Port future looking up

MOSES LAKE — The diversion of a Northwest Air flight from Amsterdam into Moses Lake still tops Craig Baldwin's list.

"That one still tops my mind," the Port of Moses Lake manager said with a chuckle, recalling the December 2004 diversion which ultimately forced nine crew members and 274 passengers to deplane into the Grant County International Airport terminal. "Probably one of the discouraging moments of my life, as well as one of the highlights."

But Baldwin said his favorite part of the job is the nature of the aviation business, which is different every day.

"You don't know what challenge will come next, with aviation and in this case, with the port in general," he said. "I think the favorite part is the fact that I've got a great staff and I enjoy working with them. It's always a pleasure to come to work, and work with people who care about their jobs, who like what they do."

Baldwin officially joined the port July 26, 2004. He had been working as the airport administrative manager at the Rogue Valley International Airport in Medford, Ore., and was looking for a change. Through the airport executive's newsletter, Baldwin saw the opening at the Moses Lake port district, and applied.

Baldwin moved with his wife and six children to the area.

"I think they've enjoyed it," Baldwin said. "Kids sometimes, as you know, there's not a whole lot to do in Moses Lake, but they seem to keep themselves busy."

As port manager, Baldwin feels his biggest accomplishments have been working to maintain and improve the Grant County International Airport airfield, and working to maintain air service in the community.

One area of Baldwin's emphasis is keeping the airport usable and maintained. A lot of the concrete, asphalt and buildings date back to the Larson Air Force Base, requiring day-to-day maintenance and working towards finding funding for rehabilitation.

This year, the port was able to pool a federal grant of about $4.5 million, which allowed the removal of asphalt from the main runway. The federal government has a grant program for airports, Baldwin explained, in which they appropriate money to airport funding, through an airport entitlement determined by the number of passengers who fly at an airport each year, and through discretionary funds determined by need and priorities of the airports.

Beginning in Spring 2006, the port will begin a $2 million taxi way rehabilitation project, and Baldwin said that the FAA has already given verbal approval for discretionary funding.

Long term, Baldwin said the goal is to get concrete and asphalt back up to specifics.

"We've been doing that a little bit at a time as we work our way around the airport," he said, noting that the last inspection was just after he joined the position. Last year, the port had six or seven items that needed to be worked on, including lighting, painting and rehabilitating the asphalt.

One of the challenges the port has faced has been working to maintain the Essential Air Service. The program was formed by the FAA in the 1970s with the deregulation of air carriers and provides air services to smaller communities eligible. The program subsidizes flights.

The contract was up for renewal when Baldwin arrived, and he was told that the program was in jeopardy because of the cost per passenger.

"When they come up with the subsidy level, they take the air carrier, they take all of his costs that it would cost to operate out of the community that they're going to be serving, they subtract expected passenger revenues, in other words what we can sell tickets for, and that leaves that deficit," Baldwin said. "That becomes what the subsidy level needs to be for the air carrier to break even, and that's when the government says, 'We'll step in and pay this.'"

At the end of the year, the program is evaluated. The number of people that actually flew is divided into the subsidy level, and has to be below a certain rate per passenger. The port was above the rate, so the Department of Transportation informed the port of the need to find a way to keep costs down, or else lose services.

Through meetings with the community, the port board of commissioners and staff, the port determined the largest problem was air service reliability.

"The community was frustrated with trying to fly out of Moses Lake, and when they would have a ticket and come here, there was either no plane or it was delayed or it had mechanical — there was always something," Baldwin said, noting that the business community thought it was better to drive to ensure that one would make an appointment or go to Spokane.

High fares were another problem, and the airport passenger numbers were going down each month. DOT challenged the port that if it dropped below 8,500 passengers, then it would lose its subsidy. Last year's numbers were 6,500, so Baldwin and the port knew that the air service needed to grow.

Port officials met with Big Sky Airlines, which proposed flights into Portland rather than into Seattle.

"To be honest with you, we were against that," Baldwin said. Baldwin and the port commissioners met with Big Sky, voiced their concerns and looked at the numbers. "We decided it was better to have air service to somewhere than no air service at all."

As they examined the options, the port became more impressed with Portland, and worked to arrange for flights to Boise as well. They began negotiations with the airline and let them know what their expectations were, including the fact that aircraft had to be at the airport, they had to fly their schedule and needed to be on time.

The new air service got off to a slow start in February, and then the airline had a chain of mechanical issues in March, Baldwin said. The DOT sent another letter informing the port that its air service was still in jeopardy.

"We took that challenge," Baldwin said, adding that he and the airline went into the community to ask how services could be improved. "That's when things started changing."

While still not out of the woods, Baldwin said passengers are flying, with several flights to Portland and Boise completely full last week.

"The magic number that we need to stay below is $200 per passenger," he said, referring to the subsidy rate. In March, the cost per passenger was $228. In April, it was $224. In May, it was $195. In June, the number was $194. "We're going down. That's the good sign. That means people are on the planes."

The port has even found that people from around the area are commuting to Moses Lake to fly on Big Sky, Baldwin said with a smile.

"Again, we have a long way to go," he said. "We're not out of the woods yet. But we're working on it. We're making great strides, and I'm proud of the community for stepping forward."

The port is also working to put together its budget for next year, and put together a budget for the next five years as well. GCIA is also in the middle of an inspection by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The port is also completing its airport master plan, which the FAA will use as a guide to show what should be done next and to assist with funding.

And the port continues to work with the Grant County Economic Development Council on infrastructure, the Northern Columbia Basin Railroad Project and in luring five companies that are interested in locating Moses Lake.

"We actively seek out these kinds of people that are looking for places," Baldwin said. "We have a lot to offer. We have the land, we have some low costs … Those are all benefits that these people are looking for. And of course, it doesn't hurt that we have one of the longest runways in the nation. That always helps."