Updates about Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (NWFBIA)

PANAMA CITY - Airport Authority members made a decision Tuesday that could mean as much to regional economic development as the original decision to build the new airport near West Bay.
Members chose Jones Lang LeSalle over four other companies to manage the industrial and commercial development of 1,400 acres of land surrounding the new Panama City-Bay County International Airport, set to open in May 2010.
Jones officials gave a presentation during which they billed themselves as a global real estate services and investment company with 750 location in 60 countries.
"You certainly seem to have the network we are looking for," said Authority Vice Chairman Bill Cramer.
Jones was chosen over the following companies: Hunt Development Group, St. Joe/Haskell, Taylor & Mathis and TranSystems.
The Airport Authority will now enter into contract negotiation with Jones Lang LaSalle over a financial compensation package that will take the form of sharing revenue from the development of the property.

• Installation of underground utilities continues in the General Aviation area.
• 8400’ of Runway 16-34 is 100% complete. (Still awaiting final approval for 10,000’)
• Installation of the centerline lighting cans is approximately 80% complete.

A contractor building the new Panama City airport has repeatedly violated water pollution rules and now is likely to face a fine from the state Department of Environmental Protection, a top DEP official said recently.

"We really want this fixed," said Dick Fancher, who oversees the DEP in the Panhandle.

But the contractor, James Finch of Phoenix Construction, denies causing any pollution. "We've not had any violations," said Finch, a NASCAR team owner whose driver won Sunday's race at Talladega. Finch's construction company has been penalized before for violating water pollution laws.

Told that Fancher had mentioned fining his company, Finch blurted out, "A fine?!" He blamed "birdwatchers" for reporting problems that didn't exist.

Airport contractor faces environmental fine:

Panama City airport builder faces environmental fine - St. Petersburg Times

Kurt, Thank you for keeping us updated on the progress of the airport. Do not answer if you wish not to do so but are you involved in keeping track of the construction in any way? At any rate, it is important to keep abreast of the progress and, once again, your input, research and effort to do so is greatly appreciated.

You're welcome. I am not directly involved. I simply get the email updates from their site because I am keenly interested and want to pass on the info.

Sometimes development, changes, and progress seem to take forever, and sometimes they seem to happen overnight. Ever notice that?

The three major airports on the Emerald Coast do not appear immune from hard times in today's slumping economy.


Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport appears to be hurting the most. For each of the first four months of 2009, its drop in boardings has ranged from 16.5 percent to 22.3 percent. The Panama City-Bay County International Airport has seen a drop ranging from 3 percent in March to 8.8 percent in January.


Pensacola does have the most carriers (six) and the most daily flights in and out (76), according to its Web site. Northwest Florida Regional Airport has five carriers and 54 daily flights, while Panama City has two carriers and 11 daily flights.
Randy Curtis, director of Panama City's airport, said "about two-thirds of the balance here is business and military travel."


The Air Force is the main reason for Northwest Florida Regional's stability, said Greg Donovan, Okaloosa County's airports director.


"There's a lot of business activity associated with the military, because if you work for Lockheed and you're connected with the F-35, you can come from Fort Worth on American Eagle," Donovan said. He also referenced that the airport property belongs to Eglin Air Force, which controls the air space.


"We've got involvement with Eglin, we're connected with Hurlburt (Field) and we've got those Army Special Forces coming in here, too," he said. "All those things mean activity here that is resilient to a national downtrend."


Melinda Crawford, interim director of Pensacola's airport, estimated 53 percent of its passengers come on business, 26 percent are connected with the military and 21 percent are classified as "leisure."


At Northwest Florida Regional, the breakdown is 42 percent military/civil service/government contractors, 30 percent leisure and 28 percent business other than military.


All three continue to compete in a market that's known throughout the Southeast as a drive-to destination. Last year, Pensacola added "Gulf Coast" to its name. It also has a $35 million expansion under way. Okaloosa Regional Airport became Northwest Florida Regional last September. The airport's new rental car service facility, fuel farm and aircraft parking area were completed in March at a price tag of $14.7 million.


In Bay County, the $318 million airport near West Bay scheduled for completion in May 2010 has been trumpeting its "international" title for months.

Holy grail

Still, low fares cannot be ignored when it comes to customer appeal, and Pensacola does have low-cost carrier Air Tran. Even so, securing Southwest Airlines remains a sort of holy grail quest for all three airports.


Curtis calls Southwest "one of our major objectives, and they're the cream of the crop."
At the University of West Florida's Haas Center, Rod Lewis is preparing a seven-county report on airlines that is due for delivery July 1.


"Every community is looking for increased air service and low-cost carriers to improve the tourist environment and expand its reach," Lewis said. "The result would be more business and more convention visitors."


What determines the winner in this ongoing contest?


"The number of people employed at each airport, the number of flights in and out and the total number of people they bring into the region," Lewis said. "And having them spend their money in the region that would not have come but for that airport."

Donovan and assistant Mike Stenson have a June 3 meeting scheduled with representatives from Southwest.


But Mike Boyd, who heads aviation consulting firm The Boyd Group in Colorado, doesn't think Southwest will come anytime soon. Boyd is considered a national expert who appeared at Donovan's invitation in Fort Walton Beach last year.

"You have to bang on their door," Boyd said. "They'll say they love you, but they might not be there. They're going to open Milwaukee this fall, and they're not coming to small and mid-size markets right now.


"But you can never trust an airline when they tell you ‘no,'" he added. "They'll say they're not coming right up until the day they sign a deal to come there."


As for the overall picture in the near future, Boyd said he is not optimistic.


"The airlines are cutting back in capacity, anticipating a major reduction in travel this fall," he said. "It's not going to be a rosy picture ... about 12 percent less capacity this fall."

The three major airports on the Emerald Coast do not appear immune from hard times in today's slumping economy.


Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport appears to be hurting the most. For each of the first four months of 2009, its drop in boardings has ranged from 16.5 percent to 22.3 percent. The Panama City-Bay County International Airport has seen a drop ranging from 3 percent in March to 8.8 percent in January.


Pensacola does have the most carriers (six) and the most daily flights in and out (76), according to its Web site. Northwest Florida Regional Airport has five carriers and 54 daily flights, while Panama City has two carriers and 11 daily flights.
Randy Curtis, director of Panama City's airport, said "about two-thirds of the balance here is business and military travel."


The Air Force is the main reason for Northwest Florida Regional's stability, said Greg Donovan, Okaloosa County's airports director.


"There's a lot of business activity associated with the military, because if you work for Lockheed and you're connected with the F-35, you can come from Fort Worth on American Eagle," Donovan said. He also referenced that the airport property belongs to Eglin Air Force, which controls the air space.


"We've got involvement with Eglin, we're connected with Hurlburt (Field) and we've got those Army Special Forces coming in here, too," he said. "All those things mean activity here that is resilient to a national downtrend."


Melinda Crawford, interim director of Pensacola's airport, estimated 53 percent of its passengers come on business, 26 percent are connected with the military and 21 percent are classified as "leisure."


At Northwest Florida Regional, the breakdown is 42 percent military/civil service/government contractors, 30 percent leisure and 28 percent business other than military.


All three continue to compete in a market that's known throughout the Southeast as a drive-to destination. Last year, Pensacola added "Gulf Coast" to its name. It also has a $35 million expansion under way. Okaloosa Regional Airport became Northwest Florida Regional last September. The airport's new rental car service facility, fuel farm and aircraft parking area were completed in March at a price tag of $14.7 million.


In Bay County, the $318 million airport near West Bay scheduled for completion in May 2010 has been trumpeting its "international" title for months.

Holy grail

Still, low fares cannot be ignored when it comes to customer appeal, and Pensacola does have low-cost carrier Air Tran. Even so, securing Southwest Airlines remains a sort of holy grail quest for all three airports.


Curtis calls Southwest "one of our major objectives, and they're the cream of the crop."
At the University of West Florida's Haas Center, Rod Lewis is preparing a seven-county report on airlines that is due for delivery July 1.


"Every community is looking for increased air service and low-cost carriers to improve the tourist environment and expand its reach," Lewis said. "The result would be more business and more convention visitors."


What determines the winner in this ongoing contest?


"The number of people employed at each airport, the number of flights in and out and the total number of people they bring into the region," Lewis said. "And having them spend their money in the region that would not have come but for that airport."

Donovan and assistant Mike Stenson have a June 3 meeting scheduled with representatives from Southwest.


But Mike Boyd, who heads aviation consulting firm The Boyd Group in Colorado, doesn't think Southwest will come anytime soon. Boyd is considered a national expert who appeared at Donovan's invitation in Fort Walton Beach last year.

"You have to bang on their door," Boyd said. "They'll say they love you, but they might not be there. They're going to open Milwaukee this fall, and they're not coming to small and mid-size markets right now.


"But you can never trust an airline when they tell you ?no,'" he added. "They'll say they're not coming right up until the day they sign a deal to come there."


As for the overall picture in the near future, Boyd said he is not optimistic.


"The airlines are cutting back in capacity, anticipating a major reduction in travel this fall," he said. "It's not going to be a rosy picture ... about 12 percent less capacity this fall."

• 8400’ of Runway 16-34 is 100% complete. (Still awaiting final approval for 10,000’)
• Grooving of the runway is complete.
• Final grading of the main access road is underway.
• Paving of the taxiway connectors is underway.
• Turf establishment in the western perimeter ditch is complete.
• Stabilization of Morrell Branch outfall is complete.

• Continue erecting structural steel at Areas B&C (Connector Hall and Ticketing/Airline offices) with 90% complete.
• Continue with metal decking with nearly 70% complete.
• Continue with the installation of underground utility runs including plumbing and electrical rough-in.
• Began the excavations for the pedestrian bridge from Terminal to Terminal Parking.
• Began fire sprinkler install at Area A (baggage reclaim).

• Completed concrete pour of 3rd floor shaft walls.
• Continue installing reinforcing steel levels 4 and 5.

• Continue erecting metal panels and roofing.

• Continue with layout and forming of foundations for rental car facility.

• Completed concrete placement slab on grade admin area of PSB.
• Split face block delivered and ready for install.

• 3W2” Power Distribution Duct Bank is 87% complete.
• Street light duct work is 87% complete.
• 6W4” Power Distribution Duct Bank is 87% complete

• 24” water main is 98% complete

• 12” water main is 69% complete

• Lift station is 35% complete.

• Site work continuing.

• 2 weeks to completion.
• AT&T duct bank installed from main gate to intersection.

• Expected completion date: May 30.

• Site work beginning.

• 8400’ of Runway 16-34 is 100% complete. (Awaiting final approval for 10,000’)
• Seeding and mulching continuing on the Main Access Road.
• Sub-grade being placed on taxiways in the General Aviation area.
• Stabilization of the Perimeter Road is ongoing.
• Sand being installed in the bottom of Pond C.

• Completing structural steel sequence 6-13.
• Continue with metal framing of exterior walls in Area A 1st and 2nd level.
• Completing roof decking in Area’s A and B and partial in C.
• Began the excavations for the pedestrian bridge from Terminal to Terminal Parking.
• Began fire sprinkler install at Area A (baggage reclaim).

• Completed concrete pour on shaft walls level 5.

• Continuing metal stud walls.

• Completing installation of settling tanks for Car Wash.

• Began installation of CMU walls.

• The average man power on site for Contract 2 per day is 105 people based on a five day work week.
• Approximately 17 people work on Saturday.

• 3W2” Power Distribution Duct Bank is 87.5% complete: Working on final tie-in underway & transformer pads.

• Street light duct work is 87% complete; wire is being pulled.

• 6W4” Power Distribution Duct Bank is 87.5% complete.

• 24” water main is 98% complete.

• 30” water main is 80% complete.

• 12” water main is 73% complete.

• Station is 35% complete; plumbing is being installed.

• Work is complete.

• Work is 2% complete; site work is ongoing and the grounding system is being installed.

• Site work is underway.

• Notice to proceed issued on June 8, 2009.

THE ST. JOE COMPANY (NYSE: JOE) ANNOUNCES MASTERPLANNING AGREEMENTS WITH HASKELL AND TRANSYSTEMS​

The man Okaloosa County commissioners believe went to Washington, D.C., to campaign for the closure of the Northwest Florida Regional Airport is still on the board of directors at Coastal Vision 3000.

But the chairman of that regional board, which was formed to promote all of Northwest Florida, told commissioners Tuesday that it won't happen again.


"I can assure you if anybody on the board does not adhere to the principles that I just spoke about, we would address that," said Davage "Buddy" Runnels, chairman of Coastal Vision 3000.


While meeting with area congressmen in Washington in February, Okaloosa officials learned that four supporters of the Panama City-Bay County International Airport now being built had met with lawmakers earlier to seek support for closing Northwest Florida Regional based on legal grounds with the Air Force.


One of the four people who reportedly met with the lawmakers was Jerry Ray, senior vice president of St. Joe Co. and a board member of Coastal Vision 3000.


St. Joe donated 4,000 acres for the Panama City-Bay County International Airport.


County commissioners sent a letter to Runnels after the controversy broke, asking that Ray be removed from the board. Runnels confirmed at Tuesday's meeting that Ray is still on the board, but commissioners did not press the issue.


Runnels also did not address the recent controversy directly. Instead, he talked about moving forward.


"I want us to focus on things that unite us to work together to succeed, not divide us," Runnels said.


According to Okaloosa officials, the three other people who petitioned for Northwest Florida Regional Airport's closure were Panama City attorney William Harrison; Brian Yablonski, the vice president of public affairs for St. Joe Co.; and Lisa Walters, a Panama City attorney and chairwoman of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance.

This morning the CEO of Southwest Airlines, Gary Kelly, rang the opening bell at the NYSE to celebrate the airline's 38th anniversary. During his interview with a CNBC talking head, he mentioned that Southwest was extending service to LaGuardia in NYC and Logan in Boston. He said his airline needed to cut back on the number of flights serviced in other areas in order to provide this new service because they couldn't afford to take on any more costs. Surprisingly, he made no mention of opening up full service to a new hub at THE? Beach Airport. :roll:

And you think a measly 1/2 cent bed tax increase will get them here?