Modernization under way at Desert Aire Airport

DESERT AIRE - Anchor Construction of Othello has kicked off a modernization project at Desert Aire Airport which will be completed in three phases.

“This project will make the airport safer for all users, including the MedStar emergency medical planes,” DAA board member Cliff Naser said.

It is not certain how soon the project will be complete. Not all of the funding will be available at the same time. So far, WSDOT/aviation has provided funding for the first two phases.

The total project value is $920,000. That does not include projected volunteer work by members of the Desert Aire community.

Survey and design costs were $45,000. Phase I (earth work), will cost $234,000, and phase II (electrical construction) will cost $66,000. All of that funding is available now.

Phase 1 will include the moving of 18,000 cubic yards of dirt. Phase II will include the relocation of runway lights and glide slope indicator lights.

“Most of this work will be performed by local volunteers,” Naser said. “Desert Aire is fortunate to have a large cadre of generous and dedicated volunteers who manage and maintain our airport.”

According to airport manager Karl Gruber, Naser has been a key player in this project. He refers to Naser as a grant writer extraordinaire.

Phase III (paving), valued at $575,000, is the pivotal part of the project. Naser is in the process of writing the grant application now.

DAA will seek funding in the summer of 2014 from WSDOT/Aviation and the County Strategic Infrastructure Program.

Naser noted DAA initially applied for a grant just to complete Phase I in 2013. The funds were granted, and then the DAA got lucky.

“Because of three very competitive bids, we saved money,” Naser said. “WSDOT/Aviation agreed to let us include the Phase II (electrical) in that same grant.”

WSDOT/Aviation gets its money by collecting an aviation fuel gas tax. A portion of the money collected is returned via grants to the 174 airports in Washington State.

“We have been recognized by the aviation community as doing an outstanding job and often better than our sister airports that have a paid staff,” Naser said,

Gruber noted the DAA has been fortunate, especially if it gets the rest of the nearly $1 million of funding. He said that is about the total the state puts out in any single year.

This project is important for 4 main reasons:

• DAA's pavement has deteriorated over the years so that the engineers are now recommending a total replacement instead of overlays or other short term fixes. The landing-take off strip has cracks as wide as 3.5 inches.

These can be especially dangerous to tail-dragger aircraft that have smaller rear wheels. The new runway will have a 6-inch thick compacted rock base under the 2.5-inch pavement. The existing pavement lacks any base rock.

• DAA will widen the runway to the FAA recommended standard 60-feet width from its current 30 feet. This is especially important at DAA, considering its strong winds and crosswinds. A 1,000-foot grass strip will be added for sport planes.
• DAA will shift the runway center line 16 feet to the south to achieve the FAA standard 150-foot separation from the north taxiway.
• DAA will remove earthen obstructions within the safety area east end approach. The FAA standard requires a 200-foot long by 250-foot wide surface not higher than the ends of the runway.