Dayton International Airport (DAY/KDAY), OH, USA

Dayton International Airport is located in the US state of Ohio in the Miami Valley Regional Area. It is the subject of a complex expansion plan which would see the expansion of several of its runways, the construction of a new Air Traffic Control Tower and TRACON facility, a cargo hub expansion, the construction of an air cargo access road, the rerouting of a highway, and the acquisition of areas of land around the airport.

The airport expansion plans are currently under an FAA airspace review of the 2005 Revised Future Airport Layout plans for the airport. Dayton airport is proposing a $1.2 billion expansion that calls for the purchase of 1,100 acres of rural land near the airport, an extensive system of new roads around the airport and the lengthening of runways.

The plan has been split into three separate phases to run consecutively during the 20-year timescale of the project. The plans will enhance and extend the current runway facilities at the airport to develop a more efficient facility. The Dayton International Airport Master Plan was first put forward in May 1998. Since that time there have been many submissions to the FAA and many revisions to the plan.

DAYTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PHASE ONE

The proposals for phase one include the extension of Runway 6R south by 4,400ft and the shortening of Runway 24L by 400ft for an ultimate runway length of 11,000ft. Also, a new Air Traffic Control Tower and TRACON facility will be constructed.

Phase one proposals also encompass the re-routing of US 40 (National Road) around the Runway 6R extension, and the relocation and realignment of the Old Springfield Road parallel to Runway 6L.

The Runway 6R extension project is the most vital part of the plan. This should be implemented immediately to provide the short-term airport capacity improvements that are badly needed.

Officials for the City of Vandalia, which would be one of the communities affected by this phase of the expansion, say that the expansion of the airport is not necessary until 2015. Vandalia is not against the expansion but would like it scaled back so that it does not infringe upon their lives so much. Since the expansion as it stands would require the rerouting of a major road (US Route 40) to make way for a runway extension and also the acquisition of land from some of the residents there is expected to be significant opposition from them.

VANDALIA OPPOSITION

The residents of Vandalia want the expansion to be environmentally responsible and sensitive to its neighbours. According to them, so far Dayton has only looked at the expansion in terms of economic development.

An early study on the expansion conducted by Geospec, an engineering and environmental geophysics firm in Baton Rouge, LA, called the expansion plans overly ambitious and disruptive. The study shows that extensions into US 40 are unnecessary because installing runways parallel with existing ones would reduce noise and be less disruptive than the current Dayton plan.

DAYTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PHASE TWO

The proposals for phase two include the extension of Runway-36 by 4,300ft and the shortening of Runway 36 by 3,300ft for an ultimate runway length of 9,500ft. There would also be a re-routing of the Ginghamsburg-Frederick Road around the Runway 18 extension.

The plans also include a cargo hub expansion, the construction of an air cargo access road west of Runway 6L-24R, and the acquisition of land to the north of the airport.

DAYTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PHASE THREE

The phase three proposals include the construction of a new third parallel Runway 6-24 at a length of 11,000ft with 6,000ft lateral separation from the existing Runway 6L-24R. There are also plans for the acquisition of land to the west of the airport.

DAYTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT EXPANSION PLAN

The proposed expansion of the Dayton Airport is in response to the strong economic growth in the Miami Valley economy and the growth of the air carrier and cargo markets. The proposed expansion will enhance airfield and ground transportation capacity and meet the forecast projection for passenger and cargo operations.

Emery Worldwide, one of the biggest cargo companies at the airport, wants to expand its air-cargo operations over the next 20 years to more than double the size of its local 4,200-person work force and double the number of daily flights to 200.

There is some local opposition to this as local residents think the noise would be too much. Emery Worldwide is sympathetic and hopes that the plan would lessen the impact of noise on neighbouring residents and has also said that their next generation of cargo planes will have quieter engines.

LONG-RANGE FORECASTS OF TRAFFIC AT DAYTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Passenger demand is expected to increase from 1.1 million enplanements in 1998 to 1.5 million in 2018, resulting in a 1.9% average annual compound growth rate. The number of aircraft operations, which will transport passengers, cargo and private individuals, is expected to grow over the 20-year forecast period. The air carrier and commuter operations are anticipated to grow at an average annual rate of 0.6%. The FAA has ratified and accepted these long-term forecasts of traffic and airport use.

THE NEED FOR FAA APPROVAL

The implementation of the proposed airport expansion plan cannot begin until the FAA has prepared and approved the Environmental Study. Ricondo and Associates is continuing with the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and is currently working with the FAA to develop a Purpose and Need for the proposed airport development projects.

The EIS is being prepared in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and FAA and FHWA regulations. The EIS is expected to be completed by the end of 2006 and then the FAA will make a decision on the Master Plan.

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