Consultant says runway is too long

Only 10 Gregg County residents turned out for the public hearing on East Texas Regional Airport's master plan, but those present learned that county and airport officials are looking 20 years ahead.

Mike Dmyterko, an airport consultant from Coffman Associates, is working with Gregg County and ETRA on a plan that will take the facility into the future.

Dmyterko said the airport's master plan is divided into three segments: the first two are five-year terms and the third a 10-year segment.

"We're not looking at the development from a standpoint of it's here and if we make it better, business will be better," Dmyterko said. "We're looking at it from a demand level and will relate that back to the type of facilities needed here to attract more business."

Dmyterko said ETRA is like many other airports in that commercial business is down but general aviation business is up.

"ETRA (airlines) is losing passengers to other transportation modes," he said. "This airport is only getting about 30 percent of the potential passengers it should."

Dmyterko pointed out the proximity of Shreveport and Tyler and Dallas facilities.

"Now we're going to work on how to get back more of the share of passengers," he said. "You'll never get 100 percent but we're going to attempt to get 50 to 60 percent back to this airport."

Dmyterko said the airport needs to qualify its demands, justify the importance of the proposed needs to the FAA who funds 95 percent of such projects.

"You have to show them the needs, the plans and justify them before the FAA will spend money," Dmyterko said.

Dmyterko said the local terminal is "fundamentally poor in terms of size."

He said the interior design of the terminal needs upgrading to make better use of the space.

"This airport is a jewel for Gregg County," Dmyterko said. "It has a lot of good things going for it to merit the demand for improvement."

He noted ETRA is a "good size operation in that it has large general aviation planes and companies using the airport."

He said general aviation has been the strength of the air industry since 9-11.

"Now that air travel is starting to pick up it's time to market the airport," Dmyterko said. "Carriers don't come to you, you have to look for them. For the most part, this facility is under-served and needs to generate another carrier."

One of the strengths of the airport, its 10,000-foot runway, could pose a problem for ETRA.

Dmyterko said the runway is 638 feet too long, extending it

too close to Hwy. 322 according to FAA standards and "a (troubled) plane might drop off on that northwest end."

The FAA requires runways to have 10,000 feet long buffer zones on each end in case of trouble

Dmyterko said the county can ask the FAA to waive this "bookend rule," but the probability of approval is slim.

Another possibility is to designate a portion of the runway "operational" and rearrange the lighting.

"This will leave 9400 feet operational and is the most inexpensive option," he said. "Of course, you can cut 638 feet off the runway and have the bookend buffers."

Dmyterko also suggested the county consider an E-Mass Route, that uses an arresting material of "collapsible concrete."

"This type of concrete can stop a runaway plane by collapsing itself, not the plane," Dmyterko said.

ETRA is looking at a $5.5 million price take for this, but FFA grants would cover 95 percent.

"We're just starting the master planning process," said Airport Director Virginia Hall. "We've got a lot of work to do."

More public hearings on the proposed master plan will be scheduled.