Williamsport Regional Airport

2007 AIP Projects

Pre-Design Meeting Minutes

Date and Time of Meeting:

Friday, March 16, 2007 at 10:30 am at the Williamsport Regional Airport

Attendance:
Moses Abraham PennDOT Bureau of Aviation (717) 705-1249
Robert Kriner FAA Local Technician (570) 368-1426
Michael Sweet Williamsport ATCT (570) 368-2838
Michael Nedorostek FAA Coordinator (570) 457-5051
Bob Fries Williamsport Regional Airport (570) 368-2444
Jill Byrne L. Robert Kimball and Associates (814) 867-4566
Rick Holes L. Robert Kimball and Associates (814) 472-7700

Background:
On the 5-Year ACIP for Williamsport for FY 2007, there were 2 projects that were
proposed. They were:

1. Improve Runway 9 Safety Area, Phase 2 – Construction

2. Extend Parallel Taxiway B to the Runway 27 End, Phase 1 - Design

However, during a planning session with the FAA in February, Wayne Heibeck
mentioned that Wilmington, DE Airport was to receive a large amount of FAA
Discretionary Funding in FY 2007 for their Runway Safety Area Improvement Projects,
but that they had informed the FAA that they would not be able to use the funding. As a
result, Wayne asked if Williamsport could have their entire Runway and Taxiway
Extension Project designed and bid in time to use this Discretionary Funding. After some
discussion, it was determined that Williamsport would proceed forward with the design in
order to receive bids to utilize this available funding.

As a result of this meeting, the new projects for FY 2007 are:

1. Improve Runway 9 Safety Area, Phase 2 – Construction

This project includes the site preparation work necessary to regrade the existing
and future Runway 9 safety area. The work will primarily consist of the
earthwork necessary to place fill at the Runway 9 end in order to provide a
properly graded Runway Safety Area. Although the current RSA requirements
necessitate a 300’ x 600’ graded area, and the future RSA requirements necessitate
a 400’ x 600’ graded area, the design will actually include providing a graded area
that is 500’ wide to prepare for the ultimate condition with Group C aircraft.
Additional work will include the construction of six (6) elliptical pipes under the
RSA to recreate the existing drainage channel capacity for Loyalsock Creek
overflow. For this portion of the project, nearly all of the fill material will be
obtained from the site area.
 2. Extend Runway 9 by 350’ – Design and Construction
This project includes the paving, lighting and marking necessary to extend
Runway 9-27 by 350’. The grade of the extension is at 0% to approximately
match the existing runway profile. As a part of this project, new high-intensity
runway lights will be installed on the extension and new Runway End Identifier
Lights (REILs) will be included. Pavement marking will be completed for the
entire runway since the existing markings are in poor condition and the extension
will be grooved when completed.

3. Extend Parallel Taxiway B to the Runway 9 End – Design and Construction

This project will include extending Parallel Taxiway B approximately 2,500’ to
the new Runway 9 end. Work will be divided into two separate bid packages –
Site Preparation and Paving & Lighting.

The Site Preparation package will consist primarily of placing fill material in the
area where the taxiway extension will be constructed. This will require
approximately 100,000 cubic yards of fill material. The first source for the fill
material will be to remove deposited sediments from Loyalsock Creek between
the Broad Street Bridge and the existing railroad bridge. This is expected to
produce 10,000 to 20,000 cubic yards. The remainder of the fill material will be
obtained from the old Runway 33 borrow area that is currently being used for the
Improve Runway 27 Safety Area Project. Additional work as a part of this
package will include the installation of drainage piping and construction of a
small stormwater detention basin.

The Paving & Lighting package will include paving the new taxiway and
installing medium-intensity taxiway lighting. Additional work will include
construction of a connector taxiway in the current location of Taxiway B.
Concrete pavement from existing Taxiway B will be removed and stockpiled for
later reuse by the Borough of Montoursville for streambank protection along
Loyalsock Creek.

Meeting Discussion:
1. Per FAA requirements, the Runway 27 localizer antenna can be no closer than
600’ from the Runway 9 end. Based on preliminary estimates, it appears that,
with the 350’ extension, the distance between the new end of the runway and the
localizer antenna will be less than 600’. For this reason, it will be necessary to
relocate the localizer antenna. It was suggested that Kimball start discussions
regarding this work with the FAA Harrisburg ADO and then move up the line
from there. Kimball will contact John Carter from the FAA in Harrisburg.
2. Initially, there were plans to not replace the existing VASI for the Runway 9 end
since the entire runway will be worked on in the coming years. However, the
Williamsport ATCT suggested that the VASI be replaced or relocated since it
provides the only visual guidance to Runway 9. As a result, Kimball will include
a new PAPI or GVGI for Runway 9 as a part of the project. It was noted that the
current VASI is offset 10 degrees.
 3. Kimball is providing for new REILs for Runway 9 as a part of the project.
Everyone in attendance agreed that this should be done.
4. Currently, the FAA owns and maintains the VASI and REILs. After the project is
completed, ownership of the new PAPI and REILs will be retained by the Airport.
5. The ATCT asked that Kimball keep the VASI in operation as long as possible
during the construction so there will be visual guidance for aircraft using Runway
9.
6. The construction within the localizer critical area was also discussed. The ATCT
indicated that the localizer would be needed during IFR conditions. Kimball
suggested that the construction be allowed during daytime VFR conditions, but, if
IFR conditions were present, that construction would have to occur at night. It
was discussed that the Contractor could be given additional contract time for each
IFR daytime construction period.
7. The addition of a bypass taxiway at the Runway 9 end was discussed. It was
agreed that this would be a good thing to have since, many times, small aircraft
are doing runups on the taxiway prior to takeoff. Having a bypass taxiway would
allow other aircraft to go around the small aircraft, better utilizing the runway.
8. Kimball asked the ATCT if the existing wig-wag lights would be necessary with
the new parallel taxiway. It was decided that the wig-wag lights would not be
necessary because there would be a standard holdline after the parallel taxiway
project was completed.
9. Bob Fries marked the location of many utilities that are within the Runway and
Parallel Taxiway Extension work area. Kimball will show those approximate
locations on the drawings. In addition, the existing Montoursville Borough water
mains were discussed. Bob Fries will meet with Frank Thalman from the
Borough to discuss what work the Borough will want completed as a part of this
project in order to protect the water mains.
10. FAA suggested that multiple spare conduits be installed under the new pavement
to allow for both Airport and FAA electrical cables to be installed.
11. Drawings will need to be sent to PPL for review. There is a PPL main electric
line located near the base of the northern existing fill slope for Runway 9. This
electric line feeds the VASI and the VASI transformer. It was suggested that the
VASI transformer could be put into an electrical vault and extended to the ground
level.

Estimated Project Costs:

1. Improve Runway 9 Safety Area (Construction) $1,210,000.00

2. Improve Runway 9 Safety Area (Inspection) $96,000.00
3. Extend Runway 9 by 350’ (Construction) $600,000.00
4. Extend Runway 9 by 350’ (Design and Inspection) $90,000.00
5. Extend Parallel T/W B to R/W 9 End – Site Prep. (Construction ) $816,000.00
6. Extend Parallel T/W B to R/W 9 End – Site Prep. (Des. & Insp.)$122,000.00
7. Extend Parallel T/W B to R/W 9 End – Paving (Construction ) $800,000.00
8. Extend Parallel T/W B to R/W 9 End – Paving (Des. & Insp.) $120,000.00
Total Estimated Cost $3,854,000.00
Design Procedures:
- The project will include two (2) bid packages. They are
1. Contract 2007-02 – Site Preparation
Base Bid – Improve Runway 9 Safety Area
Add Alternate Bid #1 – Extend Parallel T/W B to the R/W 9 End
2. Contract 2007-03 – Paving and Lighting
Base Bid – Extend Runway 9 by 350’
Add Alternate Bid #1 – Extend Parallel T/W B to the R/W 9 End

This will allow for the greatest amount of funding flexibility for the FAA.
- FAA Pavement (75-blow Marshall) will be used for the Runway and Taxiway
Paving.
- It is assumed that the Runway 9-27 lighting circuit has available capacity to
handle the additional lighting.
- It is assumed that the Taxiway B lighting circuit has available capacity to handle
the additional lighting.
- At this time, it is not certain as to whether the Runway Distance Remaining signs
on Runway 9-27 will need to be relocated as a part of the Runway 9 Extension
project. This will be coordinated with John Greene and Dennis O’Donnell from
the FAA.
- The existing VASI for Runway 9 will be removed as a part of the Extend Parallel
T/W B to R/W 9 End project and will not be replaced at this time. An ILS System
for R/W 9 is proposed in the future.

Project Schedules:

Contract 2007-02 – Site Preparation

Pre-Design Meeting March 16, 2007
Design Completion May 11, 2007
Bid Opening June 14, 2007
Notice to Proceed August 6, 2007
Project Completion December 14, 2007
Final Inspection December 14, 2007
Project Closeout December 28, 2007

Contract 2007-03 – Paving & Lighting

Pre-Design Meeting March 16, 2007
Design Completion May 11, 2007
Bid Opening June 14, 2007
Notice to Proceed April 7, 2008
Project Completion July 25, 2008
Final Inspection July 25, 2008
Project Closeout August 29, 2008