LONG-RANGE STATE AIRCRAFT FLEET REPLACEMENT PLAN

Transcription

1 LONG-RANGE STATE AIRCRAFT FLEET REPLACEMENT PLAN Texas Transportation Commission Workshop December 14, 2016

2 Background Texas Government Code, Section directs the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to develop a long-range plan for its fleet of aircraft. The longrange plan is to include: How much the aircraft is used; Purpose for which it is used; Cost of operating the aircraft; Revenue generated by the aircraft; and Estimates of future aircraft replacement needs, and other fleet management needs, including any projected need to increase or decrease the number of aircraft. 2

3 Fleet Composition TxDOT s Flight Service s Section (FSS) operates and maintains a fleet of six aircraft which includes four King Air 8-passenger planes (transport), and two Cessna 2- to 3- passenger planes (utility operations). Description Aircraft # Age of Plane Total Flight Hrs. Est. Trade-In Value 1981 King Air 200 1TX 35 7,656 $1,600, King Air B TX 34 7,162 $1,650, King Air B TX 31 4,759 $1,700, King Air B TX 16 2,850 $2,000, Cessna TX 37 5,958 TBD 1980 Cessna TX 36 8,947 TBD 3

4 Aircraft Use FY 2012 through FY 2016 During Fiscal Years (FY) , a total of 3,938 flights, including 3,531 passenger flights with a total of 13,589 passengers, were provided by FSS. In FY 2016, a total of 2,848 passengers were transported on 599 flights, resulting in an average of 4.75 passengers per flight. Description Aircraft # #Flights # Passengers # Hrs Flown Total Mileage 1981 King Air 200 1TX 811 3,286 1, , King Air B TX 884 3,628 1, , King Air B TX 934 3,701 1, , King Air B TX 902 2,974 1, , Cessna TX 286 N/A Utility , Cessna TX 121 N/A Utility ,505 TOTAL 3,938 13,589 5, ,636 4

5 Aircraft Comparison Technology/Safety Features Current King Air Turbo Prop Plane New Turbo Prop Plane New Turbo Fan Plane Synthetic Vision No Yes Yes Engine Indication/Crew Alert System No No Yes Electronic Checklist No Yes Yes Electronic Charts and Maps Yes Yes Yes Terminal Collision Avoidance Yes Yes Yes Terrain Awareness and Avoidance No Yes Yes Oral Warning Messages No Yes Yes Performance Comparison Singe Engine Service Ceiling 21,000 ft. 19,000 ft ,000 ft. Acquisition Cost n/a $3.8M $4.2 - $6.2M Fuel Cost per Nautical Mile $ 3.36 $3.00 $ $ Year Operating Cost $1.9M $1.2M $700K - $1.0M 5

6 Aging Aircraft Issues Issues facing the state aircraft fleet include: Metal Fatigue - Even with the best of maintenance, with age and use, metal fatigue will become an issue. Outdated Avionics - The current fleet s avionics are analog and must use work arounds to be compatible with present-day digital technology. Specialized Inspections - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all aircraft with more than 5,000 flight hours to undergo more extensive specialized inspections (Aging Airplane Safety Rule). NexGen Compliance - In January, 2020, FAA s NexGen regulations will take effect requiring all aircraft to have Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADSB) equipment. 6

7 Further Study In follow-up to Sunset Commission staff recommendations, TxDOT will further analyze: Current fleet use, including customer base and documented rationale for use; Status of maintenance time and costs, with projected future trends; Documented high-risk mechanical issues with current fleet; Projections for remaining useful life for current aircraft; Proposed schedule for replacing aircraft; Range of alternatives and scenarios for fleet size and composition; and Costs and benefits of different approaches to meet air travel including: Potential use of statewide contracts for private charter services; More reliance on commercial carriers for routine travel; Maintaining a smaller fleet in combination with contracted flight services; and Any other feasible options. 7

8 Long-Range State Aircraft Fleet Recommendations Consider amendment of existing statute to allow adoption of rates for interagency aircraft services sufficient to cover both direct costs and incremental cost of fleet replacement. Should statute be amended to allow for capital renewal, provide a comprehensive analysis of various fleet replacement options that consider: Purchase price; Financing options; Maintenance costs; Safety; Fuel efficiency; Technological standards; and Standardized rationalization of the fleet. Establish capital renewal fund for aircraft fleet replacement. Clarify and consider the option to lease purchase aircraft. 8