CAA: GA News, "Colusa County, Calif., Supervisors Approve Land Purchase for Airport Runway"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Sunday, October 6, 2002

Colusa County, Calif., Supervisors Approve Land Purchase for Airport
Runway
The Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif.


A planned runway extension at Colusa County Airport moved ahead Tuesday
with the Board of Supervisors' approval of an application for a Federal
Aviation Administration grant to purchase 8.1 acres of land. 

Extending the 3,000-foot runway to Niagra Avenue is one of the
improvement projects in the county's 1998 Airport Master Plan. 

Harry Krug, director of airport operations, said the extension is a
safety precaution and that there have been no accidents attributed to
the current runway length and no complaints filed with the FAA. 

The extension will help keep it that way, Krug said. 

"It will provide an airport that can land aircraft safely, so in case of
an aborted takeoff or an extended landing, there will be an extra safety
margin," Krug said. 

The total project is estimated to cost $2.7 million 

The FAA grant will provide 90 percent, or $216,000, of the estimated
$241,000 needed to purchase the privately held land required for the
extension. The state will kick in 4.5 percent or $10,845, and the county
will pick up the remaining 5.5 percent or $13,255. 

Krug said additional grants will be needed to help cover the $190,000
needed to drain infields, $750,000 to realign Niagra Avenue, $50,000 for
environmental assessment, $250,000 for fencing and the $1.2 million
needed to complete work on the runway itself. 

The two owners of the 8.1 acres needed for the runway were approached in
1998 when the master plan was completed, and they are agreeable to
providing the land. 

John Murphy, who owns approximately 5 of the 8.1 acres, said Wednesday
that the runway extension will be "good for the industrial complex and
the community." His business, Western Ready Mix, is located on the land.


Ed Hulbert, general manager of Colusa Industrial Properties and speaking
for owner Lee Otterson, said that most likely, Otterson's 3 acres will
be donated for the project. 

At present, the airport houses five crop dusters, 22 single-engine
aircraft and two multiengine aircraft. Annual activity includes
approximately 30,000 takeoffs and landings by local and general aviation
aircraft, according to the master plan. By 2015, that activity is
estimated to increase by another 10,000 takeoffs and landings a year. 

Even with the runway extension, at 3,700 feet, the airstrip will not
accommodate a single-wheeled aircraft over 12,500 pounds or a dual-wheel
aircraft over 20,000 pounds. There are no plans to extend the strip
further. 

Some improvements of the terminal and airfield have already been
completed. The aircraft parking area has been increased and taxiways and
runways have been repaved. 

Bids from project consultants are due on Friday. After a selection is
made, the 8.1 acres will be surveyed and appraised before the property
owners are approached, Krug said.


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