Tomorrow the City will have a long-awaited meeting with representatives of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC). We asked for this meeting a year (or so) ago. It took awhile for the MAC to respond to our request. Then it took awhile for us to get a date that worked well for everyone attending the meeting. There were some very busy schedules involved. August 30 is the day.
We’ve got a lot of ground to cover. We’re going to talk about these issues:
1. Can the MAC legally enforce the runway weight restriction provisions of its operating agreement for Flying Cloud Airport (FCM), despite some evidence that FAA may not support this provision?
2. Is MAC considering significant changes to its system of reliever airports, of which FCM is one? Is there any consideration given to the option of closing FCM?
3. What is the status of the airport’s development plan? When are runways scheduled for improvements? When will water and sewer services be extended to the airport?
4. What is happening with the MAC’s enforcement of noise regulations at FCM? What happens to a pilot who willfully violates the voluntary noise abatement procedures?
5. What is the status of MAC’s response to our requests in connection with an audit we are conducting of the City-MAC Final Agreement for FCM?
6. What is the current security situation at FCM?
7. What would the MAC think of the City introducing new building quality and standards at the airport?
8. What’s on the legislative agenda for FCM for the upcoming State Legislative session?
It’s a lot to cover in two hours. I’ll be back with a post-meeting report tomorrow.
