February 3, 2004
BY BILL DEAVER
NEW RUNWAY - Action by the EKAD board could move-up a project to extend the airport's main runway to 12,000 feet by one year, District General Manager Stuart Witt said at Tuesday's EKAD board meeting.
The Federal Aviation administration has offered to move the project from the 2006 fiscal year to the 2005 year, which begins October 1, if the district can complete an environmental assessment by April. Extending the runaway would allow just about any airplane flying to use the airport fully-loaded.
EKAD board members authorized spending up to $38,000 for preparation of the report, which will use data from the environmental impact report completed by the FAA for the district's spaceport application. Witt said the district will be reimbursed by the FAA for all but $1,900 of the study.
He said completion of the project and several others to improve airport facilities could be completed several years ahead of schedule.
NASA MOVE? - Witt reported that a decision being reviewed by NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe could result in Airborne Sciences operations at NASA-Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards being moved to Mojave Airport.
CREDIT CHECKS - EKAD board members unanimously approved a policy to allow district staff to require credit checks on all new tenants at the airport and on existing tenants who get more than 60 days behind in their rent. The policy is already in effect for fuel customers and his been successful, Witt said.
Witt and Jaworksi said the district needs to know if tenants, even those that have been on the airport for many years, are disposing of assets that could be used to offset money owed the district.
LIVING-IN? - Witt told the board he will develop a proposed policy to deal with people who may choose to live in hangars on the airport. He distinguished between personnel of Hall Ambulance, Mercy Air, and, if required, the district's crash-rescue firefighters, whose duties require them to spend the night at the airport.
It would also not include someone who worked late on a project and
decided to take a nap, nor someone preparing for a round-the-world flight
who wanted to spend several days in the aircraft or balloon built for the
mission to prepare for the project. Witt will report back to the board
which will make the final decision.
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