Updates about Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (NWFBIA)

yeah!

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

At least they are smart enough not to mix their airport concrete connections with education.

I really can't wait for this airport to be finished. Hopefully we will have many carriers and competitive pricing with ATL and Orlando. I just flew to Puerto Rico and had to drive to Orlando to get a reasonable price. Prices from our region were about $500 and change, with many stops....direct from Orlando to Aguadilla $198 round trip including tax(Jet Blue).

Project updates on construction of the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport
- New terminal building construction

Construction Update - 1/22/09

Contract 1: Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting
The base bid earthwork and Main Access Road are significantly completed.

• 12,902 tons of asphalt base course is in place along Main Access Road (MRA) and loop road (60% of plan).
• Curb, lime rock, and asphalt base installation within terminal parking lots is now 100% complete.

On Runway 16-34:

• All of the asphalt base and 70% of the 15” concrete paving lanes have been placed on 8,500 linear feet.
• 36,521 tons of asphalt base and 50,000 cubic yards of structural concrete have been placed on 8,400 linear feet.

On Taxiway D:

• All lime rock base and the first 2” lift of asphalt base have been placed.
• 10,437 tons of asphalt base has been placed on Taxiway D and the main apron.

The stormwater drainage pipe installation is now 99% complete. The storm sewer installation within the General Aviation Area is now 20% complete.
Over 5.7 million cubic yards of earth has been moved (99% of total). Mass grading within Pond C is now completed.
There are 115 pieces of heavy equipment in operation at any one time with approximately 160 personnel on site.

Contract 2: Terminal Building, Air Traffic Control Tower and Support Buildings
Approximately 17% of the project time on this contract has been utilized and 14% of the work released to date is in place.
Terminal:

• 100% of the spread footings have been excavated and formed, steel reinforcing continues with approximately 8% left to complete.
• 70% of the spread footings have been poured along with 70% of Level 1 columns.
• Plumbing rough-in under slab 1st floor is approximately 60% complete and tested.
• Backfilling and compaction continues around all completed footings and columns.

Air Traffic Control Tower:

• 72 Auger cast piles in place utilizing the revised/tested foundation design.

Air Cargo Facility:

• Completed slab on grade.
• Delivery of pre-engineered building to arrive in February.
• Continuing installation of storm water pipe and structures.

Air Maintenance Facility:

• Storm water pipe and structures in progress.
• Under slab electrical and plumbing rough in complete.

Public Safety Building:

• Completed excavation and installation of reinforcing steel in spread footings.
• Completed concrete placement and installation of anchor bolts.
• Completed excavation for perimeter footings and began setting reinforcing steel.

Rental Car Facility:

• Utilities and storm water pipe expected to start by February.

Contract 3: Utility Contract
Contract has been executed and all necessary submittals, insurance and bonds have been received from the Contractor.
A limited Notice to Proceed was issued 7-January. The full Notice to Proceed was issued 19-January. Progress Metrics to date:

• 12” Water Main 2,230 linear feet (10%)
• 8” Sewer Force Main 1,525 linear feet (9%)
• Street Light Conduit 3,765 linear feet (10%)
• 3?2” Ductbank 5,140 linear feet (21%)

Construction Update - 2/4/09


Contract 1: Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting
On the Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting contract, the construction team has completed 75% of the contract work and used only 51% of the contract time. The following milestones have been reached:

• 85% of the 15” concrete paving lanes have been placed on 8,400 linear feet of Runway 16-34.
• Runway 16-34 Touch Down Zone and Centerline light cans are being set.
• On Taxiway D and main terminal apron, all lime rock base and the first lift of asphalt paving is in place.

Production volumes in place are as follows:

• 62,354 tons of asphalt pavement in place (both airside and landside).
• 151,307 square yards of landside lime rock base and 130,885 square yards of flightline P-211 lime rock base have been installed in accordance with the project specifications.
• 47,000 cubic yards of the 67,200 cubic yards of 15” concrete runway pavement is in place.
• 98% of the original RCP storm sewer installations are complete (33,086 linear feet).
• 66,258 linear feet of perforated under-drain has been installed along the taxiways and runways (42% of total).Storm sewer installation within the General Aviation Area is 30% complete.
• 5.7 million cubic yards of earth has been moved (99% of total).
• Mass grading within Pond C now 98% complete.
• 105 pieces of heavy equipment in operation at any one time with approximately 123 personnel on site.

Contract 2: Terminal Building, ATCT and Support Buildings
On the Terminal Building, ATCT and Support Buildings contract, the construction team has completed 14% of contract work and utilized 19% of the contract time. Specific work includes the following:

• Terminal: Shoring for Level 2 areas B and C continues in the terminal building.
• Terminal: Plumbing rough-in continues.
• Air Traffic Control Tower: Excavation around auger cast piles is complete and ready for installation of pile cap.
• Air Cargo Facility: Completed slab pour at truck well/forming retaining walls.
• Public Safety Building: Rebar at perimeter footings nearly complete.

Contract 3: Utility Contract
On the Utility Contract, the construction team has completed 4% of contract work and utilized 6% of the contract time. On the Main Access Road:

• 12” water main: 38% complete
• 8” force main: 38% complete
• 3W2” Power Distribution Duct Bank: 26% complete
• Street light duct work: 36% complete

Rumors about Okaloosa Airport Surface Again

apparently the rumors about Okaloosa Regional Airport are back:


Okaloosa fighting 'airport defamation' | airport, panama, city - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

:roll:

Okaloosa County officials say rivals are launching "deliberate and slanderous attacks" against Northwest Florida Regional Airport, which, despite word out of Panama City, is nowhere near the brink of closing.

"We are surely on the border, if we're not already there, of slander and libel," said County Commissioner John Jannazo. "This has really gone too far. It's sustained and systemic."

Asked if Okaloosa could take legal action, county attorney John Dowd said, "There is a possibility."

Relations between Northwest Florida Regional and Panama City-Bay County International Airport have been strained for much of the past year. In January 2008, the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce released a mass e-mail claiming Eglin Air Force Base planned to close Northwest Florida Regional by May 2010. The claim was in a bulleted list of talking points sent to more than 900 chamber members to drum up support for a new airport in Bay County.

Eglin's incoming Joint Strike Fighter mission would push Okaloosa's commercial air traffic out of the sky, the e-mail claimed. Okaloosa's airports director at the time called it a "stinking rumor."

"I'm here to tell the board that it is inaccurate, it's untrue ... and we need to get these attacks to stop," current Airports Director Greg Donovan said Tuesday night. "It's absolutely unprofessional ... to see these lines start to be crossed. It angers me, quite honestly."

Eglin also quickly denied the closing rumor. The Air Force's lease to Northwest Florida Regional was recently renewed through 2032. The Panama City Beach chamber later apologized for any confusion, but Okaloosa commissioners said Tuesday that the rumors haven't stopped.

The Walton TDC announced today that if they get the bed tax increase it will go to whichever airport gets the low cost carrier first. Let the races begin.

Usually Sturgeon's law is very much in effect for the Daily News comments sections, but some funny one this time:

"Our airport officials have been very respectful not to publically comment on the failed Panama City Airport public referendum, lawsuits, and many other negative challenges of constructing your new facility."

Coastal Vision 3000 not quite 20/20

Airport Wars Save Email Print
Posted: 7:32 AM Feb 18, 2009
Last Updated: 7:45 AM Feb 18, 2009
Reporter: Alex Denis
Email Address: Alex.denis@wjhg.com
0 comments
Tuesday night Okaloosa County commissioners threatened to take legal action against a number of Bay County figures over what they called deliberate and slanderous attacks.
Commissioners took up the issue at the request of Northwest Florida Regional Airport's Director Greg Donovan.
Donovan presented commissioners with two lists.
One was a list of people who supposedly spread misinformation through the media about Northwest Florida Regional closing because of a bad relationship with the military. Northwest Florida uses the runways at Eglin Air Force Base.
The second list contained names supposedly provided by U-S Congressmen and Senators, who said Bay County officials told them Northwest Florida Regional was closing.
Apparently both airports had delegations in Washington within a week of each other earlier this year.
One of the names on that second list was St. Joe Company official Jerry Ray, who is also a board member of the Coastal Vision 3000 organization.
Wayne Harris, Okaloosa County Commissioner, was upset.
"The rumors and lies that were spread now are on the Hill in Congress and it torkes me off."
Greg Donovan is the NWF Regional Airport?s Director.
"I really hoped it wouldn't come to this. These attacks have been taking places over the last year. In short of coming to the board and possibly taking legal action I don't know how we can get these to stop."
Okaloosa commissioners instructed their attorney to draw up a legal strategy for this issue. They'll meet in two weeks to consider a course of action.

Airport Wars

apparently the rumors about Okaloosa Regional Airport are back:


Okaloosa fighting 'airport defamation' | airport, panama, city - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

:roll:

I'll always land at Eglin, it's my 'hometown airport' and I love those long runways. Plus, the drive in takes you over the bay which is always so nice after a long trip.

I'll always land at Eglin, it's my 'hometown airport' and I love those long runways. Plus, the drive in takes you over the bay which is always so nice after a long trip.

You have a military pass that guarantees that? Eglin is getting that whole new program. :scratch: Of course the military always takes into account the small town airport vs. the new program with thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in spending.

Eglin just extended the VPS airport lease until like 2030. It's in their own best interest to have some form of commercial aviation service for their troops and civilian employees that isn't an hour's drive one way from base.

How many ?

Do you know how many runways this airport will have? Will it be like Atlanta or is that too hopeful?

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.

Do you know how many runways this airport will have? Will it be like Atlanta or is that too hopeful?

I hope it's NOT like Atlanta. I've spent too much of my life in that airport to remotely like it. It gives me more of a migraine than that thought of shopping in a busy mall.

Do you know how many runways this airport will have? Will it be like Atlanta or is that too hopeful?

Two runways.

Primary is 8,000' long. The secondary is far shorter (only 5,000') and will be a crosswind option for aircraft that cannot use the long runway when the winds are too great. It is too short for larger aircraft and will not have an instrument approach landing system.

I think there is enough overrun on the primary to lengthen it, but without digging it up and relaying it, the runway will not support anything larger than a full A-320 or a very very light 757. Don't plan on seeing either of those for a while, though. The A-320 was only used as the design model for the runway and taxiways and no inferrence should me made from it regarding the aircraft that will serve the new airport...

You have a military pass that guarantees that? Eglin is getting that whole new program. :scratch: Of course the military always takes into account the small town airport vs. the new program with thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in spending.

The F-35 program won't have any affect on normal airport operations. Much is being made about the environmental and noise impact, but I don't think either is a factor. The Air Force version of the plane is referred to as a CTOL aircraft which stands for conventional takeoff and landing. Only the Marine version will have vertical capability. In other words, the F-35 will replace the F-16's that fly out of Eglin.

Actually, the primary runway is 10,000 feet long which is long enough for most any aircraft.

Actually, the primary runway is 10,000 feet long which is long enough for most any aircraft.

Ah, yup. You are correct. That's a change to the original plan. Looks like they thickened it as well which is the really important part.

Unfortunately, the website has been redesigned and the orginal plans are no longer there that I can see. The ramp area was to be constructed to the A-320 model as well. I can't find anything on the new site that says it has been thickened as well which would be important.

Unfortunately, traffic dictates aircraft so it's going to be a while before anything big shows up. Eglin still kicks PC's butt in passenger traffic which may be why there's a misinformation campaign taking place between the two chambers of commerce.

County passes 5th cent bed tax | cent, 5th, vote - Breaking News - The News Herald

February 17, 2009 11:18:00 AM


Bay County commissioners voted this morning 4-1 to give the TDC its 5th cent bed tax to use for luring in a low-cost air carrier.
The commission needed a 4-1 super majority vote to levy the fifth cent and got the necessary vote from Chairman Jerry Girvin, who joined commissioners Mike Thomas, Mike Nelson and Bill Dozier. Commissioner George Gainer dissented, saying the timing was wrong.
"I don't totally agree with the idea of this tax but I think we would be in error if we did not give it a try," Girvin said immediately prior to casting the deciding vote.
Moments earlier, Girvin said it was a very difficult decision, one that he has wrestled with for the past two weeks.
If nothing else, he said, the issue "suggests to me this is a perfect time to buy a motor vehicle and move to Alaska," referring to the intense pressure the commissioners have received about the issue.
Girvin said he knew his vote, which ever way it went, would disappoint people he respects.
"I would like to say we (the county) could fund this operation, but we can't," Girvin said, pointing to diminishing revenues.
The 5th cent tax will sunset after five years.

Local officials say they are not behind airport rumors - The News Herald

Local airport officials struck back Wednesday at the idea that they are rumor mongers.
Okaloosa County Commissioners threatened legal action Tuesday against proponents of the new Bay County airport for allegedly spreading rumors that the Northwest Florida Regional Airport will close in 2010. Joe Tannehill, the chairman of the Panama City-Bay County International Airport Authority said local officials have not been spreading rumors about their neighbors.
"They need to be worrying about their own business and let us worry about ours," Tannehill said. "They are the ones that seem to be paranoid over our new airport."
He added that Okaloosa officials seem afraid of a little competition.
"I do think they're hearing the footsteps of us getting cranked up over here," Tannehill said. "Time is going to tell how successful we are and how successful they are."

....

Local officials say they are not behind airport rumors - The News Herald

....

While these two airports in neighboring counties are duking it out and working very hard to establish seperate name identification, we in SoWal and Walton County would be wise to remember to promote Walton County venues, place names and The Beaches of South Walton as the preferred place that all these travelers really want to come to in the first place. It is "okay" to be better in any number of topics (best beaches, restaurants, resorts, eco-system, history, etc). We can have some group hugs with neighboring counties from time to time, but we always need to remember to first promote our treasures and assets.

Ah, yup. You are correct. That's a change to the original plan. Looks like they thickened it as well which is the really important part.

Unfortunately, the website has been redesigned and the orginal plans are no longer there that I can see. The ramp area was to be constructed to the A-320 model as well. I can't find anything on the new site that says it has been thickened as well which would be important.

Unfortunately, traffic dictates aircraft so it's going to be a while before anything big shows up. Eglin still kicks PC's butt in passenger traffic which may be why there's a misinformation campaign taking place between the two chambers of commerce.

I believe the runway is 15" thick. Just curious how thick the runways are at Hartsfield?

While these two airports in neighboring counties are duking it out and working very hard to establish seperate name identification, we in SoWal and Walton County would be wise to remember to promote Walton County venues, place names and The Beaches of South Walton as the preferred place that all these travelers really want to come to in the first place. It is "okay" to be better in any number of topics (best beaches, restaurants, resorts, eco-system, history, etc). We can have some group hugs with neighboring counties from time to time, but we always need to remember to first promote our treasures and assets.

Luckily we have that Coastal Vision 3000 (pronounced TARP) to promote the area. ;-):funn:

I believe the runway is 15" thick. Just curious how thick the runways are at Hartsfield?

I can't say for sure, but I remember when they built the new international ramp. The concrete they poured for the ramp / taxiway areas was about 2-1/2 feet thick reinforced with rebar. A couple years ago they redid runway 26L - 8R. The slabs they were hauling off in the dumptrucks were close to three feet thick...