Juneau airport warns of operational risk after ARFF truck failures; board seeks fast funding options
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Summary
Airport Manager Andres Delgado told a joint finance/airport board meeting that two ARFF trucks recently failed, leaving only one in service and creating an operational risk that could force an ARF 0 status. The airport outlined delivery timing for a new truck, federal grant complications and short-term funding options including using fleet reserves and PFC reimbursement.
Andres Delgado, airport manager for the City and Borough of Juneau, told a joint meeting of the Assembly Finance Committee and the airport board on Feb. 25 that the airport briefly lost two of its rescue-firefighting trucks and for a short period had only one operational unit.
"Without these trucks, we are not allowed to operate as an airport," Delgado said, describing what the airport calls an ARF 0 status that would prohibit air carrier service if no qualifying vehicles are available. Delgado said the airport currently relies on one permanently out-of-service truck (2003) and one surplus unit (1992), with two loaners from other municipalities filling gaps. Recent mechanical failures and parts shortages left only the Gustavus loaner in service.
The city purchased an ARFF vehicle with local funds after the FAA rescinded an AIP grant over procurement-method issues. Delgado said a new truck is scheduled off the assembly line in late April but will likely not be placed into service until June or early July after shipping, equipping and certification; the Gustavus loaner must return to Gustavus by May 1, creating a narrow exposure window.
Delgado and assembly members discussed short-term options to secure a second truck more quickly: forward-funding a used purchase through the airport fund, using sales-tax collections, or tapping the CBJ fleet reserve with the expectation of later PFC (passenger facility charge) reimbursement. Finance Director Angie Flick told the meeting the city could wire funds and issue a purchase order rapidly if due diligence is completed, though logistics and outfitting would add time before the vehicle could enter service.
Delgado said long lead times and strict FAA AIP grant programming can push replacement cycles far into the future: "they said, well, you can't really have 1 until 2031," he said of prior FAA guidance, underlining the need for local interim solutions. The airport also reviewed other budget items with the committee: runway and taxiway painting became federally eligible under the 2024 FAA reauthorization (a multi-year contract with about $1,000,000 for paint), the approach-lighting reconstruction is a multi-phase project projected in the tens of millions, and FAA cost-shares for equipment may cover 93.75% of some purchases.
Next steps: airport staff and CBJ finance will pursue options for forward funding and the assembly may be asked to approve an appropriation or ordinance to reimburse short-term fleet funds when PFC or other reimbursements arrive.