The Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission sets informational meeting June 12

By Karla Wennerstrom

Have you been wondering what is set to be built at Flying Cloud Airport this summer? Are you concerned about the future of the reliever airport?

The Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission has planned an informational meeting for 7-9 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at Hennepin Technical College, 13100 College View Drive.

Plans for Flying Cloud Airport “include extending the east-west runways and developing a new aircraft hangar area on the south side of the airport,” according to the Metropolitan Airports Commission’s Web site.

“I think you could possibly see dirt moving in July,” said Commission Chair Rick King. “Our view was that we needed to … let people know what was going on.”

The meeting is being held jointly with the Metropolitan Airports Commission.

Expected to be discussed will be the recent Record of Decision by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA has issued a decision on the Environmental Impact Statement regarding improvements planned at Flying Cloud. “This is an important decision because it marks the final pre-project authorization required by the FAA for the projects at Flying Cloud to proceed,” wrote City Manager Scott Neal in a recent blog entry.

What does that decision mean for Eden Prairie?

“It basically means a 1,100-foot extension to the main parallel runway, in 2009,” said Joe Harris, manager of Flying Cloud Airport, in an e-mail. “The total runway length after construction will be 5,000, same as the longest runway at ANE [Anoka]. The record of decision also clears the path for the construction of a new 40-ish acre hangar building area. However, there are funding obstacles with this project. No date has been set to proceed with the building area. We’re in need of private partnerships to begin this development. If MAC secures private financial partnerships, the building area work could begin in late ’09.”

The decision is set to be posted on the FAA Web site for public comment, King said.

This summer’s plans include extension of the shorter runway and adding city sewer and water at the airport along Pioneer Trail.

A question-and-answer period is planned.

King said the purpose of the meeting is to let people, especially those who live near the airport, know what is going on with the proposed expansion.

Harris, of MAC, manager of the airport, and Bridget Rief, assistant director of airport development for MAC, are scheduled to speak, King said. Another MAC representative, Chad Leqve, is set to discuss the noise monitoring program at Flying Cloud.

Homeowners within a one-mile radius of the airport were to get a direct mail notice of the meeting, King said.

King said that there are misconceptions in the community about the type of aircraft that will land at Flying Cloud after expansion. He questioned the idea that the airport doesn’t contribute to economic development in the city. He said people also think noise monitoring and reporting isn’t looked at seriously.

He said this is an opportunity for residents to get information directly from the source.

 “The city and the airport must live together,” Neal wrote. “It’s not always easy. The city will continue to work closely with MAC on their airport development plans to make sure the projects comply with our city regulations, and to make sure that our residents’ concerns are addressed in the future.”

For more information, visit www.edenprairie.org.

If you go

What: Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission info meeting

When: 7-9 p.m. Thursday, June 12

Where: Hennepin Technical College, 13100 College View Drive