1. Who owns Flying Cloud Airport?
Metropolitan Airports Commission (no doubt on behalf of the people of Minnesota!)
2. Who pays for the Flying Cloud Airport expansion?
MAC, but mostly through Federal grants and very little through user fees since everyone else ends up subsidizing general aviation
3. Who are the final decision-makers at Flying Cloud?
The MAC commissioners who report to the Governor in that they are appointed by and responsible to Pawlenty.
4. Who can stop the expansion?
Possibly only God. But seriously, the MAC is a politically appointed body and as such should be politically sensitive to political pressure. Therefore, the Legislature could directly order the MAC to act or the Governor could direct the MAC to respond in a certain way. Therefore, I believe it is still within the range of possibilities that we the people could "stop" the expansion with the right amount and appropriate placement of political pressure. We might even win by default if Northwest Airlines moves its Mineapolis base (under Delta) to Detroit, funds dry up, the Federal grant disappears and we get a Democratic governor in 2010.
5. Why do you think Mayor Phil Young says that the expansion is a "done deal" -- and do you agree with him?
It legally is out of our hands IF the MAC proceeds with immediate expansion. Otherwise, the answer to the above question applies.
6. What size jet will be allowed into Flying Cloud Airport after the expansion?
Uh oh, it's been 6 years. I believe that planes of up to 30,000 per wheel empty are allowed to land on the current pavement depth which under the agreement cannot be increased.
7. How much noise is represented by 65DNL?
Describe it. Is that a noise level that you are comfortable with? I think I remember it being compared to a loud lawn mower and no it is not an acceptable level.
8. What is the difference between DNL and Noise Spikes? Which method is more accurate in representing the actual effect on the human ear?
DNL speaks to sustained levels and obviously noise spikes are momentary. This may be a perceptual issue, but clearly sustained noise has higher consequential impacts on the physical health of humans.
9. How many 5,000 foot runways should the Twin Cities have?
That's the $64000 question. I would change the question to be, Should the MAC be given statewide authority and be able to look at St. Cloud and Rochester as regional hubs and in that light make Holman (with a 10,000 foot runway) be the Twin Cities "corporate jet" airport.
10. How close does an airport have to be before you would consider it "convenient"?
I don't really know. I don't fly enough. I suppose at the rate I use it, probably within 20 miles.
11. Do you support subsidizing boat owners in order to make their boating experience more affordable?
Since I own a boat, sure! Actually, we subsidize about every aspect of suburban life, but the real question is what is a reasonable subsidy for the numbers of people involved and under that criteria, general aviation that serves so few and absorbs so much money doesn't make the cut.
12. Do you support subsidizing car owners in order to make their driving experience more affordable?
We already do by highway and city road construction. Again, the real question is to what extent and to what benefit for how many people? Again, general aviation doesn't make the cut.
13. Do you support subsidizing aircraft owners in order to make their flying experience more affordable?
Not to the extent we do today. I'm not knowledgeable enough about the industry to know what is or is not a reasonable amount. But I can say for sure that subsidizing a few wealthy businesses over the myriad of other businesses who do not benefit from the airport does not make sense.
14. How much does General Aviation contribute to the Airport and Aviation Trust Fund?
I don't know.
15. What does the "Airport and Aviation Trust Fund" pay for?
I don't know.
16. What portion of the "Airport and Aviation Trust Fund" is consumed by General Aviation?
I don't know.
17. Approximately how much money does the FAA take from the General Fund annually to pay for General Aviation?
I don't know.
18. What will the final figure for the Flying Cloud Airport expansion be?
I believe they're saying it's still $20 million for both of the east/west runway expansions and hangar development on the south side. But I've also seen figures that look more like $30 million.
19. Current operations at Flying Cloud are a little over 100,000 per year. What does MAC estimate the operations will be in 2010? Hint -- look in the FEIS.
I thought this year's total operations were closer to 200,000 but still way down from the original 2001 FEIS projections. The problem is that the lower numbers work for both sides. The MAC can say that since operations are down, what's everyone's problem? But anti-expansion folks can say since operations are so far down from the "cost/benefit analysis" projections, that the expansion is no longer justified. I of course favor the latter opinion.
20. How often do you fly out of Flying Cloud?
Twice in a lifetime (so far).
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