From: Pratt Tribune, January 11, 2008
By: Gale Rose
Funding for the $3 million Pratt Industrial Airport taxiway renovation is now available, sort of.
President Bush has finally signed the Omnibus Appropriations Bill that fully funds several entities including the Federal Aviation Administration. But at this time no authorization to spend those funds has been given, said Reid Bell, Pratt Industrial Airport manager.
"We know the money is there but we don't know when and how it will be appropriated," Bell said.
The situation was presented at the Pratt Airport Authority Board of Directors meeting Thursday afternoon.
The renovation depends on FAA discretionary funding. Many airports covet those funds but no one can use them until they are authorized. Bell is hopeful authorization will come quickly so they can complete the renovation this year.
"We still want to get it done in 2008," Bell said.
If the funding is approved, the FAA will cover 95 percent of the project and the airport authority will cover five percent. Bell hopes the entire project is funded so they won't have to do it in two sections. If done at one time it will save from $40,000 to $50,000 in mobilization fees that are required to move crews to the work site.
The taxiway design is progressing in anticipation of receiving funds. The renovation includes a new taxiway, connecting taxiways, exit lights and lighted exit signs.
Another project associated with the taxiway renovation is the apron in front of the Fixed Base Operations building. The apron is not a part of the renovation but it is a priority as a next project.
The new taxiway will touch the FBO apron putting new concrete against old. The old could flake away bits of asphalt that could be sucked into a jet engine causing foreign object damage so the apron needs to be replaced, Bell said.
"We need to get that approved as soon as possible," Bell said.
Airports have to meet certain standards to get federal grants for projects. Some cattle pens at Pratt Feeders, that occupy one of three original runways at the airport, were accidentally built in the runway protection zone. In order to qualify for federal grants those pens have to be removed. There were seven pens and the removal is about half complete. The removal has to be completed by Feb. 1, Bell said.
Funding for the renovation isn't the only thing that is slow in coming at the airport.
The airport has received no response from the Kansas Aviation Museum or an entity in Colorado that had expressed interest in purchasing the rafters from a badly damaged World War II hangar.
The Kansas State Historical Society and the Kansas Department of Transportation will now advertise the rafters for sale. The 28 rafters are 160 feet long and are the only thing salvageable from the hangar that was part of the Pratt Army Airfield that was built in 1943 as the first training field for Army Air Corps pilots and crews for the new B-29 bombers.
If no bidders were found, Bell would consider giving the rafters away to anyone who would pay to remove them.
The hangar has suffered much structural damage over the past 65 years but has especially been hit hard by wind, one gust recorded at over 100 mph, in recent years.
All efforts to find an occupant for the building or get funds for restoration have been unsuccessful and the building has to be torn down for safety issues. Pieces of the building have blown off and pose a risk to aircraft and people.
Since the building has historical significance, it has to go through recordation documentation before it can be demolished. Three bids have been received and there is a big discrepancy between the high and low bids. One more bid is expected before the board can vote on the matter.
The documentation is very thorough. Once it is complete and the rafters are gone the demolition will take place.