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Wyoming Legislature

Committee Meeting Summary of Proceedings

Select Committee on Air Transportation

Committee Meeting Information

August 28, 2008

Snow King Resort

Jackson, Wyoming

 

Committee Members Present

Representative Pete Illoway, Chairman

Senator Henry “Hank” Coe

Senator Bruce Burns

Representative Floyd Esquibel

 

Committee Members Absent

Representative Dave Edwards

 

Legislative Service Office Staff

David Gruver

 

Others Present at Meeting

Please refer to Appendix 1 to review the Committee Sign-in Sheet
for a list of other individuals who attended the meeting.

 

 

Call To Order

 

Chairman Illoway called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.  He reviewed the Committee’s authority, noting that the Committee does not sponsor legislation but can make recommendations to the Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee or the Transportation Committee as appropriate.   The following sections summarize the Committee proceedings by topic.  Please refer to Appendix 2 to review the Committee Meeting Agenda.  (There was no presentation by United/Sky West.)

 

Update from Wyoming Aeronautics Commission

 

Dennis Byrne, Administrator Wyoming Aeronautics Commission, addressed the Committee.  He introduced Aeronautics Commissioners Jerry Delano and Carrol Orrison.  Mr. Byrne noted he had recently been appointed to his position and proceeded to review WYDOT’s mission, the Aeronautics Division function, its goals, and its contributions to Wyoming’s quality of life and economic development.  The PowerPoint presentation he made is attached as appendix 3.  Chairman Illoway noted that it was important for Mr. Byrne personally to share his vision with airport operators and legislators in order to get legislative support for air service support.  Senator Coe echoed those remarks and noted the crucial state of air service in Wyoming and nationwide including serious infrastructure needs in Wyoming.   Senator Burns asked that a hard copy of the presentation be provided to the Committee.

 

Amber Schlabs, Aviation and Business Marketing Manager for the Aeronautics Division then addressed the Committee regarding air services provided in Wyoming.  She addressed the annual legislative report submitted in June.  Chairman Illoway asked that Committee members be provided with copies of the report.  While this past year has seen service cutbacks nationwide due in large part to fuel price increases, in Wyoming there was a net percentage increase in embarkments (measured by seats).  While the “word is out” in Wyoming regarding the air service enhancement program, she noted that Wyoming would have to be careful in monitoring the situation and ensuring that the program is properly directed to support the areas of interest identified by statute (sustaining service levels, increasing ridership, ensuring continued federal funding, increasing frequency of flights, providing choices of services, reliability of service, competitiveness of fares, and security configurations).  She reviewed the resources being used to support those areas of interest.  Chairman Illoway urged the Division to ensure that all the data being generated and reviewed by the Division is shared with airport operators so that it can be put to its best use allowing those operators to make decisions.  Ms. Schlabs noted that the Division is only providing the data, the decision making is being left to the local operators.  She reviewed the data being collected, giving examples such as the number of tickets sold and percentage of retention by market.  Ms. Schlabs noted that the Division can provide the data to airport operators to allow the operators to react and make decisions without the operators each paying for compilation of that data.    Airport managers confirmed that the data is useful and has been used by operators in discussions with airlines.  The Committee and operators discussed the ability to use the data to convince airlines to change flights, fares, etc.

 

Ms. Schlabs discussed the Division’s current plans for public awareness/education projects.  Chairman Illoway asked whether there are any plans/attempts to influence incoming passengers to fly into Wyoming rather than stopping at Denver or other major airports.  Ms. Schlabs noted there are attempts to do so with fly Wyoming, banners at DIA, but the problem is how to reach inbound passengers.  The Committee discussed the ability to do more inbound marketing.

 

Christie Yaffa and Cheryl Bean, Aeronautics Division, addressed the Committee regarding funding and existing tools the Division has to accomplish its goals.  Current state general funding for airport facilities is $10 million in general funds for FY 07.  Ms. Yaffa reviewed the expenditure of those funds, including snow removal equipment, rehabilitating pavement, and other items aimed at maintaining the current system.  For federal funding, all FY08 funding was done by continuing resolutions under which 75% of the grants were first awarded and with remaining 25% just recently awarded.  That created problems since construction cannot be done with 75% of the funds needed and a hoped for funding of the balance; additionally the timing for the 25% balance was too late for Wyoming’s construction seasons in many locations.  Next year’s federal funding outlook is not currently much better.  Chairman Illoway urged that the Commission express the need by lobbying Wyoming’s Congressional delegation.  Ms. Yaffa noted the division was submitting a budget request of $27 million for FY09-10 with $57 million in needs identified for FY11-13.  Chairman Illoway urged the Division to educate legislators regarding the needs, beyond simply having the request in the Governor’s budget bill.  The Committee discussed with Mr. Byrne how to best approach the legislature regarding the needs for air services support.

 

Ms. Yaffa continued by reviewing the tools the Division has to appropriately expend the funds, including a priority rating model, comprehensive plan, master planning and individual airport layout plans and joint planning conferences.  Ms. Bean discussed the Division’s involvement with projects in general.  Grant administration, guidance to smaller airports, review of plans and studies with airport operators are all done by the Division.  The Division has a pavement management program which provides for long term planning and ongoing maintenance. 

 

Chairman Illoway asked about the cost of flying the state plane and the charges for state legislators to attend committee meetings.  He asked Mr. Byrne to provide the LSO with an updated policy regarding the use of and charges for legislators using the state plane.  The Committee discussed the use of the state plane for committee meetings and charges for those uses.  Mr. Byrne stated that the department will inform the LSO of the department’s policy regarding these issues after the department has ironed out the details of the policy.

 

Ms. Bean continued with a review of new tools the Division is using to implement its goals.  She addressed the challenges before the Commission including construction cost escalation, lack of contractors to bid, federal requirements and needs that overall surpass funding.  Economic growth also has impacted the needs for additional funding. 

 

Great Lakes Aviation

 

Chuck Howell, CEO Great Lakes Aviation, addressed the Committee.  He noted that Great Lakes is the only Wyoming based airline, employing over 1000 aviation professionals.  The fleet includes 33 aircraft.  Mr. Howell reviewed his airlines’ activities over the past year including other small airlines’ withdrawal from the EAS program (essential air service program).  Most of the competition for EAS markets has left, leaving Great Lakes as one of the few EAS service providers.  He discussed Great Lakes’ flights and planned expansion.  The expansion has been delayed based upon lack of aircraft (other aircraft available due to other carriers leaving the market have defaulted back to Raytheon, but Great Lakes is reluctant to enter into the long term contracts required since the EAS program is dependent on federal funding, with a two year funding cycle that has been in an uncertain state).  In the perfect world Great Lakes would seek more larger (Brasilia) aircraft over the 19 seat Beechcraft.  But the supply of those larger aircraft is limited, thus the short term goal is to enter into short term leases for the small Beechcraft available due to other carriers’ withdrawal from the market.  Overall Great Lakes has seen double digit increases in seat embarkments in most Wyoming cities this past year.  Great Lakes has shown a profit the past two years, unusual in the current airline market. 

 

The Committee discussed Great Lakes’ plans and maintenance base in Wyoming and other locations.  Mr. Howell noted the need for trained personnel is often a more important factor than facilities for maintenance locations.  The Committee also discussed other aircraft available to Great Lakes, service issues, pilot availability, and expansion into other markets.

 

Wyoming Airport Operators’ Association

 

Representatives of the Wyoming Airport Operators’ Association addressed the Committee.  David Haring, Cheyenne Airport operator, spoke first.  He provided the Committee with a directory of Wyoming airports.  (Appendix 4)  Mr. Haring noted that there is not good news on the federal funding front.  He reiterated the difficulty of funding projects with uncertain future federal funding.  The airport data provided to the Committee addresses the location of the airports, contact information, airline service provided, number of enplanements and other related information.  The plan is to update the directory and provide additional information and deliver the directory to all legislators.    Glenn Januska, Casper/Natrona County International Airport operator, next addressed the Committee.  He provided information concerning the Wyoming Airport Operator’s Association, reviewing the Association’s website and information available to the public.  Mr. Haring also discussed the services available to the Association’s members, including continuing education programs, and funding for operators to attend nationwide programs. 

 

Chairman Illoway suggested a few additions to the directory, such as availability of aircraft mechanics, length of runways and altitude.  He suggested that initially the directory be provided in hard copy to all legislators.  Mr. Haring noted that much of that information will be included with the addition of aerial information which they plan to add to the website. 

 

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Representative Pete Illoway, Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix		Appendix Topic		Appendix Description		Appendix Provider
1		Committee Sign-In Sheet		Lists meeting attendees		Legislative Service Office
2		Committee Meeting Agenda		Provides an outline of the topics the Committee planned to address at meeting		Legislative Service Office
3		Aeronautics Division		Power Point Presentation by Dennis Byrne, Administrator		Wyoming Aeronautics Division
4		Wyoming Airport Operators Association		Directory of Wyoming Airports		Wyoming Airport Operators Association