Airport Master Plan November 1984

Home

Of Aviation On Selected Minnesota Communities" prepared for the Minnesota Department of Aeronautics dated October 1974 and certain pamphlets issued by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assocation regarding the definition of general aviation and the extent to which it is used in the United States. From these excerpts it was noted that general aviation is defined as all ' flying except that of the airlines and the military and general aviation is the world's largest air carrier. ' Chairman Ippel stated that there are 3 classifications of airports; minor, intermediate and major. The Gateway North site is such that it puts severe limitations on what can be located there and Gateway North would be limited ' to a minor airport. The aircraft gross weight that would be allowed at Gateway would be 12,000 pounds including craft, fuel and passengers; this would be a plane with the capacity of 15 -16 persons. Chairman Ippel then introduced Commissioner Ken Patz who is in charge of VoTech operation at Gateway North. Commissioner Patz stated that he is Chairman of the Aviation Program at AVTI. Before he was hired by the school, he worked for the Department of Aeronautics; and he was one of the 3 people who performed the first inspection at Gateway North. In 1971, Gateway's function was to provide landing space for private aircraft and the runway was, and still is, about 2500' long consisting of sand. The school got involved at Gateway North in 1975 and has two programs: air traffic.control and aviation administration. The school moved 4 classrooms there, installed a well and electricity The school's agreement with the owners of Gateway was space in turn for the fact we could use the land at a nominal cost. The school also landscaped the property and put in parking facilities, purchased a unicom for the airport, assisted with the installation of lights with a rotating beacon and assisted in getting instrument approach approved off the Minneapolis VOR. The school program at Gateway consists of 60 -75 students and it also provides night classes for Anoka Ramsey Community College and AVTI. Commissioner Patz 'stated that AVTI has played a very important part in the development of Gateway North and the school feels that improvement of the airport will benefit the school and the community benefits from what the school has to offer. Chairman Ippel then introduced Commissioner Greenberg. Commissioner Greenberg proceeded to give a history of Gateway North. In 1946 the owner of Anoka Auto Parts had an airstrip across from Merch Hospital and it was very active. When that owner retired and sold the'land, attempts were made to have that site made into a_ municipal airport; those attempts failed and the facility was closed: Then', Anoka Industrial Park was formed with the idea of preserving some land for industry and that park was located in the township of Ramsey. Some efforts were made to build an airport but nothing was done. Another piece of land was acquired and it was large enough for an airport; Dickenson Lines needed an airstrip for their business, so the owners graded in a strip and got a license primarily to accomodate Dickenson and Holly Manufacturing (now Mate Punch and Die). Then AVTI approached the airport owners to bring their facilities there and the amount of interest was surprising. A flight school was begun and Airport Commission Member John Siebert was our first fixed base operator. Our big problem now is Gateway needs a blacktop runway and it is just about impossible for private owners to do that because we would not be able to obtain the necessary zoning. Unless this facility becomes a publicly owned airport, it will probably close down. AP /May 16, 1984 Public Meeting Page 2 of 13