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Board hears report on 2012 aviation activity

Perhaps the reflection of a slow economy or high fuel and ticket prices, use of Idaho’s seven commercial airports declined in 2012, according to members of the Aeronautics Advisory Board. Members of the advisory group presented the annual aeronautics report Wednesday (Jan. 16) during the monthly Idaho Transportation Board business meeting in Boise.

Overall, total enplanements at the commercial airports decreased last year, from 1.58 million in 2011 to 1.66 million the past year. Approximately 80 percent of the commercial traffic occurs at the Boise Airport, with the Idaho Falls Airport receiving about 10 percent of the traffic, and the other five airports (Hailey, Twin Falls, Lewiston, Pocatello and Pullman, Wash.) accounting for the remaining 10 percent.

In Boise, fuel sales to commercial airlines were down, however, sales to the military and for corporate aviation and firefighting efforts increased. The opposite occurred in Idaho Falls, where corporate aviation was down, but consumption of fuel increased for commercial airlines.

Usage of the state’s King Air, operated by ITD’s Division of Aeronautics, decreased from 200.9 hours in FY11 to 156.2 in FY12. Usage of the other state planes increased, though. The five-year average for the King Air is 193 hours.

A survey to rate airports was conducted at 85 facilities last year. On a scale of 1 to 5, with a score of 1 being very poor and 5 being very good, the average was 4.92. Airports that housed caretakers scored 4.98. The volunteer program continues to be a valuable service, as 430 person-hours provided assistance with activities such as mowing, painting, rodent control and repairing fences at the 31 state-owned airports.

Efforts are under way to update and enhance the volunteer network for search and rescue activities. Last year, there were 39 aviation accidents with five fatalities in Idaho. This compares with 34 accidents and 14 fatalities in 2011.

Other board discussion

Traveler Information System
Board members watched a demonstration of Idaho’s traveler information system by manager Tony Ernest. He highlighted data available through Idaho’s model system, including transit information.

The low bandwidth website is the most used to obtain information, followed by the high bandwidth website, mobile website visits and then telephone calls. Idaho is unique nationwide in that the low-bandwidth website is the most popular. Use of the 511 phone system is slowly declining, while mobility website use is rapidly escalating.

Citizens in rural states generally use the traveler information system more in winter because of the weather. In contrast, urban states tend to use the system to access daily commuter information. Accordingly, Idaho’s peak use occurred in January and November in FY12.

National Weather Service (NWS) Presentation
Dean Hazen, Northwest Science and Operations Officer for the region’s National Weather Service office, emphasized the importance of the cooperation and collaboration NWS has developed with ITD. Through the partnership, both entities provide better service to their customers and equip them with information to make safe travel decisions.

Hazen noted that both organizations share similar missions. NWS’s mission is to protect life and property and enhance commerce. Although the agencies’ main efforts have been on highway conditions, collaboration also provides information at rest areas, uses dynamic message signs for weather information, incorporates NWS information in the 511 Traveler Information System, and expands ITD’s Road Weather Information Systems.

NWS forecasts are instrumental in preparation of work plans and schedules by ITD maintenance crews. Deployment of resources is based on NWS information. Not only is the data used to determine the type and amount of material application on highways (brine, sand and salt), but it also factors into ITD’s battle against noxious weeds. Information on storm severity and critical thresholds, such as when temperatures are expected to drop and/or moisture is expected to begin, also are vital to highway maintenance.

Information from ITD benefits the weather service.

National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) fundamentals
An overview on NEPA was provided to the board, along with how that federal act affects the way ITD does business. NEPA was passed to address growing environmental concerns.

NEPA does not impose substantive environmental obligations on agencies; it prohibits uninformed rather than unwise actions. The crux is to require an informed and balanced decision-making process.

It requires agencies to consider alternatives to any actions that impact the environment. NEPA must be used if federal funds, lands, or permits are involved in a project. Some of the things that need to be considered as part of NEPA are endangered species, water, historic integrity, noise, hazardous material, air quality and land use.