Consultants updating a master plan for Fayetteville's municipal airport say three things could happen when the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport opens in 1998. The plan they are preparing is aimed at helping Drake Field respond to any of those three situations.
The study prepared by URS Greiner Inc., a Fort Worth, Texas-based engineering and architectural services firm, said as the new airport opens Drake Field could see: a) no loss of commercial service, b) partial loss of commercial service (the study selected a 50 percent decline), or c) total loss of commercial service.
At a workshop on the master plan Wednesday night at the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, Greiner officials explained how each of the scenarios could affect passenger activity and facility requirements at the airport.
The study, which anticipates needs and recommends improvements through 2017, is being funded by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Leslie Sager, program manager for the study, said Greiner cannot anticipate which of the three scenarios are likely to occur. But she said if Drake Field is to experience total loss of commercial service, it should occur by the year 2002.
Sager said if Drake Field retains its current commercial activity, the airport will experience 683,893 enplanements by 2017, a 228.4 percent increase over projected 1997 enplanement totals.
If Drake Field retains half the commercial service it now has, enplanements would drop initially, but eventually increase to 319,447 by 2017.
Even if Drake Field enjoys unrestrained service, the 6,006-foot runway should be sufficient to provide the take-offs and departures projected over the next 20 years, Sager said.
Terminal space at Drake Field, however, is inadequate and can get worse if the airport sees no loss of commercial service. Similar constraints will exist for parking.
Dean Schultz, senior partner with Greiner, showed the 25 people attending the workshop sketches of proposed improvements to the terminal and airport parking areas that could be implemented if the need exists.
Steve Horton, a financial consultant, outlined an economic impact study, which showed Fayetteville's total economic benefit from the airport increasing from $43 million in 1995 to $50.4 million in 2000 if the airport experiences no loss of passenger service. A 50 percent loss of service could reduce that figure by half.
Horton said even if all commercial passenger service is lost at Drake Field, the general aviation activities at the airport could deliver an $8 million boost to the Fayetteville economy in 2000.
However, in response to an audience question, consultants said with the total loss of passenger service, the airport would not be self-sustaining and would probably require financial assistance from the city to continue operation. "It would be tough to lose your revenue stream and maintain a high level of service," Airport Manager Dale Frederick said.
URS Greiner officials will hold a second workshop on the master plan when the draft of the document is complete. The final plan is expected to be released in September.
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