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2008-05-19 Airport Relations Commission Minutes2008-05-19 Airport Relations Commission Minutes.txt[1/25/2018 4:04:23 PM] CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES May 19, 2008 The Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission met at City Hall to drive together to the MSP Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) for a 4:30 p.m. tour conducted by ATCT Operations Manager Carl Rydeen and MAC Aviation Noise Manager Chad Leqve. The following Commissioners were present: Liz Petschel, Chair; Robin Ehrlich, Vice Chair; Bill Dunn and Ken Reed, Commissioners; and Sandra Krebsbach, Council Member. Also present: Jim Danielson, City Administrator; Jake Sedlacek, Assistant to the City Administrator; Ellsworth Stein, former ARC member; and Mary Heintz, Recorder. Approval of Minutes It was Commission consensus to table approval of the April 9, 2008, ARC meeting minutes to the next regular ARC meeting. Acknowledge Receipt of Various Reports/Correspondence A. March 2008 ANOM Technical Advisor’s Report B. March 2008 ANOM Eagan/Mendota Heights Departure Corridor Analysis C. Guy Heide letter D. Airport Noise Report, April 4, 2008 E. Airport Noise Report, April 11, 2008 F. Airport Noise Report, April 18, 2008 G. Airport Noise Report, April 25, 2008 H. Airport Noise Report, May 2, 2008 I. Airport Noise Report, May 9, 2008 MSP Air Traffic Control Tower Meeting and Tour The ARC met with Mssrs. Rydeen and Leqve and other tower representatives in the tower meeting room before the tour. At the meeting, Mr. Rydeen displayed a speeded-up simulation of actual flights departing and arriving at MSP that showed crossing traffic to reach runway 17. Mr. Rydeen cited factors that determine runway choice and said controllers do not differentiate between 12L and 12R. Mr. Leqve noted that flight impact has been decreased due to fleet mix (decreased DC9s and increased CRJs) and lower-than-anticipated flights. Mr. Rydeen stated that MSP ATCT procedures are driven by safety and efficiency/noise abatement. Minutes of Meeting and Tour – May 19, 2008 Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission 2 Council Member Krebsbach asked when the RNAV would be put into use. Mr. Rydeen quoted September 24 but said only 65% of aircraft will be compatible at that time. He briefly described the system (which takes the place of heading navigation) and said it will increase potential for aircraft to be more precise and efficient and provide a predictable track. The goal is to work with Northwest in creating and publishing procedures for the new system and then coordinate them between the tower and pilots. Mr. Rydeen said that he would like to utilize the system for daytime as well as initial nighttime use. Council Member Krebsbach commented on inequitable use of the two 12s. Mr. Rydeen 2008-05-19 Airport Relations Commission Minutes.txt[1/25/2018 4:04:23 PM] reported that 12L night-time 2007 annualized flights were forecasted at 14.1% and came in at 19.5%. He reiterated that runway choice is determined according to efficiency and safety and said the biggest issue is runway incursion. Discussed ensued. Mr. Leqve, responding to a question about the possible Northwest Airlines-Delta merger, stated that growth opportunities are anticipated at MSP and Detroit for international destinations and gates. Mr. Rydeen addressed questions submitted in advance by ARC concerning out-of-corridor excursions (does not believe it is pilot error), wheels down (seeks standardization), RUS update, crossing the corridor update, runway selection (determined by ground controller according to destination, adding that separation occurs on the ground), radio recording of pilot-tower conversations (doesn’t want the pilot to be a controller or noise expert; if a problem or anomaly is identified, for instance, by Mendota Heights and it can be fixed, he will do something about it if he is able; and Chair Petschel commented that she is interested more in trends versus individual occurrences), and conformance to FEIS. Responding to a question posed at the meeting, he reported that MSP ATCT is fully staffed and many new employees coming in are very highly qualified after completing their training at the North Dakota facility. The group then took a tour of the control tour and radar room. Adjourn The tour was completed at 6:30 p.m. and the group returned to City Hall. Upcoming Meetings • MAC Meeting – May 19, 2008 – 1:00 p.m. • City Council Meeting – May 20, 2008 – 7:30 p.m. • NOC Meeting – May 21, 2008 – 1:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Mary Heintz TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.