"Sacramento County, Calif., Faces Decision on Runway Extension"

Wednesday, August 20, 2003

Sacramento County, Calif., Faces Decision on Runway Extension
The Sacramento (CA) Bee


Sacramento County supervisors today will consider extending a second runway
at Mather Airport, a decision that both critics and proponents see as
crucial to the future of the former Air Force base and thousands of new
homes in the area.

The county Airports Department has recommended the extension as part of a
master plan being developed to guide the airport's growth for the next 20
years.

"We want to look at what's the best way to pursue development of the
property that is complementary and supportive of the airport," said Robert
Leonard, assistant airports director.

County officials have expressed hope that the document will provide an
overview that balances the needs of commerce and economic vitality with
those of area residents. But compromise likely will prove difficult as the
factions see the airport's future in very different terms.

For residents of Folsom, El Dorado Hills and Cameron Park, even extending a
backup runway will attract more planes to Mather and increase the noise for
those living under the flight paths.

For county airport systems employees and businesses that depend on the air
cargo hub, a longer runway simply will provide a backup landing strip when
the airport's main runway is not available.

By the end of the meeting, the supervisors will be asked to approve
lengthening Mather's north or proposed backup runway.

Bill Bryant of Folsom fears that such an approval would be the first step
toward Mather's growth and inevitably would lead to increased noise for
residents living under the existing main eastern arrival flight path.

"It will be available for additional flights should such a time exist when
it is needed," Bryant said.

Bryant's fear is an illustration of how carefully the supervisors will need
to balance the concerns for the quality of life in nearby growing
communities with the progression of the air cargo industry.

The master plan study has been under way for more than a year now,
proceeding with recommendations from an advisory group and feedback from
community meeting presentations.

The airport's main runway -- 11,300 feet -- is one of the region's longest
and able to accommodate the cargo planes. However, if the main runway closes
because of an accident, routine maintenance or construction, the airport now
must shut down and divert arriving plans to Sacramento International
Airport.

At 6,040 feet, Mather's north runway is a stub, too short to accommodate the
planes that use the airport.

If the north runway is extended, Leonard said, "it won't be used on a
regular basis."

The proposed plan would extend the runway to 7,200 feet but have the
potential to lengthen it to 8,500 feet, he said.

Estimates of the extension's cost range from $16 million to $30 million but
would be paid through grants and the airport enterprise fund -- money
generated at the airports for the airports.

Proponents see the proposed runway extension as a critical measure for
keeping the economy of Mather and the county growing, while opponents view
it as another step toward becoming a major West Coast air cargo hub.

Mike Gallagher, a regional jet pilot, said the runway is necessary for air
cargo carriers to meet their delivery guarantees for thousands of packages a
day.

"A lot of people are forgetting the importance of Mather to the overall
Sacramento system of airports," he said. "What Mather represents is millions
and millions of dollars."

UPS, one of the businesses that uses Mather and has offices there, has said
the second runway is needed during emergencies.

"To us, it doesn't justify additional flights," said Kevin Hoffmann, a
property representative with UPS, based in Louisville, Ky. "It's just a
contingency. We would be willing to support restrictions on that runway ...
during the times that the main runway is available."

But Folsom Councilman Kerri Howell doubts other businesses would adhere to
the restrictions.

"That just means the new businesses would use the second runway," she said.
"Financially, it's in the county's best interest to see an increase in air
traffic at Mather, but we don't want that to happen."

Glen Otey of Folsom doesn't see Mather as the proper location for an air
cargo hub.

More planes would fly over homes, and all the noise mitigation efforts
planned wouldn't lessen the roar heard overhead as the additional planes
landed, he said.

"I think this would be a giant step backwards," he said.

Under the county's most aggressive scenario for Mather, the number of large
air cargo planes making daily departures would jump from eight to 10 per day
to 21 per day by 2020, Leonard said.

"These aren't big numbers," he said.

The proposed master plan includes a few recent suggestions from the Mather
Overflight Noise Group, including further study of the noise impacts in
Folsom, El Dorado County and Silver Springs and creating a land easement to
protect planes' departure corridor south of Mather from incompatible
development.

A draft master plan is expected to come before county supervisors in
November.


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