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Warm Weather Brings Airport Construction: Make Sure to Check NOTAMS

While some of us thought it might never happen, summer is finally here and with the warm weather comes airport construction. Before the snow melted I asked Kyle Wanner, airport planner for the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission, for an update on airport construction that was planned for around the state. Below is the list of projects he provided. This list is dependent on funding of course, but the main point is that there is a lot of airport construction planned around North Dakota this summer. So make sure to check NOTAMs before every flight!

2013 Major Upcoming Projects

Bowman Airport – the new airport will complete the Grading of the Runway, Taxiway, Apron and Access Road over the spring of 2013 and it is planned that before the Fall of 2013’s end that the new airport will also be paved, but this is pending FAA funds.  Plan is still for a Summer/Fall 2014 grand opening.

Crosby – New Lights/PAPI’s for the airport and a rehabilitation project for a portion of the apron.

Langdon/Rugby – Apron Rehabilitation

Devils Lake – Extend Runway 13/31 to 6500 feet and Relocate NAVAIDS and Road to facilitate the extension.

Gwinner – Reconstruct Runway 16/34, widen runway and shift for FAA standards.

Kenmare, Oaks, Ellendale – Runway Rehabilitation is planned pending FAA funds

Mandan – Runway Reconstruction/ new lighting system/ re-alignment of taxiways

Minot – Reconstruct Taxiway C Phase 2, Construct Taxiway D

Stanley – Rehabilitate Runway 9/27

NDPA and the RAF: A Great Partnership!

During the 2012 Upper Midwest Aviation Symposium the NDPA began forming a relationship with the Recreational Aviation Foundation, or RAF.  The RAF has been very active in Montana and we thought it might be valuable to partner with them here in North Dakota.  One of their primary missions is to establish and protect back country airstrips.  Brian Rau, the RAF’s North Dakota State Liaison, gave an update on two airstrips here in North Dakota.  Here is part of the information he had to share at UMAS:

Elkhorn Ranchlands Airstrip:  Up to this point we have been referring to this airstrip as the Ebert’s Ranch Airstrip, referring to the Eberts who were the last private owners of the property.  The current owners, The US Forest Service, refer to the property as the Elkhorn Ranchlands so I would like us to start using the same terminology.  As you recall from my presentation, this is a recent 2007 purchase by the Forest Service and has an existing grass airstrip that looks in fair condition.  The airstrip is located approximately 20 miles north of Medora.  The land use management plan has not been fully developed for this area, and we have a great opportunity to get Aviation Uses written into the plan.  I am on the email list for developments on this property and will forward to you any information as it becomes available.  If the information hits the media before I receive it, look for Elkhorn Ranchlands Plan Amendmentin the news article.   The following is an email statement from Ron Jablonski, the district ranger for that area:  “Elkhorn Ranchlands Plan Amendment is regaining some momentum, so it shouldn’t be too long before there’s something to comment on.”  When this opportunity is opened up, we will need comments from all of you.

Medora Airstrip:   A brief background for those who did not hear my presentation at the symposium:  In the past, there was an airstrip on the butte immediately north of Medora (between Medora and I-94.)  I and others would like to see that airstrip opened again.  It is situated partially on Forest Service land and partially on National Park Service land.  Anecdotal reports from some ND aviators who remember the airstrip 25 – 30 years ago indicate that it was closed mainly because of objections from the Park Service.  Our current efforts are going to be making official contacts with the Park Service and to also explore the feasibility (is it long enough) to have an airstrip just on the Forest Service portion.  Jeff Faught is out in that area often and has volunteered to help with making some contacts.  Any other help would be greatly appreciated.

We at NDPA look forward to growing our partnership with the RAF.  If you would like more information about the RAF visit their website at www.theraf.org.

Flooding Wreaks Havoc, Interrupts Plans

Many parts of North Dakota are experiencing extreme flooding issues this spring.

Here in the Bismarck/Mandan area, where all of your NDPA officers live, the flooding has already changed plans for summer flying activities. The Mandan Buggies and Blues fly-in has been postponed to an undetermined date. Proposed NDPA summer activities have also been put on hold while we deal with the rising water. In addition, a temporary flight restriction (TFR) is in place over the Missouri River in Bismarck and over the Garrison Dam. Remember to check NOTAMs before flying.  We will do our best to keep the NDPA calendar updated with changes as we receive them.

Line Up and Wait

In the continued effort to reduce runway incursions the FAA is changing the old “Position and hold” phraseology to “Line up and wait.”  Effective September 30th controllers wanting to instruct a pilot to hold on the runway for a takeoff clearance will call the aircraft, state the departure runway and then use the “line up and wait” instruction.  Other ICAO nations, including Canada, have used “line up and wait” for some time.

This is the second phraseology change pilots need to be aware of this summer.  In June the FAA discontinued the use of “taxi to” clearances.  Pilots need to remember to obtain a specific crossing clearance for every runway crossed on the way to the departure runway.

For more information about the change to “line up and wait” see the FAA website.

Taxi Procedures Change at Controlled Airports

Enhanced taxi line. From "Ask A Flight Instructor."
Enhanced taxi line. From "Ask A Flight Instructor."

In an effort to reduce runway incursions and make airport operations safer the FAA has made changes to the way control towers will issue taxi clearances. Previously aircraft were issued a “taxi to” clearance. According to the AIM (4-3-18), “When ATC clears an aircraft to “taxi to” an assigned takeoff runway, the absence of holding instructions authorizes the aircraft to cross all runways which the taxi route intersects except the assigned takeoff runway.” This means a pilot has only needed one clearance from ATC to get all the way to the assigned runway.

However, on June 30, 2010 this procedure changed. The FAA issued Notice N-JO-7110.528 which deletes the “taxi to” clearance. According to the Notice, “Aircraft/vehicles must receive a runway crossing clearance for each runway that their taxi route crosses. An aircraft/vehicle must have crossed a previous runway before another runway crossing clearance may be issued.”

In short, pilots must now have a clearance to cross any runway, active or not. The FAA has produced a brochure and video to make sure all pilots understand the changes.