Dent bill would prevent airport service consolidation

OLYMPIA — Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, has introduced legislation that would keep integral facilities at the Grant County International Airport, rather than consolidating them with facilities in Spokane.

House Joint Memorial 4013 would ask the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to keep Grant County International Airport’s Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities open, rather than merging them with Spokane’s TRACON.

“The Grant County International Airport has one of the largest runways in the country and can meet the needs of the largest aircraft in the world,” Dent said. “Combine that with the TRACON facilities, and it serves the unique needs of the military and aerospace sector from across the nation. Such needs include military and pilot training, aircraft and pilot testing, aircraft certification, and emergency preparedness. If the TRACON facilities are relocated, we will lose the ability to efficiently blend these important activities together.”

The measure highlights the benefits TRACON brings to the area, one which Dent says in providing opportunities for future pilots. Noting the fact that Big Bend Community College has students who are enrolled in aviation training, Dent said the TRACON facilities are a valuable asset that are not available at other facilities.

“The United States Forest Service and Washington State Department of Natural Resources use these facilities for aerial wildfire training, as well as to stage and deploy aerial wildfire tankers. I cannot overstate the importance of this kind of emergency preparedness given the extreme wildfires we have had the last few years,” Dent stated. “Meeting this critical need while providing military services and higher education opportunities demonstrates the benefits of TRACON facilities to this region. We want to ensure these facilities are made permanent at Grant County International Airport and do not become casualties of consolidation.”

House Joint Memorials are used by lawmakers to send messages to Congress and the president, but do not have as much enforcement power as a law. The legislation has been referred to the House Transportation Committee for discussion and further action.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.