1. Who owns Flying Cloud Airport?
The citizens of the 7 county metropolitan area as governed by the Met Council.
2. Who pays for the Flying Cloud Airport expansion?
Of the total $27 million, $8,650,000 will be paid by federal aviation grants (originating in aviation gas taxes), $10,000,000 will be paid by the airport users directly, and the remaining $8,400,000 will be paid by MAC.
3. Who are the final decision-makers at Flying Cloud?
The final decision, after a comprehensive review of the EIS, came from the FAA. This decision will allow MAC to complete the runway expansions because the Federal government supplied a portion of the funding for the expansion.
4. Who can stop the expansion?
This current runway expansion has already been approved by MAC and the FAA; however, in the Final Agreement it states that MAC can not take any action in the future to lengthen the runways further than the 5000 feet, -unless the State of Minnesota changes the definition of a "minor airport" In other words, MAC is restricted from initiating or promoting additional increases to the runways
5. Why do you think Mayor Phil Young says that the expansion is a "done deal" -- and do you agree with him?
I believe he is referring to the Record of Decision from FAA which was received by the City in May 2008.
6. What size jet will be allowed into Flying Cloud Airport after the expansion?
An aircraft with a maximum of 60,000 pounds gross weight. The Final Agreement also commits MAC to taking no further action to increase the weight restrictions to aircraft.
7. How much noise is represented by 65DNL?
DNL stands for "Day/Night Noise Level", which takes a standard noise measurement but penalizes any nighttime sound levels by an extra 10 decibels (meaning, counts as double the noise). It is a weighted daily average noise metric that is widely accepted in the aviation monitoring technology as acceptable, but perhaps far from ideal of course.
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 is an average within a 24 hour period. A single noise spike (like an aircraft takeoff) can be many times louder than that.
9. How many 5,000 foot runways should the Twin Cities have?
I have no idea
10. How close does an airport have to be before you would consider it "convenient"?
Depends on the day and how late I am running!
11. Do you support subsidizing boat owners in order to make their boating experience more affordable?
What?
12. Do you support subsidizing car owners in order to make their driving experience more affordable?
13. Do you support subsidizing aircraft owners in order to make their flying experience more affordable?
14. How much does General Aviation contribute to the Airport and Aviation Trust Fund?
The contribution comes from the tax on aviation fuel.
15. What does the "Airport and Aviation Trust Fund" pay for?
The Trust Fund provides funding, at the Federal level, for a variety of airport capital costs, including runways, navigational equipment.
16. What portion of the "Airport and Aviation Trust Fund" is consumed by General Aviation?
???
17. Approximately how much money does the FAA take from the General Fund annually to pay for General Aviation?
Scott Kip tells me that around 20% of the funding comes from the General Fund.
18. What will the final figure for the Flying Cloud Airport expansion be?
Cost of the expansion is stated at $27 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.
Around 300,000-I am not sure if it is accurate
20. How often do you fly out of Flying Cloud?
I have never flown out of Flying Cloud Airport.
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