Updates about Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (NWFBIA)

Is that Shelly I see, standing by the sign at the entrance?

Construction Update - 1/8/09 — The New PFN

Construction Update - 1/8/09

by NewPFN on January 13, 2009
Construction at the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport continues to run smoothly and is currently about 3 and a half months ahead of schedule. A summary of the contracts underway follows.
Contract 1: Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting:

• 115 pieces of heavy equipment in operation at any one time with approximately 160 personnel on site.
• 46% of time utilized (360 of 780 days).
• 37% of the 15” concrete paving lanes have been placed on 8,500 linear feet of Runway 16-34.
• On Taxiway D, all lime rock base and the majority of the first 2” lift of P-401 base have been placed.
• 12,902 tons of asphalt base course is in place along the Main Access Road (MRA) and loop road. Curb and lime rock base installation within terminal parking lots now 100% complete. Asphalt base course is in place over 75% of main parking lot.
• 34,888 tons of asphalt base and 20,000 cubic yards of structural concrete have been placed on 8,400 linear feet of Runway 16-34.
• 6,780 tons of asphalt base has been placed on Taxiway D, and the main apron.
• Stormwater drainage pipe installation is now 99% complete.
• Storm sewer installation within the General Aviation Area is now underway.
• Over 5.4 million cubic yards of earth has been moved (98% of total).
• Mass grading within Pond C now 90% complete.

Contract 2: Terminal Building, ATCT and Support Buildings:

• Gulf Power has completed installation of temporary overhead power to the Terminal Building location and site office trailers.
• Installation of reinforcing steel continues along Area’s A and B of the Terminal Building.
• New design of the Air Traffic Control Tower auger cast piles was required due to the original design not meeting the required load test. The original design required 72 piles drilled to a depth of 52 feet. The new design, based on the actual field load tests will require 44 piles drilled to a depth of 70.33 feet and 28 piles drilled to a depth of 80.33 feet.
• Rough-in of electrical and plumbing for the Air Cargo Facility is completed.
• Installation of mat reinforcing steel and dowels for the Air Cargo Facility is completed.
• Installation of the drainage structures for the Airport Maintenance Facility continues.

Contract 3: Utility Contract:

• Contract has been executed and all necessary submittals, insurance and bonds have been received from the Contractor.
• Notice to Proceed is anticipated within the first week of January.

Article Highlights Opportunities at New Airport

by NewPFN on January 19, 2009
Dr. John Kasarda, Director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, recently wrote an article for Global Airport Cities detailing the history of and opportunities presented by the construction of the new Panama City - Bay County Airport.
The article is available for download here.
Dr. Kasarda has published more than 100 scholarly articles and nine books on aviation infrastructure, logistics, economic development, competitiveness, and commercial real estate.
He is frequently quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Business Week, and international media.
Kasarda has offered numerous executive programs on air logistics, airport cities, firm siting, and global supply-chain management to multinational firms such as FedEx, Lufthansa, DHL, Thai Airways International, Caterpillar Logistics, Prudential Real Estate, Bank of America and Deloitte & Touche and has been an advisor to airports around the globe.

Thanks - Still hoping this will help in longrun

I like good news that things are going well with NW Florida! Hopefully gaining value and growing in the Long run. The airport and new road from the airport is news we need to focus on for long-term value to our beloved 30a area and property.

I would love knowing more about the road to 98 near 30a? Can anyone catch me up?

I like good news that things are going well with NW Florida! Hopefully gaining value and growing in the Long run. The airport and new road from the airport is news we need to focus on for long-term value to our beloved 30a area and property.

I would love knowing more about the road to 98 near 30a? Can anyone catch me up?

Thought this article might add to those good feelings.

Some in Miami-Dade see competition in Panama-to-Panhandle shipping route

I like good news that things are going well with NW Florida! Hopefully gaining value and growing in the Long run. The airport and new road from the airport is news we need to focus on for long-term value to our beloved 30a area and property.

I would love knowing more about the road to 98 near 30a? Can anyone catch me up?

You can look under SoWal Community, Local Government and see thread on New Road, 388 extension that discusses the connector road planned for SoWal from Highway 98 near Peach Creek and Pt. Washington to Bay County and new airport. This will make for a very short commute, shorter, to South Walton from the new airport. The Northwest Florida Daily News has far less coverage on the Bay County airport and this extension road than the Bay County Freedom Daily News. You really need to monitor both papers even though they do have some crossover stories. Past, and now future, SoWal interests lean heavily toward Bay. Certainly, business interests should not neglect the importance of Bay County alliances. But, be independent and honest.

Thanks people for the updates. So much bad news, I tend to look long and see the glass half-full. Respects to Shelley as leader of the half empty outlook.

Thanks people for the updates. So much bad news, I tend to look long and see the glass half-full. Respects to Shelley as leader of the half empty outlook.

Ah, but one thing to think about here...where does SHELLY live? ;-)

Thanks people for the updates. So much bad news, I tend to look long and see the glass half-full. Respects to Shelley as leader of the half empty outlook.

Whether the glass is half-full or half-empty actually depends on how far the investulator is underwater on his investment.

.

Ah, but one thing to think about here...where does SHELLY live? ;-)

<Raises hand> ;-)

Knew you were out there Shelly!

Just want to acknowledge you have predicted a lot of the mess, maybe even doing a service by warning the newbies.

I can make the payments on my properties, so I guess I am still "right side up." Glass half full!

Just know I think 30a and property along it is still paradise and just cause its worth (less) it will be paradise for a long time to come!

Airport is a big plus as we go forward.


PS - Sorry about spelling your name wrong, been idle a long time!

;-)

The following is from www.pcbdaily.com
Main Runway is PAVED at New Airport - VIDEO!



Written by Jason Koertge
3 Comments
Last Updated: February 2, 2009


That’s right, the approved 8,400 feet of the main runway at the new airport site in Panama City is complete. With the exception of the center where the runway lights will be installed, they are done. Approval should come shortly from the FAA for the extension to the full 10,000 feet which will take just over 14 days to complete.


Onsite, they have the capability to produce concrete at the pace of filling a new mixing truck every 2.5 minutes so the actual paving goes pretty quick. The concrete layer is 15 inches thick and it lays on top of 4 inches of asphalt. The density is also much greater than the stuff you use to to pour your home’s foundation.


The terminal barely resembles a frame right now but is coming along. Construction time on the terminal will last almost the duration of the project, along with te air traffic control tower. The air traffic control tower has 72 piles already installed that reach 45 feet into the earth. Instead of using pre-cast piles, they used auger-cast piles said Roy Willett, Senior Project Manager of KBR. Auger-cast piles are set by drilling into the ground, and as the dirt comes up, it is replaced with concrete, all the while placing a steel rebar pole down the middle for reinforcement. In the video, you can see where the earth movers are digging around the rebar to clear out the top of the pilings.


In my interview with Dr. Ed Wright, stand-in director of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance, it was mentioned that he wasn’t sure if the new airport would need any modifications with regards to turn-radius/taxiway requirements to accommodate the large Airbus A380 or other large cargo aircraft. Willett confirmed that short of the largest of the Antonov and the largest of the Airforce’s cargo planes, the new airport will be able to accommodate it all with the 10,000 foot runway - turning radii and all. Awesome, just flat-out awesome.!


The Panama City Airport relocation is moving along quickly with the main runway almost completely paved. The prep work has been done for the extension to 10,000 and upon FAA approval, will be complete within a couple weeks. The Terminal is under construction, as well as the air traffic control tower.


January Airport Construction Update on Vimeo


More terminal and runway construction photos available by clicking on the photo above.

That is a lot of concrete!

If it's paved, what's that ditch in the middle?



Is that for lights?

gayboi, as the video explains, that "ditch" down the middle is awaiting the cans to be installed for the runway lights, before paving that section. Watch the video.

That is a lot of concrete!

You are right! Currently, about a mile and a half of concrete for the long runway, with more coming after approval, 15 inches thick.

The story I posted from PCBDaily.com - Panama City Beach Information, Real Estate, Panama City Bay County International Airport, Pier Park addresses the Airbus A380, but when I mentioned the Airbus A380 possibilities, I thought a couple of the pilots on SoWal.com told us that it that runway wouldn't be able to handle that load. Have there been changes from the original depth of the concrete which have now "firmed up" the question?

gayboi, as the video explains, that "ditch" down the middle is awaiting the cans to be installed for the runway lights, before paving that section. Watch the video.

Sorry I started to watch it, but the "cribs" style of editing is just hard to watch.

You are right! Currently, about a mile and a half of concrete for the long runway, with more coming after approval, 15 inches thick.

The story I posted from PCBDaily.com - Panama City Beach Information, Real Estate, Panama City Bay County International Airport, Pier Park addresses the Airbus A380, but when I mentioned the Airbus A380 possibilities, I thought a couple of the pilots on SoWal.com told us that it that runway wouldn't be able to handle that load. Have there been changes from the original depth of the concrete which have now "firmed up" the question?

Apparently if you can land a 747 then you can land an A380 with minor improvements.

Airbus A380 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This link gives the minimum landing distance which is less than 7,000 feet.

Aircraft Profiles

The new airport will be 10,000 feet and the width is the minimum A380 width of 150 feet so theoretically it's possible.

The reasons given for not being able to land the Airbus A380 (loaded with... let's say packages) was the depth of concrete, not the length of the runway.

That is a lot of concrete!

The concrete lobbyists are very strong in Florida...asphalt guys are right behind them!

Does anyone know where exactly the feeder road from walton county to the airport will meet 98? I've heard a few answers in different discussions.

Isn't there a dirt road running from West Bay to Watersound North? You can see it on the Google Satellite Map. I always assumed that is where it would run.

Actually see this thread for a previous discussion.

http://www.sowal.com/bb/real-estate-discussion/12194-nw-florida-transportation-corridor-plan.html

The map from the NWFTCA makes it appear further north/west which would require another bridge across the intracoastal waterway.

The reasons given for not being able to land the Airbus A380 (loaded with... let's say packages) was the depth of concrete, not the length of the runway.

Yes, and that was something I couldn't find was the thickness requirement for the A380. Wasn't that discussion back when they were considering an asphalt runway to save money?

Perhaps singinchicken can tell us how thick the new/upgraded runway at Hartsfield is?

The concrete lobbyists are very strong in Florida...asphalt guys are right behind them!

Mr. Hilton needs to finish his house. ;-)