Addition of hangars, deferral of runway extension recommended
COLUMBUS – The dean of the College of Engineering today recommended to the Facilities Planning Subcommittee of the University's Board of Trustees that it approve moving forward with modest development at The Ohio State University Airport at Don Scott Field.
William A. Baeslack III presented the subcommittee with a detailed analysis of the progress made since its last meeting in September 2004, when he outlined the 2004 Draft Airport Master Plan and the results of an Environmental Assessment (EA) conducted to determine the local impact of projects included in the plan.
Based on his analysis, conducted with nationally known consultants specifically hired to assist in the process, Baeslack is recommending the Airport take four steps:
•Aggressively address community concerns by implementing a highly sophisticated, state-of-the-art noise analysis and complaint-response system;
•Defer north runway extension and jet hangar development;
•Change the scope of the current Environmental Assessment to obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to build T and row hangars to meet the needs of small aircraft customers;
•And seek Board of Trustees approval of the updated OSU Airport Master Plan and Conditional Airport Layout Plan (ALP) that retains all major proposed construction elements.
Baeslack said that due to low staffing and an inability to obtain radar information in a timely manner, current responsiveness to noise complaints at the Airport has been insufficient and has heightened community concerns regarding potential Airport development. Based on analysis of current best practices, he is recommending a sophisticated system that would provide information from all flights within a five-mile radius, indicating date, time, aircraft type, operation, altitude and radar track. More staff also would be hired to ensure response within a week of complaints, he said.
He also recommended that environmental evaluation and EA development related to extending the north runway and adding jet hangars be put on hold so officials can continue assessing trends in jet operations and aircraft mix; determining approaches to minimize future noise impacts while meeting airport education and service missions; and developing potential strategies for dealing with the need to relocate some University research facilities should the extension occur.
A third recommendation is to change the scope of the current EA to facilitate FAA approval of the construction of one row hangar and two T hangars. The move would allow the Airport to meet public demand for small hangar space while opening space for University-owned aircraft used in educating students and reducing maintenance and insurance costs.
A fourth recommendation is to seek Board of Trustees approval of the Draft 2004 Master Plan and Conditional Airport Layout Plan that retains all major proposed construction elements. Baeslack said that doing so provides the Airport with the flexibility to expand in the future, should conditions warrant, while providing formal notice to local community and government entities of potential future development that may affect them.
Baeslack said that he and his staff have met frequently over the past year with community representatives to keep them apprised of the University's progress in Airport development. "We have tried to be not only responsive but transparent in our actions, because we know how concerned the community has been," he said.
He said he is planning to meet with interested community members in August, and will schedule an EA Advisory Committee meeting for September. Board approval of the updated Master Plan likely would not occur until March 2006.
