ARC Minutes 3.9.16CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS
DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA
AIRPORT RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
March 9, 2016
An Open House sponsored by the Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission was held on
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 in the City Council Chambers at Mendota Heights City Hall.
Chair David Sloan called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.
The following commissioners were present: David Sloan, Sally Lorberbaum, William Dunn,
Arvind Sharma, Gina Norling, Jim Neuharth, and Kevin Byrnes. Also present was Mendota
Heights NOC Alternate Jill Smith, and City Councilor Liz Petschel.
Staff present: City Administrator Mark McNeill, Public Works Director John Mazzitello
Chair Sloan welcomed the residents and guests from the airport community to the meeting. He
introduced Elaine Buckner from the FAA, and Dana Nelson and Chad Leqve of MAC.
Each of the Commissioners introduced themselves, and stated how long that they had been on
the Airport Relations Commission, and what their duties are for the ARC.
Speakers for the evening were introduced. Dana Nelson discussed the MAC and its
responsibilities, noting that it does not control aircraft operations. However, it does have
responsibility for noise issues emanating from the airport.
Elaine Buckner discussed the FAA, and what it does regarding the controlling of air operations
in and around MSP. She noted that the airport had over 400,000 aircraft operations (landings or
departures) annually.
Ms. Buckner and Ms. Nelson addressed the following questions which had been submitted in
advance:
1. Noise has never been this bad. What is going on?
2. Why are there so many flights departing north of TH 110?
3. When did night time get so busy?
4. Is Mendota Heights getting more flights over it because Minneapolis uses the Star
Tribune to complain?
5. Why isn’t the FAA using runway 12R more for departures, so that Mendota Heights can
get relief?
6. What is the converging runway operation, and how does that impact Mendota Heights?
Chad Leqve of MAC discussed the economic impact of MSP on the Twin Cities region, and
outlined development plans for the airport, including additional gates for Terminals 1 and 2, an
additional 5000 parking spaces, a new hotel on the airport, and revisions to roadways.
Following the presentations, the floor was opened to questions from the audience. These
included:
1. What percentage of flights deviate early due to pilot request, and their desire to get to
their destination faster? Answer: Most of the deviations were due to weather-related
events—either to avoid thunderstorm cells, or because strong winds aloft were blowing
the planes out of the designated corridor.
2. What recourse is there for military or propeller planes who deviate from the designated
corridor? Answer: As long as they are propeller-driven, cargo planes don’t have to
comply with noise requirements. It was also stated that propeller aircraft will leave the
corridor early, so as to get out of the way of jet-aircraft.
3. Is there any recourse to flights from an early morning air freight carrier (Bemidji Air)
which seems to be getting earlier and earlier—several comments were made that 4:30 to
5:15 AM was not uncommon. Answer: MAC staff stated that the Noise Oversight
Committee could look at turbo-prop operations as part of its annual plan.
4. Could slower moving planes be rescheduled? Answer: The FAA needs to balance
safety, with the efficiency of business running the operation.
5. A Friendly Hills resident asked how much latitude the FAA had in moving planes to the
center or south of the corridor, and if planes could get higher earlier? Answer: The pilot
makes the determination as to altitude gain; it will vary by weather and the type of plan.
Staying in the corridor is a safety concern.
Commissioner Nordling stated that 12 L is used more than 12R. She asked if MAC would
consider delaying the turns over the residential portion of Mendota Heights so that air traffic
would stay west of TH55, and over the Mendota Heights Industrial area. MAC Staff said that
that was a request that the Mendota Heights ARC could make of the Noise oversight Committee.
There was a complaint stated about helicopter traffic along the river.
Adjourn
Neuharth made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Lorberbaum at 8:47 PM. All voted in favor.
Minutes Taken By:
Mark McNeill,
City Administrator