The Falls International Airport will lose one daily outgoing flight starting next month.
Holly Petroske, airline station manager with Mesaba Airlines, told members of the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission Wednesday that operations are in full transition for the Delta and Northwest Airlines merger.
From a positive standpoint, Petroske said that NWA, known as the domestic non-stop carrier, would join Delta, the international non-stop carrier. She said the NWA hubs in Minneapolis, Memphis and Detroit would now add Delta hubs in Cincinnati and Atlanta.
“That was the initial draw of the move to merge,” said Petroske, adding that from an operational standpoint, the company doesn’t want passengers to see any difference in service.
Petroske said that Falls International will lose its 11 a.m. flight starting Sunday.
The bright side is that the two remaining flights at 6:50 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. would be non-stop flights to Minneapolis, she noted.
The new management of the merged companies is calling the Falls a summer market, according to Petroske, who said she will continue advocating for a third flight.
Petroske said that the two outgoing flights will continue with the Saab 340 turboprop aircraft that seats approximately 30 passengers. The Bombardier CRJ jet aircraft flights will be discontinued, she added.
Sun Country is still scheduling through its bankruptcy proceedings and Petroske reported the October charter flight was successful.
In other business, the commission renewed a five-year engineering consulting contract with the Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. There were five finalists for the contract.
The discussion weighed heavily on consistency and continuity of service, and the commissioners spoke of the number of successful SEH projects and support from the firm in lobbying at the state Capitol. The St. Paul-based firm also employs Bartlett & Associates of the Falls as a local engineering agent.
“Our working relationship with SEH has been 100 percent and it is difficult to see any reason to make a change at this time,” said Bob Anderson, commission chairman.
Raymond Strege, of Short Elliott Hendrickson, emphasized that the firm takes an interest in the quality of life in the area and to see the community succeed, despite its harsh winters and remoteness. He said the airport adds to the community, noting that 20,000 people fly each year to the Falls, which is in a county with a population of 14,000.
Also on Wednesday, Thor Einarson, airport manager, said the airport recently passed an annual Federal Aviation Administration inspection for small airports that serve as a major airline hub.
“The inspection went very well,” Einarson said.
One major area of concern was a line-of-sight landing light foundation that Einarson and SEH engineers said was structurally sound and operating properly as a backup to the electronic landing systems. The FAA, they said, wanted the airport to undertake a costly and questionable repair to the foundation.
But, Einarson added, the inspector discussed the repair order and said she did not see it as an item to be repaired.
Benita Crow, an aviation project manager with SEH, said the inspection provided no evidence of ground upheaval and that a threshold bar in question was draining properly.
Crow also reported that the airport parking lot project is completed and that lighting poles would be raised Thursday, and put into operation early next week.
The commission approved a change order request from Wagner Construction to recover $7,200 in costs related to towing vehicles out of the parking lot construction areas, and for relocating a National Weather Service receptacle to an airport beacon.
A change order was also approved to allow $29,670 to Jackson Electric for about a dozen items in the project.
The commission moved discussion forward regarding 50-day completion agreements with contractors on the project. There were reportedly 24 days worth of liquidation damages related to bituminous and other material delays. The commission is considering $500-per day assessments.
The commission approved a motion to put the hanger project on hold until wetlands and other issues with Bowman Construction are resolved.
Crow expressed concern over complications that developed with delays over an FAA “special condition” approval regarding a 35-foot taxi lane. There was also a delay from an Army Corps of Engineers wetlands inspection regarding culvert design changes for the taxi-lane extension.
Bowman is reportedly seeking $47,170 for two weeks downtime during the delay. The costs are for idle equipment and an increase in the price of oil in the bituminous and burner fuel, and for encountering clay when the soil boring reports said the ground was peat. The company is also requesting another $35,000 for a drainage project.
Crow said that with the suspension of the project from mounting issues and the onset of cold weather, this winter would be a time for the commission to revisit long-term comprehensive goals for that area of the airport. She said she felt the rush to complete to project within a three-year grant deadline is contributing to its complications.
The commission approved a motion to waive 60-day advanced notification to end hanger lease contracts, and to extend all leases for one year. The motion is to allow time for negotiations without obligation to the current lease. The commission also voted to have a special meeting to discuss the lease issues.
Bill Ewald, who owns land adjacent to the airport, presented airport layout documents regarding 20 acres of his land that is now within the zoning area of the airport. He is exploring a land swap possibility that he said is consistent with future zoning or runway extensions.
The commission is scheduled to meet again at 8 a.m. Nov. 26.
