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<br />standards governing the location, size and operation of the airport, including FFA,
<br />NCDOT-rules and regulations, natural constraints airport development, and proximity
<br />to existing and proposed residential and business areas and major traffic harbors.
<br />Fifth, plan for relocation, ownership, and operation addressing a) the finance of
<br />land acquisition and construction costs b) operating revenues and c) current and
<br />anticipated costs involved in airport operations and maintenance. Sixth, identify
<br />any other considerations that NCDOT and FFA recommends for consideration of site
<br />relocation. Seventh, solicit comments from Chatham and Durham Counties and the
<br />Raleigh-Durham Airport and finally to submit a report. That task force did bring in
<br />November, 1987 such a report. Their summary of this report was that a new general
<br />aviation airport in Orange County with a runway of 5000 feet in length, located
<br />within an attractive driving time in North Carolina Memorial Hospital was
<br />recommended, one which could generate annual income after operation, maintenance and
<br />improvement cost of 50 to 55 thousand dollars in initial years and 130-135 thousand
<br />dollars after 15 years of operation. This would make possible the relocation of all
<br />aircraft operations from Horace Williams. Upon the receipt of that report and its
<br />review, the Commissioners chose to proceed to the next step of the work session
<br />tonight. A management consultant was hired as well as a planning consultant. A
<br />State grant was secured in the summer of 1988 to enable work to begin in the winter
<br />of 19$8. The workscope was described which involved the process as well as citizen
<br />involvement, the involvement of Economic Development Commission, and the Planning
<br />Board. They first looked at operation of Horace Williams Airport. This is a public
<br />airport, in Orange County, 420 acres in size, and was willed to the University of
<br />North Carolina on March 3, 1934, by Henry'Horace Williams. It is a site to "beheld
<br />and trust forever" and that any income from the property is to be used for the
<br />support of two or more fellowships in philosophy. In taking a look at the history
<br />of that airport, they noticed that there was a limitation on the number of aircraft
<br />that could be based there. The based aircraft varied from 40 to 50 during the past
<br />eight.or nine years. However, in taking a look at the aircraft owned in the County
<br />over that same period, they have varied from a low o£ about 55 to a high of about
<br />$3. The operations of the airport are somewhat tied to the based aircraft of the
<br />airport. The consultant then went about trying to determine what the past demand
<br />had been or what the future demand might be. They did this through sending out a
<br />number of questionnaires, a total of 450 questionnaires were mailed out, $1 of them
<br />went to businesses, and 368 went to individuals. Of those 450 questionnaires that
<br />were sent out, 93 were returned, 20 from businesses, and 73 from individuals, which
<br />is a return rate of about 20~. The consultant took that information and made some
<br />projections as to what type of use might be expected of a new airport suitably
<br />located in the County with the correct facilities. In 1993, which might be
<br />projected as the opening for the airport, it is estimated that 94 aircrafts would be
<br />based at the facility. In planning an airport the consultant generally plans for
<br />about a 20 year cycle, or 1S years beyond the opening date. Therefore, in the year
<br />2008, they are projecting about 148 aircraft based at that airport. The aircraft
<br />will vary as to type but they will be prodominantly small single-engine planes, with
<br />a small number of multi-engine turbo-prop and jet planes. It's estimated that in
<br />the opening year there should be approximately 68,000 annual operations, which is
<br />twice that which takes place at Horace Williams today. By the year 2008, with
<br />approximately 103,000 annual operations, it is estimated the type of jet operation
<br />that would be expected would be the smaller corporate type of jet aircraft. After
<br />all this information is assembled, the airport is designed. The airport would start
<br />out with a 5,000 foot runway. Over the 20-year period, the runway envisioned will
<br />be lengthened to 5500 foot with a 500 foot extension, again with the appropriate
<br />navigational aids, taxi-ways, and a slight enlargement of the terminal building to
<br />4,400 sq. ft. and again increase the vehicle parking, tie-downs, hangers, and things
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