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11-17-2016 APM+HUTCHINSON AIRPORT COMMISSION
November 17, 2016
Hutchinson Municipal Airport
1700 Butler Field Dr SW
Hutchinson, MN 55350
Airport Commission Minutes
Members present: Cheryl Dooley, Doug McGraw, Dave Skaar, Steve Hahn, Mayor Gary Forcier
Members absent: Ross Peterson
Others Present: John Olson, City of Hutchinson
Meeting called to order at 5:34 p.m. There was a quorum of members present.
1. Approve October 20, 2016 Minutes
Motion made by Dooley, second by Hahn to approve minutes. Unanimous approval
2. Airport Commission
Ross Peterson (to 09/17, second full-term) Steve Hahn (to 09/17, first partial term)
Dave Skaar (to 09/18, first full-term) Cheryl Dooley (to 09/19, first full-term)
Doug McGraw (to 09/21, first full-term) Gary Forcier (Council representative)
Review meeting schedules & find interest forms for serving on the Airport Commission at www.ci.hutchinson.mn.us
3. Hangars All hangars are full. See attached map. Hangar 42-7 was assigned to Joel Schwarze
Tenants with more than two hangars are to be notified of the policy limiting their permission to one year,
actions for these tenants will be taken at the December meeting for 2017.
4. Finance/Budget
a) Airport financial statements — Report attached
October 2016 (updated, unaudited)
5. Operational Issues (Open Proiects)
65.0% budget used, 83.3% of year expired
a) 2014/2015 AIP Project Update (Runway, taxiway, apron rehab) — The closeout report was
submitted to MnDOT Aeronautics. Timing should allow funds will be transferred prior to the end of
this calendar year. If the funds are not received by yearend, the amount of receivable is known, which
will make it possible to reconcile the Airport Construction Fund.
b) 2017 AIP Projects
To accumulate necessary FAA grant, there will be no project in 2017.
c) 2018 AIP Projects
Hangar site preparation project will be addressed in 2018. The proposal is to remove Hangar 41,
constructing an enclosed hangar in its place. Project discussion included having an option for: 1) just
constructing a tie -down ramp W of Hangar 44; or, 2) moving/constructing an open -sided hangar at that
location.
6. Other Discussions & New Business
a) Parachute symbol on FAA sectional maps. Working with Bolton-Menk and FAA staff, we learned that
upon the next update of sectional maps, scheduled for 01/05/2017, the parachute symbol will be
removed. It will also be removed from supplemental information (formerly AFD).
b) Pattern altitude (800' vs. 1,000'). Working with Bolton-Menk and FAA staff, we learned there have
been no changes in regulations, so there is no need to change the approach altitude, unless the airport
had some specific issues. If there were issues, a contact from FAA is provided to help determine any
issues. Discussions indicated there is no specific issue that would cause requiring a change to 1,000'.
c) The keypad/overlay for the fuel pump was replaced. It had become faded and was difficult to read.
d) Privatization of air traffic control function. The Alliance for Aviation Across America (AAAA)
contacted the City encouraging the City to contact congressmen to encourage them to keep the air
traffic control system under FAA. The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) is also reaching
out to their membership regarding this issue.
There is a proposal to privatize air traffic control functions in the US, similar to what was done in
Canada and some European countries. Traffic connectivity has suffered in Canada and the U.K. and
the cost of their privatized systems is higher than that of the US, per flight hour.
The Commission expressed interest in supporting the AAAA's stance. Even though there is not a
tower in Hutchinson, there are towers at airports relatively close to Hutchinson. Traffic connectivity
and higher costs could affect traffic to Hutchinson.
After discussion, Olson was instructed to prepare a letter to Representative Peterson, and Senators
Franken and Klobuchar encouraging them to not privatize, but to keep air traffic control operations
under FAA.
e) Grass fields E of private hangars, north to pond. Request was made by Paul Wright to work this area
up and replant in the spring. Up to this point, Mr. Wright has been told to hold off until next spring or
to cultivate and interseed. After discussion, there was seemed to be no reason why the field couldn't
work it up and replanted in the spring, as the primary delay that could happen as a result of a wet
spring, wouldn't cause the dust issues that could be the primary reason for not working the ground up
early.
f) Winter reporting. Olson reviewed the new runway condition assessment matrix, which uses a
numbering scheme to indicate runway conditions. This system of reporting runway conditions will be
used on NOTAMs beginning this winter season.
g) Fuel filters for the Avgas systems were replaced to avoid any metals in the fuel. These filters will be
changed on a regular basis, including filters in the pumps.
At 6:10, a motion to adjourn was made by Dooley, second by McGraw. Unanimous approval.
NEXT MEETING: Regularly scheduled meeting December 15, 2016.