Laserfiche WebLink
Due to the planning, funding and acquisition process for <br />federally (Airport Improvement Program) funded airports, <br />1989 appears to be a realistic construction period for <br />improvements. As shown in Table 5-2, no aircraft are <br />assumed to be based during most of this construction year. <br />Once the ititial facility improvements are completed, an <br />immediate influx of based aircraft can be expected. The <br />forecast assumes that within two years of facility improve- <br />ments the lumber of based aircraft will be slightly more <br />than the f'>ur year historic high average of 27 based <br />aircraft. <br />From that point, 1991, three growth rates are applied based <br />on MC's forecasts of regional aviation demand. The low <br />forecast aasumes a 3.3% annual growth rate. The high growth <br />forecast aasumes a 5% annual growth rate, and a mid -range <br />forecast assumes a growth rate of 4% annually. <br />As shown, hy 1995, approximately 35 based aircraft are <br />forecast increasing to approximately 50 to 60 within the 20 <br />year planning period. <br />Each of the forecasts assumes that once improved, the growth <br />of based aircraft will parallel the growth of aviation <br />within the region. The forecasts may be somewhat conserva- <br />tive since a likely siphoning off of based aircraft at both <br />Anoka County and Crystal airports may occur dependent on <br />hangar availability and rates. An additional factor which <br />would significantly increase the number of forecast based <br />aircraft would be either the closure or imposition of opera- <br />tional restrictions at other metro region airports. <br />As shown on Figure 3-1 of Section 3, a search area for a new <br />minor airport facility has been identified in the MC's <br />Regional Airports System Plan. The proposed search area for <br />this facility is located in northwest Hennepin County. <br />Primary fun Lions of this facility would be to provide for <br />future general aviation demand within the Urban Service <br />Areas of Hennepin and Carver Counties. It also would pro- <br />vide future relief to Crystal and Flying Cloud Airports. <br />Development of a new facility, however, would most likely <br />not occur ultil at least the mid-1990's. <br />The impact of this proposed facility on the forecast demand <br />at Gateway is likely to be minor since Gateway serves a <br />different service area and the likely development schedule <br />of Gateway would proceed at a faster pace. Certainly, the <br />farther sou:h and west that a proposed airport would be <br />located, thi? less impact it would have on Gateway's <br />activity. <br />5-4 <br />