erie Aviation and North Coast Air, the fixed-based operator that handles fuel sales at the airport.

"This is what we have been waiting for, it really is," Fredericks said. "We will begin working more closely with other participants and start doing due diligence and paperwork to get this going. We think we might have a couple applicants immediately."

Randy Campbell, director of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones, said the remaining step would be for businesses interested in becoming foreign trade subzones to complete an activation process with the U.S. Customs Service. That, he said, is a much faster and easier step than getting the zone status approved. "The hard work has already been done," said Campbell.

Port Authority officials had hoped to hold a Foreign Trade Zone Day in Erie sometime this month, but Schreckengost said that will likely be pushed back until May. He said the Port Authority hopes to use that day to formally announce the zone, and offer seminars to businesses and development agencies on the benefits of the zone.

Erie's is thought to be the first foreign trade zone application signed by new Commerce Secretary Don Evans.

About 240 foreign trade zones exist in the United States, with more than 400 subzones that employ more than 340,000 people, according to statistics cited by English's staff. Those trade zones handle more than $170 billion in merchandise a year.

Millcreek OKs tax break for airport properties

By Deborah McQuaid
Staff writer

Millcreek Township supervisors on Tuesday night approved a 13-year property tax break for more than 100 acres of land at Erie International Airport.

Supervisor Brian McGrath tried to scale down the proposal to exclude what he called "prime real estate" along West 12th Street and at West 12th Street and Asbury Road. But supervisors Sue Weber and Joe Kujawa voted down McGrath's proposal and agreed instead on the entire acreage requested by the Erie Municipal Airport Authority for a Keystone Opportunity Zone designation.

The designation would provide state tax incentives and local real estate tax relief for those developing the properties.

Included in the KOZ are three sites on airport property, including the former Fenestra and Penn Brass facilities, which the airport authority has proposed to redevelop; the shorter runway section south of West 12th Street near Shenk Avenue; and the general aviation area at the northwestern corner of the airport near the intersection of West 12th Street and Asbury Road. The airport authority is seeking the tax abatement through the year 2013. The Millcreek School Board already has approved the KOZ, which must be OK'd by all local taxing bodies.

The supervisors had twice tabled the airport's proposal and discussed alternatives.

At Tuesday night's meeting, Airport Director Kelly Fredericks said he wasn't aware the board of supervisors was prepared to vote on a scaled-down version. McGrath made that clear at the meeting and said supervisors had discussed for two weeks "whether or not property we felt was prime real estate on 12th street should be contained in a KOZ. There has been a lot of differences of opinion," McGrath said.

McGrath said he spoke with the Manufacturers Association of Northwest Pennsylvania, the Erie Conference on Community Development and city of Erie officials. "They said it could go either way whether we want to include prime real estate in a KOZ," McGrath said.

McGrath said he believes it isn't fair to existing businesses in the township that new businesses can locate on airport property and receive lengthy tax breaks. He said the concept of a KOZ is to designate areas that cannot be easily developed without the enticement of tax breaks. McGrath wanted to exclude the 27.6 acres at West 12th Street and Asbury Road and the first 300 lineal feet of property along West 12th Street from Shenk Avenue west to Guetner Avenue, near the airport entrance. McGrath said those two areas don't fit the criteria for a KOZ.

Fredericks said all three sites are needed in order to further the airport's master plan. He said airport officials believe in a conservative estimate that 500 jobs could be created through the KOZ development. "To my way of thinking, a strong, viable airport is good for every business in our township," Weber said, adding that she believes the KOZ is a "good idea for the airport and for the township."

Kujawa said the township needs jobs brought back after the recent closing of businesses at the Millcreek Mall and the loss of Snap-tite Inc., which is moving its corporate headquarters and a manufacturing plant from the township into Summit Township. "I hope we can establish 500 to 800 jobs here" at the airport's three sites, Kujawa said.

The board approved a second Keystone Opportunity Zone for 24.3 acres known as the "Currie Landfill," bounded on the north by West 15th Street and the south end of Yorktown Centre, on the south by the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroad tracks, on the east by the Kimmel property and on the west by property of Lincoln Metal Processing Inc., 1602 Selinger Ave. McGrath said that property perfectly fits the criteria for a KOZ. He said about $100,000 will have to be spent there by a developer and the state to meet environmental regulations.

The KOZ program was written into state law in 1998 to provide jobs in deteriorated areas by allowing real estate tax breaks for developers.