In article ,
"steve" wrote:
I just heard that they are considering closing down the Tacoma Narrows
Airport (KTIW) due to zoning and funding issues. This airport has been there
for a long time and it is a beautiful place to fly to. It would be a shame
to see it shut down. The other nearest airports to the Tacoma/ Gig Harbor
area are not options to use, Olympia, WA and Hoquiem, WA. both about 45
minutes to 2 hours away.
Is there anything we can do to prevent this?
1. Is it publicly funded?
2. Are Federal grants involved?
3. Is it a surplus military property?
4. Is state money involved?
Any of those three can prove to be deal killers to developers who covet
the property.
FAA takes a very dim view of local entities attempting to violate grant
restrictions.
I got this from a Google search on "Tacoma Narrows Airport":
"1005 - Tacoma Narrows Airport
Tacoma Narrows Airport is owned and operated by the City of Tacoma. The
airport is located just 5 miles north of the City in the Gig Harbor
Peninsula area. Tacoma Narrows Airport provides a place for aircraft to
easily land and take off by offering instrument and GPS landing
capabilities.
Tower operations are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The airport offers 24-hour
U.S. Customs and weather reporting. Card lock fuel sales for AV Gas;
along with jet fuel sales, aircraft repairs and maintenance and part
sales are offered by various businesses at the airport. The on-site
restaurant is open seven days a week serving breakfast, lunch and
dinner.
For hangar rentals or additional information, call the Tacoma Narrows
Airport directly at (253) 853-5844 or the Tacoma Narrows Airport
information line at (253) 573-2477."
Mo
"The Tacoma Narrows Airport (TIW) is located in a picturesque rural
setting within minutes of both Tacoma and Seattle, and is rapidly
becoming the airport of choice in the South Puget Sound. With a
5,002-foot runway, full IFR capabilities, Control Tower (8 a.m.-8 p.m.
365 days a year) and 24-hour weather reporting, the airport is
accessible at almost any time of the day or night to all types of
aircraft.
Tacoma Narrows Airport has "international gateway" status with U.S.
Customs, available 24 hours a day/seven days a week.** Pilots are
responsible for calling U.S. Customs at least two hours prior to
arriving at Tacoma Narrows Airport.* You can reach the Customıs office
at (253) 593-6338 extension 2 (Monday * Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).*
After hours call (253) 383-7900 or toll free at (888) 205-0215.
Because of the central location, this general aviation airport is
convenient for visitors to the Puget Sound region.* After landing, stop
by the on-site restaurant and enjoy the incredible views.* You are
minutes away from shopping, great restaurants, water activities and
hiking or exploring the beautiful surrounding area."*
Economic Impacts"
See:
www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/
6C5D369E-6C84-4273-8EAD-2413C1671104/0/OR_TacomaNarrows.pdf
Mo
"RUNWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE TACOMA NARROWS AIRPORT
Winter 2007 * The City of Tacoma selected BERGER/ABAM to design airport
safety improvements for Tacoma Narrows Airport. The 5,002-foot-long
runway at this general aviation airport primarily serves single-engine
planes and is located in a picturesque rural setting west of Tacoma.
This safety area project proposes to extend the ground surface from the
elevation of the runway across Stone Drive to achieve the required 1,000
feet of level surface beyond the end of the runway. Residents of the
areas east and west of the airport use Stone Drive to connect to the
Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which crosses a portion of Puget Sound, a
waterway that separates the airport from the city.
Stone Drive is too close to the end of Runway 17 to meet safety
standards, and rerouting the road around the safety area would be
difficult because of its location, the terrain, and environmental
conditions. To meet the required geometrics for the extended surface
with Stone Drive in its current location, BERGER/ABAM designed a
500-foot lid structure-in effect, a tunnel through the earth-along the
roadway equal to the width of Runway 17's runway safety area.
To meet current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards, the
proposed improvements would lower the profile of the surface of Stone
Drive to provide the required vertical clearances inside the tunnel
while keeping the runway functional and maintaining the geometrics of
the approach lighting. The lid over the tunnel would create a flat
grassy surface that will be able to withstand landings by light
aircraft. The design also allows for a longer operational runway over
Stone Drive for the potential expansion of airport services to larger
aircraft in the event of future airport growth. In addition, people
traveling along Stone Drive will benefit from the added safety the lid
provides.
The City, which owns and operates the airport, received an FAA safety
area improvement grant for the project. Stone Drive is a Pierce County
road, and a conditional use permit between the City and County
establishes specific project requirements.
With the project in its study phase, BERGER/ABAM is coordinating with
all parties to create an alternative that satisfies local and national
design and safety standards."
Apparently they received FAA grants recently, so they are on the hook to
keep it open.
Go to the local FAA grants person with all relevant information
regarding attempts to close it.