Kootenai County airport readies taxiway reopening, wins $570,000 LED lighting grant and prepares for weekend air show

Kootenai County Airport Director Gaston Patterson told the Kootenai County Board of County Commissioners on June 24 that construction on the airport's Taxiway Charlie has finished and the county plans to reopen the main runway the next day once final striping is complete.

"We plan on opening tomorrow at 7 7PM, once they finish the final striping," Kootenai County Airport Director Gaston Patterson said during the board's airport update. He told the commissioners — Eberline, Duncan and Metari — the taxiway project proceeded ahead of schedule and that the reopening is important for firefighting operations as the county approaches fire season.

The airport director said the project installed a full parallel taxiway along the south side of Runway 6 and that paving and related work went "fantastic," with the FAA able to repair approach lighting while the runway was closed. Patterson said the runway had been closed for "about 15 days" and that the contractor performed well.

Patterson gave an update on air traffic control and community noise mitigation. He said the airport is experimenting with tower procedures to reduce overflight of neighborhoods and the Avondale Golf Course area. He described changing final approach paths to keep aircraft higher over Hayden and the lake and said complaints have dropped sharply: "This time, in the month of May, we received close to 8, complaints. This last May, we received 1, and we haven't received 1, so far, in June." Patterson attributed some recent calls to atypical flight patterns while the runway was closed.

On operations and revenue, Patterson said the airport is entering its busy season and reported an increase in fuel sales compared with last year: "As of last month, we've flowed 25,000 gallons more than the previous year." He said landing fees and fuel flow numbers are up and that the airport is projecting a strong revenue season.

Patterson announced the airport received a supplemental grant from the Idaho State Department of Aeronautics for $570,000 to replace lighting and precision approach path indicators (PAPIs) on the smaller runway. He said the award is "100%, 0 match," and that the county expects to present final paperwork for grant acceptance to the board in the next week or so. Patterson said the work would replace old incandescent fixtures, associated conductors and transformers, and that construction could occur in winter or next spring depending on scheduling once equipment is ordered.

Patterson also reviewed an advisory-board action: members formed a development committee to review airport development, incoming commercial businesses, and new hangar construction. He said the subcommittee will bring recommendations back to the advisory board and the county commission.

The director described preparations for a weekend air show hosted at the airport but not run by the county. Patterson said the airport is facilitating the event and providing emergency services. He said agencies including the sheriff's office and local fire departments are cooperating. The airport will enforce a temporary flight restriction (TFR) — a four-mile radius during the display — and noted there will be a practice session on Friday and the public show on Saturday. Patterson gave event logistics: gates 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., FAA waiver period for aerial performances 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and tickets available through Coeur d'Alene Aviation's website, Facebook or at the gate; he also said children under 12 enter free.

Patterson listed featured aircraft expected at the show, including a P-51 Mustang and a F4U Corsair doing aerobatics from a private collection, a Naval F/A-18 (Growler) coming to the airport for static display from Whidbey, and additional sport and aerobatic aircraft. He cautioned that the airport layout limits aerobatic profiles for turbine aircraft to flat passes and that some performances will be limited by FAA waivers and the air boss.

No formal board action or votes were recorded during the update; Patterson said staff would return with paperwork for the state lighting grant and that airport staff would continue coordinating the air show with public-safety partners.

Members of the board in attendance were listed at the start of the meeting as Commissioners Eberline, Duncan and Metari.