HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-06-13 Town Council MinutesMINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
VAIL TOWN COUNCIL
13 JUNE 1977
A special meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Vail,
Colorado, was duly called and convened at 7:30 P.M. on Monday,
June 13, 1977, in the Vail Municipal Building Council Chambers.
Mayor John Dobson and the following councilmembers were present:
John Donovan
Rod Slifer
Bill Wilto
Bob Ruder
The Mayor explained that the special meeting had been called as
a public hearing for input regarding the proposed Avon STOLport.
He stated that the Town of Vail, Benchmark at:Beaver Creek,
Eagle -Vail, Eagle County School District RE50J, the Vail Resort
Association, and Vail Associates had jointly sent a letter to
the Federal Aviation Administration on May 25, 1977, requesting
Is answers to several areas of concern to the signors.- regarding
operating approval, instrument procedures, safety, air space,
airport use, and the environmental impact statement. He added
that a reply had been received from the FAA addressing those
concerns. He then introduced Mr. Gordon Autry of Rocky Mountain
Airlines to make a presentation to the public regarding RMA's
objectives.
Mr. Autry explained that since air service to Eagle had begun
in 1966 commuter airlines had been growing and that RMA expected
to be carrying 100,000 passengers a year between Denver and
Aspen and 50,000 a year between Denver and Steamboat Springs.
He stated that RMA will continue to use the DH6 Twin Otter
aircraft for awhile after it begins service to the Avon STOLport,
but will change to the deHavilland Dash-7 in 1978 or 1979. He
added that the Dash-7 aircraft will carry 50 passengers and
will replace the equivalent of 350,000 automobile trips between
Denver and Vail per year. He felt the environmental impact report,
when finished, would be positive, and he asked for public support.
Mr. Autry then showed a promotional slide presentation for the
Dash-7. He stated that as far as pollution is concerned, the
Dash-7 would be 52 times cleaner per passenger than the automobile.
He extolled the Dash-7 as the "quietest aircraft in the world
today". He finished his presentation with a short film and
stated that the Avon airport had 4300 feet of runway length with
800 feet of overrun, an increased safety factor.
The Mayor then asked for other prepared statements from the floor.
There were none, so Mr. Autry invited questions regarding his
presentation. In response to a question from Councilman Wilto,
Mr. Autry stated that the Dash-7 would be placed in use first at
Aspen and second at Avon and would eventually be used as .the
only aircraft at Avon. In response to a question from Lou Parker,
Mr. Autry stated that RMA envisioned 12 flights per day between
Denver and Avon, amounting to about 180,000 passengers per year.
Mr. Oran Palmateer asked whether RMA anticipated any night flights
to Avon, and Mr. Autry's reply was yes, with the new precision
guidance system to be incorporated at Avon, but that night flights
would probably stop at 10:00 P.M. He added that the instrument
landing procedure had been approved by the FAA but had not been
flight check as yet. Councilman Donovan asked for comment
regarding the economic impacts on Eagle if the STOLport is located
at Avon. Mr. Autry stated that a similar situation existed at
Steamboat Springs, when RMA began sending flights into Steamboat
Springs, bypassing the airport at nearby Hayden. He added that
Minutes/Special meeting
13 June 1977
Page Two
both airports were now prospering. He then stated that in the
ten years Rocky Mountain Airways has been serving Eagle it has
consistently lost money, since most passengers from Denver are
headed to Vail, and it is not economically practical to overfly
the destination. He stated that as Adam's Rib and other Eagle
County proposed ski areas are built, flights to Eagle will still
be required, and that RMA does not plan to stop flights into
Eagle. In fact, he stated, RMA plans to continue the same
number of flights into Eagle since they cannot withdraw service
legally without hearings. Councilman Donovan then asked for
comment regarding noise, safety and pollution levels to be
expected. Mr. Autry responded that there would be no compromises
on safety regulations and that representatives of the FAA would
attend the June 15 hearing before the Eagle County Planning
Commission specifically to address safety. Mr. Merrill Hastings
of the Eagle County Airport Authority asked if air rights had
been obtained as yet. Mr. Autry explained that the landowner
has noise and safety rights and is working with Benchmark to
protect that development's rights, and will obtain air rights.
He added that no aircraft except Rocky Mountain Airways and
Nottingham private aircraft would use the STOLport. Mr. Hastings
asked if RMA envisioned any competition. Mr. Autry stated that
• RMA was investing too much money into Avon to encourage competition,
and that RMA has monopoly rights as a public utility, regulated
under Colorado monopoly law. In response to a question from
Councilman Slifer, Mr. Autry stated that all take -offs and
landings must be to the West, that the instrumentation was not
set up to allow approaches and take -offs to the East. He added
that fare between Denver and Avon would be less than between
Denver and Eagle since it involved a shorter distance and that
transportation between Avon and Vail would be by limousine.
Mr. Bob Parker of Vail Associates, then expressed VA's support
of the proposed STOLport as an economic boost to the Vail
business community. He stated that Rocky Mountain Airways was
making an attempt to serve Vail better, eliminating a number of
automobiles in the area at the same time. He urged the Town
Council to support the STOLport publicly at the Eagle County
Planning Commission hearing on June 15.
In response to a question from the floor, Mr. Autry stated that
freight service would be scheduled for the future at rates
comparable or lower than surface transportation. In response
to another question;regarding the possible loss of $90,000 in
federal funds to Eagle as a commuter destination, Mr. Autry
stated that Eagle will continue to be qualified for those funds
and that a possible loss of funding was misinformation. He
added Rocky Mountain Airways'willingness to help secure those
funds.
There were no further comments from the floor or from Mr. Autry
or from the Council. Councilman Donovan then proposed that the
Council discuss the proposal at its work session on June 14 and
then relay its opinion to the Eagle County Planning Commission
at the June 15 hearing.
Mr. Autry thanked the Council and the public, and Mayor Dobson
invited any further comments to the June 14 work session.
With no further business, the special hearing was adjourned
at 9:30 P.M.
a r
ATTES;j:
Town Clerk
3 .
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
/ FEDERAL AVIAT.ON ADMINISTURON
f ROW MOUNT" REGION
f .a.w., cua.w �oow
jutI 10 i777 '
S
.".a. John Donovan
Co,mcilnan, Town a£ Vail
P. 0. Box 100
Vail, Colorado 81657
Dear Ns. Donovan:
The correspondence regarding the Avon, Colorado, STOL airport contains
=ero'as q estions regazddiug aircraft operations at this location.
The follo:.ina is mix res-ponse to the individual items.
o-?rati-r A=crawl
Route :wuntain Airways was issued approval and operating speoi£i-
cationa for daytime Visual viigat Rules into the Avon STOLport on
April 22, 19/7G
pcc`y •".w y a �ainAirey :s plans to install a precision microwave laadi.ng
system SYAUR) to assist in the safety of their STOL eiroxaft operation,
La_ndir3s and takeoffs w411 be to the meat at all timea. sollowiug the
certification of the gro=d TALAR navigational aid, appropriate instra-
seat F14: rile aathorizatian will be issued to Roary Yountain Airways.
Federal Aviation. Administration operation$ inspectors will certify,
irStially and pericdicmll;/, pilots and aircraft involved in the Avon
activity.
Wety of Oreration
'D=atim specifications ars required by reEvlaticn. They contain
authorizations pe rt-fnent to each situation, including the cstegozg
and class of aircraft, the condition of operations end the area or
operations. The iss'.,nce of operating Gpecifications indicates that
tte Fe feral Ayiaticn Adrinistration believes Rocqr Vlw=tain Aizr aya
can me:t reg lato%- standards of operational safety without coWpro-
misint the safety and welfare of the citizens in the areas adjacent to
the S;OLpert.
S010ol Site
All Rcdky .fountain aircraft :rill utilize the precise guidance provided
by the =41I microwave lending system. The projected flight path will
be north of the school, ewer l~ higaway complex and at an altitude of
apptoximately 11001 above the school site. S^us operation should offer
no adverse safety aspects to ooevpents of the school.
.0
2
ASrGpaca
A pubiia notice was issued for comments by interested parties regardin3
the proposed Avon STOLport. Rsaponses received by the ?-Q resulted in
the determination'that the proposed airport would not adversely affect
the safe and efficient utilization of airspzce by aircraft.
Airoorrt Use
Avon STOLport,is designated a private airport. As s'aoh, we will be
restricted to the owner, Nottineim Ranch Co., and other perties
authorized by the owcer,.pres-.;mabiy including Rock`? Mountain Airways.
7vironments Statement
ddno t;cvimnman al I,^.paat Report on the Avon STOL Airport has been prepexed
by the consultant' firm, Architects/Digireera West, Tnco -,crated, row
Rocky Mountain Airways. We find that this document is reas=a:hly ca,�xre-
hensive and should be suitable to support a negative declaration.
It is requested that you relay this inforcatioa to :% Other sigamtcries
involved in your original correspondence. We bank you for your interest .
in the Won activity and if additional inZQ="ation is desired, please
contact us.
Sincerely,
r,
Ii. M. A:ARTIN
Director
S
I
MAILED: MAY 27. 1977
May 25. 1977
Mr. Marvin M. Martin
Director, Rocky Fountain Region
Federal Aviation Administration
I0455 E. 25th Avenue
Aurora, Colorado 80010
Re: Avon, Colorado
STOL Airport
Dear Mr. Partin:
As concerned citizens of the upper Eagle Valley', the undersigned
would like very ::uch to ask several questions of the F.A.A. with regard
to the proposed Avon STOLport. As you no doubt know, there has been con-
siderable local controversy over this project, and since we will be di-
rectly effected by the project, would like to have the following questions
ansoered insofar as the F.A.A. can respond.
Ooeratinq Approval:
Is it tree that Rocky Mountain Airways was issued approval and
operating specifications for daytime. Visual Flight Rules operations into
the Avon STOLport when such use is approved by Eagle County?
Instrument Procedures:
Does Pocky Fountain Airways also have approval for instrument proce-
dures into Avon pending installation of the.requisite equipment and commence-
ment of caaraercial operations?
Safety of Ooeration:
Does the F.A.A.'s issuance of operating approval indicate that the
F.A.A. believes Rocky Mountain Airways can meet all requisite standards of
operational safety without compromising the safety and welfare of the citizens
in the areas adjacent to the STOLport?
School Site:
Does the F_A.A.'s operating approval indicate the F.A.A. does not be-
lieve that the presence of a STOLport in the vicinity of a public school
presents a significant hazard to the occupants of that school?
continued...
Mr. Marvin M. Martin
Federal Aviation Adninistration
May 25, 1977
Page Two
Air Space:
Does the existence of the Avon MI -port present an unreasonable hazard
to the safe and orderly utilization by commercial or general aviation of the
air space corridor in the general area of Vail -Avon -Eagle?
Airport Use:
Is it the understanding of the F.A.A. that the Avon STOLport will be
restricted solely to .the private -use of.the owner, Mr. Nottingham, Rocky
Mountain Airways and the necessary official and eaergancy aircraft, and will
not be open to general aviation use?
Environmental Statement:
Has an Environmental Impact Statement on the Avon STOLport been filed,
and what are the general findings of that statement?
If you are in a position to answer any or all of the above questions.
it would greatly assist the undersigned in our assessment of the safety and
Viability of this project.
Sincerely, Q
EPICHI-INRK AT B AVER CREEK J / TC:;:i GF VAU
By C J By,
EAGLE-VAfC lniu R:Su iT r
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B
&LE COUNTY RE5Od CHOOL BOARD VAIL ASSOCIATES, INC.