20 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER April 2022
Airport
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tify requests for state and federal money to extend the runway . The numbers from the previous process were based on estimates while the since-built air traffic control tower meant the state had access to more accurate data .
“ The result of that ( 2011 ) master planning process included a set of numbers that we now can see were significantly inflated when we look at the actual number of operations we got from the FAA ,” he said in an interview .
Miller further stated at the meeting that existing aircrafts based out of Aurora amounted to 281 in 2021 and the state projects that number to grow by somewhere between 13 and 114 aircrafts in the next 20 years . In recent years , the airport ’ s hangar capacity has increased 1.7 % annually . The future growth in airport activity may derive largely
from aircrafts that reside elsewhere , according to the paper .
“ We think that is ( the projected growth rate ) reasonable because of the ability of the airport to attract a wide range of general aviation activity , including transient aviation activity ,” Miller said .
Williams , for his part , noted that the previous master planning process had projected there to be 354 base operations at the airport . The aviation department conducted a much more thorough analysis to come up with the current 281 figure , according to Deputy Director Tony Beach .
Miller said that the mix of aircrafts at the airport would likely remain relatively the same in the coming decades . Of the 281 base aircraft , the study showed mostly single-engine aircrafts as well as 26 jets and 10 helicopters .
However , the state data further showed that the activity of B-1 or smaller ( less than 12,500 pounds ) categories of aircrafts have declined from 5,598 in 2018 to 2,498 in 2021 while the larger C
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and D aircrafts have increased from 5,080 to 5,592 during that same time period .
“ This may indicate that the activity at the Airport , previously driven by single-engine piston aircraft , is evolving toward an environment driven increasingly by larger aircraft such as multiengine piston , turboprops , and jets ,” the paper read . It added that the use of jet fuel has increased while aviation gasoline flowage has declined .
Williams surmised that the implementation of the air traffic control tower likely led to larger flights at the airport .
“ What it led to was more operations by larger aircrafts because it provided a quote unquote safer way to handle larger aircrafts at the Aurora Airport ,” he said .
Miller said that this planning process will also include an evaluation of the amount of aircraft operations that are considered to be constrained due to the current runway capacity . A 2019 study showed 645 constrained operations and further concluded that a runway extension of up to nearly 8,000 feet was justified based on Federal Aviation Administration methodology . Wilsonville City Councilor Charlotte Lehan hoped that the committee could dive deeper into the process for constrained operations at a future committee work session .
“ I can tell you the C-2 category of aircraft , the C-3 and D-3 , the larger gulf stream aircraft ( also the Boeing business jet ), they currently do operate in the airport . Whether they ’ re constrained depends on fuel load and temperatures . We will evaluate that . That will tie into evaluating runway length requirements ,” Miller said .
Wilsonville Mayor Julie Fitzgerald testified at the meeting about the traffic concerns the city has regarding the possibility of increased flights leading to more cars on local roads and I-5 . She also cited a possible impact to businesses and freight movement .
“ Here we have these very unimproved country roads approaching the airport . We want to keep supporting Oregon ’ s economy and schools by making sure businesses and residents can keep moving safely ,” she said .
One revelation of the meeting seemed to be a rare point of agreement between airport business advocates and Wilsonville and Charbonneau representatives . Tony Helbling with the airport business group Positive Aurora Airport Management said that he concurred with City Councilor Joann Linville that a noise study should be conducted to track the level of impact airplanes have on the surrounding community . Residents of that community on the south side of the Willamette River have complained that loud airplanes fly too close to their homes .
“ It is unusual for me to agree with a councilor from the city of Wilsonville ,” he said .
The scope of work for the project indicates that there will be seven advisory committee meetings and possibly two more if necessary .
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