Chapter 2: Existing Facilities

Transcription

1 Chapter 2: Existing Facilities This chapter describes the existing conditions at the airport and provides an inventory of existing facilities and infrastructure. It provides the baseline for future requirements, improvement plans, and the development of alternatives and recommendations. Where appropriate, it describes issues with existing facilities that should be addressed. The chapter is divided into distinct sections. The first section deals with the location, role, and environment of the airport. The main body of the chapter focuses on the existing facilities and infrastructure of the airport, while the third and fourth sections address compatible land use and environmental issues. Airport History Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field was dedicated in 1934 at its current location to serve the towns of Deadwood, Lead and Spearfish. The Airport had commercial airline service intermittently with passenger and cargo service until 1961 when North Central Airlines provided service. Some important changes that have occurred to the airfield are located below and more information on the airport s history is located at Appendix F Airport Background. Runway was extended in 1984 by 1,450 feet to a length of 5,498 feet by 75 feet. The pavement was rehabilitated periodically through the 1990 s. In 2007, Runway was extended to its current length of 6,401 feet by 75 feet. Following this project in 2010 through 2011, the full parallel taxiway for Runway was extended to the full length. Airport Location/Setting Spearfish is in an area known as the northern Black Hills and is surrounded by low tree covered hills. The Airport is located 4 miles east of downtown Spearfish and adjacent to Interstate 90 in a flat valley surrounded by low tree covered hills. In addition to being near Spearfish, the airport is also approximately 9 miles north of Lead and Deadwood. Since Lead and Deadwood exist in an area surrounded by hilly, rugged terrain there is no location for an airport nearby other than at Spearfish. The airport therefore serves these three largest cities in Lawrence County, whose county seat is Deadwood. Other area airport information is found in Appendix F Airport Background. While the Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field is adjacent to and on the north side of Interstate 90, there is not a direct exit from the Interstate and access is by two routes. The most direct route 5.5 miles from Spearfish is from Exit 14 (27th Street) north via a gravel road heading north east to Airport Road and then east on Airport Road to the airport entrance. 1 The airport s primary runway has throughout its history been Runway or Runway This runway designation changes periodically over time due to the change in magnetic north. The change usually occurs over a 10 to 20 year period. The runway, in Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field case, remains the same piece of pavement and same alignment even though the designator periodically changes. Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-1

2 The second is from Exit 14 or 17 via Colorado Boulevard on the south side of I-90 to Rainbow Road then north to Airport Road then west on Airport Road to the airport entrance. The airport is situated on the east side of Spearfish in a rural area. There is rural residential to the north and east on Airport Road and Rainbow Road. To the west there is light industrial on the west side of False Bottom Creek. To the south on the other side of the interstate there is a mixture of commercial and retail mixed with vacant land. Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-2

3 Exhibit 2-1 Spearfish Area Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-3

4 The northern Black Hills Area experiences unique weather conditions. Spearfish holds the world record of the greatest rise in temperature in the shortest amount of time. On January 22, 1943 at 7:30 am, the temperature was -4 F and in two minutes it had risen to 45 F. A record that stands to this day. By 9:00 am that morning the temperature had risen to 54 F and the temperature dropped back to -4 F in 27 minutes. This weather phenomenon occurs at times at Spearfish as a result of winds coming down from the hills referred to as chinook or snow eater wind. The airport reference temperature, which is defined as the mean maximum temperature of the hottest month, is 85.1 degrees and occurs in July. This mean maximum temperature is important because aircraft performance is dependent upon air temperature. When conditions are warmer an aircraft requires a longer runway to take off. The mean maximum temperature for Spearfish will be factored in as the runway lengths for Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field are evaluated. The other important factor about the weather for an airport is wind conditions. An aircraft performs best on landing and taking off when each can be done into the wind. The wind coverage information for Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field has recently been compiled with a total of approximately 6 years of data. The data provided in following provides the wind coverage at different wind speeds and in different visibility conditions. Figure 2-1 Current Wind Coverage All Weather Windrose Data IFR Weather Windrose Data Runway 13.0 Knots Knots Knots Knots Knots Knots % 95.67% 97.98% 95.26% 98.21% 99.53% Source: Iowa Environmental MesoNet All Weather - 142,622 Observations IFR 11,609 Observations Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field; 2008 to = Less than 0.05% Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-4

5 The results of the wind analysis in Figure 2-1 are clear that the airport s primary runway provides 91.91% of wind coverage for the 10.5 knot winds in All Weather conditions. The FAA recommends that an airport provide wind coverage of 95% or greater and the existing primary runway alone cannot meet this standard. As a result the wind coverage with potential crosswind runways was analyzed. Configurations including Runway with Runway 5-23 as well as with Runway 8-26 were examined. The configuration of Runway with 5-23 was determined to be most favorable and further details regarding the comparison with Runway and 8-26 can be found in Appendix F Airport Background and the Alternatives Chapter Chapter 5. The information in Figure 2-2 portrays with wind coverage with Runways with Runway Figure & 5-23 Wind Coverage All Weather Windrose Data IFR Weather Windrose Data Runway Knots Knots Knots Knots Knots Knots % 95.67% 97.98% 95.26% 98.21% 99.53% % 90.21% 96.00% 70.59% 81.04% 91.33% Combined 97.97% 99.43% 99.86% 97.74% 99.45% 99.90% Source: Iowa Environmental MesoNet All Weather - 142,622 Observations IFR 11,609 Observations Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field; 2008 to = Less than 0.05% If the Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field had both Runways and 5-23 as paved runways, the wind coverage would be 97.97% for the combined runways at 10.5 knots in all-weather conditions while the current coverage is 91.91% for Runway alone. Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-5

6 Population/Economy The City of Spearfish is the largest city in Lawrence County with 10,532 people living within the city in 2010; the population of Lawrence County was 24,189 in The next largest cities in Lawrence County are Lead with 3,124 people, Deadwood with 1,270 people and Whitewood with 927 people. Spearfish has a mixed economy as a regional trade center with tourism, medical and education related jobs. Detailed information is located in Appendix F Airport Background. Table 2-1 Spearfish Major Employers Major Employers in Spearfish Company Category Employees Spearfish Regional Health Health Care 462 Black Hills State University Higher Education 415 Wal-Mart Retail 370 TMone Business Outsourcing (BPO) 270 Spearfish School District K-12 Education 259 Spearfish Forest Products Manufacture (Wood Products) 200 Northern Hills Training Center Disabled Adult Care 156 Ainsworth-Benning Construction Construction 125 City of Spearfish Government 125 David Dorsett Senior Living Facility Health Care/Aging Adults Source: Spearfish Economic Development Corporation Airport Role, Design and Airport Management Airports are classified by the federal and state governments. The federal government uses the National Plan of Integrated Airport System (NPIAS) to classify airports and has recently started a new classification system called ASSET, which further refines the role of airports within the federal system. The Black Hills Airport-Clyde Ice Field is classified as a general aviation in the current NPIAS and a large general aviation airport in the South Dakota State Aviation System Plan, completed in The ASSET study classified the airport as a local airport. More information concerning the role of the airport can be found in Appendix D Airport Classification. The Lawrence County Airport Board is the governing body, which serves as the airport sponsor, owns and is responsible for the operations and capital development of the airport. The Lawrence County Airport Board was formed by the Lawrence County Commission in The airport owns the fuel system while the FBO, Eagle Aviation, owns three trucks for dispensing fuel. Eagle Aviation, owns and sells the fuel in the system and serves as airport manager for the airport. For more information regarding the airport role, design and airport management please go to Appendix F Airport Background. Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-6

7 Existing Facilities The existing facilities at Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field are broken down into airside (runways, aprons, taxiways, navigational aids, airspace and approaches) and landside facilities (hangars, fueling facilities, snow removal equipment). Airside Runways, Taxiways, Aprons Table 2-2 describes the runways, taxiways and aprons at the Black Hills Airport -Clyde Ice Field and Exhibit 2-2 shows the location of airside infrastructure. Detailed information concerning design standards and the airport pavements can be found in Appendices H Airfield Design and G Airfield Pavements. Table 2-2 Runway & Associated Taxiway Design Standards Runway & Associated Taxiway/Apron Design Standards Primary Runway (13-31) RDC B-II-4000 Design Aircraft Turboprop Dimensions 6,401 x 75 Marking/Lighting NPI (Poor)/MIRL Pavement Strength/PCI 33,000 (SW); 45,000 (DW) / 95 Runway (8-26) - Turf RDC A-I Small - Visual Design Aircraft Single Piston Dimensions 3,851 x 100 Turf Marking/Lighting Boundary Cones (White)/None Runway (4-22) - Turf RDC A-I Small - Visual Design Aircraft Single Piston Dimensions 1,910 x 120 Marking/Lighting Boundary Cones (White)/None Taxiway A Width 35 TDG 2 Pavement Strength/PCI 33,000 (SW); 45,000 (DW) / 95 (91 to 100) Taxilane Width 25 TDG 1 Pavement Strength/PCI 12,500 (SW) / 64.0 (27 to 80) Apron Area (New Area) Dimensions 417 x (22,100 sy) Type Asphalt with 2 concrete hardstand (40 x300 ) Pavement Strength/PCI 33,000 (SW) 45,000 (DW) / 100 # Tiedowns 7 none in hardstands for flexibility Apron Area (Original Area) Dimensions Approximately 15,500 sy (variable dimensions) Type Asphalt Pavement Strength/PCI 12,500 (SW) / 85 (63 to 98) # Tiedowns 17 Source: South Dakota Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics; KLJ Analysis Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-7

8 Exhibit 2-2 Airfield Map Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-8

9 Navigational Aids There are a variety of navigational aids located at an airport to aid aircraft in using the airport. These navigational aids can be electronic, visual or weather reporting and for Black Hills Clyde Ice Field these aids consist of the following: Airport Beacon An airport beacon is rotating light that projects a beam of alternating green and white light which appears as a series of flashes to approaching pilots. The airport beacon serves as the airport identification light so approaching pilots can identify the airport location during night and instrument flight rule conditions. The beacon at Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field is located immediately north of the FBO hangar area. Surface Weather Observation There are various types of surface weather observation stations. Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field has an Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) owned and maintained by the airport. The sensors are located west of Runway across from the main hangar/apron area. Please note weather observing systems are recommended to be kept clear of agricultural operations within 100 feet, clear of objects above the 30 foot sensor height within 500 feet, and clear of high objects within 1,000 feet. Visual Guidance Slope Indicator (VGSI) A VGSI system provides visual descent guidance to aircraft on approach to landing. The Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field has a four box Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) system for the Runway 13 and 31 approaches. The PAPI directs beams of red and white light along the approach glide path set at different locations and/or angles to provide pilots with a visual indication of the aircraft s position relative to the designated approach slope for a runway. VGSI systems have a five mile range during the day and a 20 mile range at night. Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) This beacon is one of the oldest types of navigational technology still used in aircraft navigation. A NDB is simply a low power AM radio station. The Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field maintains an NDB at the airport immediately north of the FBO area and the FAA provides an NDB approach procedure. Aircraft have equipment called Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) which allows the aircraft to tune into the frequency that the NDB is transmitting, and a dial that points a needle to the location of the NDB. NDBs are subject to lightning, precipitation static, and other disturbances that may result in erroneous navigation information. As a result of this and their replacement by GPS, NDB facilities are being decommissioned by FAA. Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-9

10 Table 2-3 NAVAID Summary NAVAID Summary Type Existing Aids Ground Based Electronic Aids NDB Meteorological Aids AWOS Communication Aids CTAF and GCO Runway Approach Aids PAPI (Runway 13 and 31) Source: FAA 5010 Form; Note: Runway/end identified in parenthesis; GPS Global Positioning System; CTAF Common Traffic Advisory Frequency; GCO Ground Communication Outlet Airspace and Approaches The FAA has established different types of airspace across the country to facilitate the movement of aircraft through an area and to/from airports. This airspace is controlled by the Air Traffic Organization (ATO) which is a part of the FAA and has various control facilities including towers, centers, and other control facilities. There is not an airport traffic control tower at Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field, but there is an instrument approach and therefore the airspace at the airport is categorized as Class E for Spearfish. Class E airspace is designed to enable aircraft to enter and exit the airport with the support of FAA s ATO facility at Denver ARTCC and in cooperation with the Department of Defense s Ellsworth Approach facility. Additional details regarding the airspace can be found in Appendix L Airspace and Instrument Approaches. Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field has three published standard instrument approach procedures. These are for Runway 13, 31 and a circling approach. The approaches for Runways 13 and 31 use GPS and the circling approach uses a ground based Non-Directional Beacon (NDB). Additional information regarding instrument approach procedures can be found in Appendix L Airspace and Instrument Approaches. Approach Procedure Table 2-4 Instrument Approach Procedures Instrument Approach Procedures Approach Type Lowest Cloud Ceiling Minimum (HAT) Lowest Visibility Minimum (s.m.) RNAV (GPS) RWY 13 LPV 4219 (335 ) 1 1 / 8 mile RNAV (GPS) RWY 31 LPV 4149 (254 ) ¾ mile NDB-A NDB (NPI) 4920 (987 ) 1 ¼ mile Note: HAT = Height Above Touchdown, s.m. = statute miles (reported), LPV = Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance, NDB = Non Directional Beacon; Source: FAA Landside The Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field is a general aviation airport which serves two primary tenants - Eagle Aviation and Black Hills Aero. Eagle Aviation is an FBO providing fueling, aircraft storage and handling, maintenance and charter/piloting services. The company has been at the airport since 2000 when Eagle Aviation acquired Star Aviation. Eagle Aviation occupies an office/hangar complex in the Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-10

11 middle of the airport and is the airport manager for the airport. There are 29 paved automobile parking spaces collocated at the FBO offices. Black Hills Aero provides maintenance for primarily piston aircraft with a number of mechanics on staff. The company has been at the airport since 1994 and does work on many piston aircraft in a single hangar north of the FBO location. There is sufficient paved parking for approximately 35 automobiles adjacent to the Black Hills Aero hangar. Eagle Aviation provides flight instruction with their employees. Black Hills Aero provides flight instruction through independent contractors. The Civil Air Patrol s Lookout Mountain Composite Squadron is also located at the airport. The organization uses a building immediately east of the FBO. This squadron is one of six composite squadrons in the state of South Dakota and is a part of the South Dakota Civil Air Patrol. Hangars which house private aircraft and other landside infrastructure are identified in Table 2-5 Airport Hangars and Exhibit 2-3 Airport Buildings. Table 2-5 Airport Hangars Airport Hangars at Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field Facility Door Opening Hangar Area Facility Type Use Number W x H (SF) 1 FBO Office/Hangar FBO 44 x 12 6,230 2 Hangar FBO 46 x ,776 3 Office Civil Air Patrol SASO na na 4 Hangar FBO 56 x ,224 5 Office/Hangar SASO 3,900 6 Office/Hangar Private/SASO 4,300 7 T-Hangar (10 units) Private 41.5 x 12 12,200 8 T-Hangar (11 units) Private 41.5 x 12 13,300 9 T-Hangar (10 units) Private 41.5 x 12 12, Conventional Hangar Private 1, Conventional Hangar Private 1, Conventional Hangar Private 2, Conventional Hangar Private 3, Conventional Hangar Private 2, T-Hangar (8 units) Private 41.5 x 12 9, T-Hangar (8 units) Private 41.5 x 12 9, Conventional Hangar Private 2,400 FBO/SASO Hangars (4 total) 29,430 Other Conventional Hangars (7 total) 14,150 T-Hangars (47 units) 57,100 Grand Total Source: Black Hills Airport Clyde Ice Field; Google Earth 100,680 Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-11

12 Table 2-3 Airport Buildings Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-12

13 Snow Removal Equipment and Storage Building The airport has several pieces of snow removal equipment to maintain the airport during snow and ice conditions. These are a 1944 (refurbished in 1977) Oshkosh Snow Plow, a 2004 Case IH Loader, a 1970 W35 Surplus Loader and a 1970 SMI Snowblower. Except for one unit, the equipment is housed in a T-hangar unit in building 16 of Exhibit 2-3. The Snowblower is too tall and therefore is stored outside the T-hangar. Fuel Facilities All fueling systems on the Airport are owned by Lawrence County Airport Board and are operated by contract with Eagle Aviation. The fuel available currently includes 100LL (lowlead) and Jet A fuel. The fuel farm was relocated in 2014 because it was too close to Taxiway A and aircraft could not conduct self-fueling without blocking the taxiway. The tanks consist of a 12,500 gallon Jet A tank and a 12,500 gallon 100LL tank. The fuel tanks are below ground and were sited to be accessible from the airside after the installation of Runway Perimeter Fence The airport perimeter fence is primarily barbed wire with some metal fabric fencing to keep out domesticated animals and provide a general barrier to entry. Automated entry gates exist around the hangars to restrict vehicle access to only those persons permitted access to the airfield. There is no existing wildlife fence at the airport. Chapter 2 Existing Facilities Page 2-13