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MAC March 4, 19186 OFFICE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PHONE [812} 726-1892 Mr. Frank Bens0n Federal Aviation Administration Airport District Office 6301 34th Avenue South Minneapolis, ~[~ 55450 RE: Gateway Airport It is my uader~i~ that the Federal Aviation Administration is currently .donsldering incorporation of Gateway Airport into the National Airport Plan. The Metropolitan Airports Cc~mission ~Duld support such action. T~is airport is incorporated in the Metropolitan Council's recently c~leted Aviation System Plan (carried out under a Federal Grant), ~ is also incorporated in F~/DOT's State Airport System Plan. Gateway Airport plays an import_m_nt role in providing aviation service to the northeast portion of the seven county metropolitan area. The closest airports in the MAC system are Anoka County-Blaine Airport and Crystal Airport, bOth located a significant distance to the southeast. Due to the demand for~aviation facilities in this area, it is not surprising that the airport islcurrently supported by the City's of ELk River, Ramsey, and Anoka. The Metro Council's Aviation System Plan proposes that a new utility cate- gory airport be developed in Search Area A, located in the northwestern portion of i~u~epin County. It is unlikely that a new facility will be developed in this area in the immediate future, and when such a facility is developed it would not provide service to the same area as is currently served by Gateway. For this reason, it ~)uld ~c~m~ quite likely that both facilities~ ~tld be necessary to allow the Twin Cities to maintain the high level of aviation service currently enjoyed. From data available, it ~Duld ~ that the demand in the Gateway area is that of a utility category facility. Anoka County-Blaine Airport currently provides capability at the low end of the transport scale, and provides adequate facilities for this category of aviation user in the northern and northwestmrn suburbs. The develo[~nent of Gateway Ai.'rport consistent with utility cate~.0ry starw~_ rds ~mald be oonsistent with providing the level of aviation servzce necessary. Continuation of Gateway North is important to the overal! metropolitan system due to the near capacity condition at Crystal .%irport, and the legislative uncertainty with regard to expansion of Anoka ~t~y-Blaine Airport in the future. The potential for continued loss of aviat!on capacity in the metropolitan system should be avoided whe- never possible.