ARC 9.14.16 Joint Meeting MinutesCITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
September 14, 2016
A joint meeting of the Airport Relations Commissions of the Cities of Eagan, and Mendota
Heights was held in the City Council Chambers of Eagan City Hall on Wednesday, September
14, 2016.
Call to Order
Eagan ARC Chair Chuck Thorkelson called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
Eagan Commissioners present were:
Mendota Heights commissioners present were: David Sloan, William Dunn, Arvind Sharma,
Kevin Byrnes, Jim Neuharth, and Gina Norling. Commissioner Sally Lorberbaum was absent
(excused).
Also present were Mendota Heights City Councilor Liz Petschel, and NOC Alternate
Representative Jill Smith.
Also present: MAC Staff Brian Ryks, Chad Leqve, Dana Wall, and Brad Juffer; also, Eagan
Assistant City Administrator Dianne Miller, and Mendota Heights City Administrator Mark
McNeill
Presentations:
Executive Director and MAC CEO Brian Ryks was introduced. He said that he was a native of
the Twin Cities, and had worked previously in airports in Denver; Aberdeen, South Dakota; St.
Cloud; Duluth; and Grand Rapids, Michigan, before accepting the job at MSP earlier this year.
He reviewed operations numbers, destinations, and recent and planned improvements at MSP.
He presented information regarding noise abatement programs, RNAV, and issues relating to
Converging Runway Operations.
Assistant Manager of Noise, Environment, and Planning Brads Juffers presented information on
Stage 5 aircraft. He reviewed improvements in technology resulting in reductions of aircraft
noise, since the FAA started monitoring noise levels in 1969. He said that the FAA is trying to
get its standards to be consistent with international standards.
He showed examples of Stage 1 through Stage 5 aircraft, and noted that current engines are
much larger in diameter than earlier, noisier versions. A video was viewed.
Questions were asked by Ms. Petschel regarding Delta and American Airlines phasing out
MD80’s (A: American is now down to 50 total in its fleet); by Ms. Smith regarding where the
quieter planes are being flown (A: The concentration will be on international routes, not as
much domestically); and by Mr.Thorkelson regarding the impact of phasing out MD80’s on the
airport’s noise footprint (A: It will result in a reduction).
Ms. Miller reviewed a draft resolution which would be considered by the Noise Oversight
Committee at its next meeting. It requests the FAA to perform an environmental review and
documentation of existing and future impacts to noise and airport capacity from non-intersecting
converging runway operations at MSP. She noted that such an EAW would take between twelve
to twenty four months to perform. Ryks stated that the FAA is trying to get operations back to
pre-CRO levels, but it is still in the testing mode right now.
Regarding activities by each of the cities, Mr. Sloan stated that a major focus of the Mendota
Heights ARC related to fine tuning an analysis of turbo prop aircraft, which has been generating
complaints from early morning departures over that city. This issue had been raised at an Open
House which had been held in March.
Mr. Thorkelson stated than Eagan has created two committees—one to study Stage 5 aircraft,
and the other to examine Next generation aircraft. He said that their ARC’s goal is to educate
and communicate regarding new aircraft technologies, and what those mean for safety and
efficiencies. Ms. Miller stated that a two minute video on social media would receive 40
thousand views in a week. Eagan also spoke about its Open House.
Adjourn
There being no further business, Mr. Thorkelson meeting adjourned at 8:23 PM
Minutes Taken By:
Mark McNeill,
Mendota Heights City Administrator