Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
02/02/2023 01:00 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Overview: Department of Transportation & Public Facilities | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION STANDING COMMITTEE
February 2, 2023
1:02 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Kevin McCabe, Chair
Representative Craig Johnson
Representative Tom McKay
Representative Sarah Vance
Representative Louise Stutes
Representative Genevieve Mina
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Andrew Gray
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Craig Johnson
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
OVERVIEW: DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JOHN BINDER, Deputy Commissioner
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented a PowerPoint titled "Alaska
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Aviation
Overview."
RYAN MARLOW, Statewide UAS/Drone Program Coordinator
Division of Statewide Aviation
Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
Anchorage, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Co-presented a PowerPoint titled "Alaska
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Aviation
Overview."
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:02:20 PM
CHAIR KEVIN MCCABE called the House Transportation Standing
Committee meeting to order at 1:02 p.m. Representatives McKay,
Vance, Mina, and McCabe were present at the call to order.
Representatives Johnson and Stutes arrived as the meeting was in
progress.
^Overview: Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
Overview: Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
1:03:34 PM
CHAIR MCCABE announced that the only order of business would be
the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities overview.
1:04:33 PM
JOHN BINDER, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Transportation &
Public Facilities, introduced himself and explained he oversees
the aviation side of the department whose mission is "Keeping
Alaska Moving," as shown on slide 2, titled "Mission
Statements." He continued on slide 3, titled
"Organization/Leadership," and noted the 237 airports he
oversees, which include 2 in the Alaska International Airport
System: Anchorage, Alaska, and Fairbanks, Alaska. He briefly
focused next on slide 5, titled "AIAS" [Alaska International
Airport System], which he explained is an enterprise system - in
that Anchorage and Fairbanks generate all the revenue/all their
budget through rates and fees that they charge the carriers. He
moved on to slide 6, titled "Operating Agreement With Carriers."
He pointed out the 35 airline carriers that are signatory to the
agreement. On the renewal of another 10-year contract, he
stated it is significant in that most airports across the
country are not able to achieve a relationship with the carriers
that result in a 10-year contract; most are typically 5 years or
shorter.
1:08:25 PM
MR. BINDER continued on slide 7, titled "Annual Revenue And
Operations, Maintenance And Debt Costs," that showed the various
revenue sources he described as "very standard," and their
breakdowns. Operating, passenger facility charges, and interest
revenues are included, but he pointed out that anything related
to capital is not featured on the slide. He proceeded to slide
8, titled "Cargo Tonnage," and he stressed how big an issue air
cargo is - especially on the international side, primarily Asia.
1:10:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA questioned the dips shown in Januarys [2016
to 2022].
MR. BINDER responded it is due to the Chinese New Year,
explaining there is about a two-week period when Asian air
carriers shut down. There is also a drawdown after the holidays
that contributes to the dip.
1:11:00 PM
MR. BINDER continued to slide 9, titled "Primary Revenue Driver
Airfield Activity (CMGTW)," and he first pointed out the acronym
CMGTW stands for Certified Maximum Gross Takeoff Weight. He
noted that during the time the COVID-19 Pandemic began, the Ted
Stevens Anchorage International Airport was the busiest airport
in the world for multiple days due to heavy cargo activity.
1:12:41 PM
MR. BINDER moved on to slide 10, titled "Passenger Activity,"
that followed closely to slide 9 but featured the passenger
side. A line graph with passenger activity is shown for fiscal
year 2019 (FY 19) through part of FY 23, and the biggest
decrease in passenger activity occurred February-April FY 20.
1:13:48 PM
MR. BINDER continued to slide 11, titled "Capital Funding," that
highlighted the Anchorage, Alaska, and Fairbanks, Alaska,
Airport Improvement Program (AIP). He explained this is where
the vast majority of aviation funding from the FAA [Federal
Aviation Administration] comes through. The calculations, he
explained, would be broken down further along in the slideshow.
1:15:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked if the BIL/IIJA [Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law/Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act] funds
are going towards rural airports.
MR. BINDER answered that the funding for IIJA did not create any
new programs for the aviation side; the funding was just
increased through the normal program, which is the Airport
Improvement Program (AIP) program.
1:16:09 PM
MR. BINDER continued to slide 12, titled "Economic
Opportunities," primarily related to cargo activity at both
Alaska's major airports in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and he drew
extra attention to increased cargo activity causing the need for
additional parking spots. He expressed enthusiasm over some of
the development opportunities occurring. He explained that
DOT&PF also tries to leverage the Fairbanks International
Airport because it has additional capacity and aircraft will
often divert there.
1:18:12 PM
REPRESENTATIVE MINA asked about the sustainability aspect and
what the process for the research is.
MR. BINDER answered aviation fuel gathers a lot of attention as
for environmental impacts, but it is in the early stages - and
fuel is strictly an airline decision. The other piece is how
DOT&PF helps get the airlines that supply. Right now, it is not
realistic for intercontinental flying, but DOT&PF continues to
try and have good conversations going at all times with the
airlines.
1:19:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked what DOT&PF has in mind regarding
cold storage and whether there is a timeline as to when the cold
storage would be available.
MR. BINDER replied the answer expands to the broader issue of
warehousing needs at the airports that include cargo transfers,
where the cargo can be stored when planes run late, and when
cargo cannot be left on the ramp. A larger cold storage
facility would help accommodate some of the major cargo that
includes seafood that can be flown internationally. In response
to a follow-up question requesting a timeline, he replied that
2024 may be the earliest - but he can follow up and provide a
more accurate timeline.
1:22:07 PM
CHAIR MCCABE asked what happened to the plans for cargo parking
by the fuel tanks.
MR. BINDER replied the "6-A consortium" [6A Aviation Alaska
Consortium, Inc.] proposed that project, and currently the lease
is in a cancel status due to failure to pay both DOT&PF and the
consortium's contractors. It is currently sitting with the
Superior Court.
MR. BINDER had briefly shown a slide, titled "Statewide
Aviation," before moving to slide 14, titled "Rural System
Operating Budget," which is a snapshot of the budget. Contrary
to the international system, he stressed that nearly the entire
rural system is "general funded." The figures he read off the
slide are as follows [original punctuation provided]:
SFY 2022
Operating Cost = $39.4M (plus $18.9M in FFY 2022
Airport Improvement Program (AIP) federal funds for
Surface Maintenance and Snow Removal Equipment)
• CARES Act grant for $49.4M was applied to Rural
Airport operational costs for FFY 2020 and beyond.
Revenue = $11.52M ($6.97M Leasing + $4.55M fuel
taxes)
• Fuel Tax to Gen Fund = $4.55M less $.16M shared w/
Local Sponsors
System Sustainability
• Cost reductions/efficiencies
• Sand/Chemical optimization
• Maintenance conversion to federal program
Workforce challenges
MR. BINDER indicated under system sustainability, that it would
be a preference to move that off the state dollar. He explained
that the FAA strongly strives to work with airports to make them
self-sustaining. In the meantime, DOT&PF is doing everything
possible to reduce those costs. In the village airports, he
noted the difficulties finding the skillsets that would add to a
strong workforce.
1:26:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES asked if there are any kinds of training
programs for operators tasked with keeping runways clear.
MR. BINDER replied yes, but DOT&PF is having a hard time finding
people with the initial skillset to be hired.
1:29:20 PM
CHAIR MCCABE asked Mr. Binder to expound on repair costs in the
rural airport system caused by vandalism, and if there is a plan
to make "baseball bat-proof" runway lights.
MR. BINDER replied that vandalism is a challenge, but
advertising in schools is part of DOT&PF outreach so that the
importance of a safe airport is relayed to people, and for them
to be aware that vandalism is a felony. He continued to slide
15, titled "AIP Rural System Capital Funding," which featured
federal fiscal year 2016 (FFY 16) through FFY 22 federal capital
funding. He explained the amount allocated is dependent on the
number of airports there are and how busy they are. The funds
are allowed to be pooled, he explained, in a prioritized manner.
1:33:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES asked about the relationship between
DOT&PF and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) in reference to the Yakutat airport problem where planes
can't land because of equipment.
MR. BINDER replied most airlines are operating under instrument
flight rules, so although the day may look clear, the equipment
goes down and therefore pilots are not getting accurate weather
readings. He stated that NOAA has some systems, but DOT&PF does
not have any control in this.
MR. BINDER continued on slide 16, titled "Aviation Projects
(FY22/23)," which featured projected construction projects. He
noted the rural system is well built out as for state of good
repair/safety.
1:37:34 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES asked Mr. Binder to reiterate what
constitutes a "rural airport."
MR. BINDER replied a rural airport is classified as any other
than those in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
MR. BINDER explained that slide 17, titled "Airport Improvement
Program (AIP) For DOT&PF Airports in FFY 2022," answered the
question of how AIP is determined for the state. The slide
featured breakdowns by cargo entitlements, primary passenger
entitlement, non-primary passenger entitlement, state
apportionment, Alaska supplemental, discretionary, and
supplemental discretionary grants totaling ~$256 million.
1:40:36 PM
MR. BINDER invited Mr. Marlow to join the presentation via
Teams.
1:41:14 PM
RYAN MARLOW, Statewide UAS/Drone Program Coordinator, Division
of Statewide Aviation, Department of Transportation & Public
Facilities, transitioned into the presentation on slide 18,
titled "Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air
Mobility (AAM)." He advanced to slide 19, titled "Alaska UAS
Development," which featured the amount of funding coming in as
follows [original punctuation provided]:
$35.4 Million Programmed for CY 2023 for UAS Research
and Development
Funding Sources
• U.S. DOT & FAA
• State of Alaska
• Private investments
Partnerships
• ACUASI
• State of Alaska agencies
• Federal
• Private industry
1:43:21 PM
MR. MARLOW proceeded to slide 20, titled "2022-2023 Alaska UAS
Growth Stats." He explained just this year, Alaska is the first
state in the nation to have more registered unmanned aircraft
compared to other states, and he noted there is a much higher
population of non-registered systems. He pointed out that
airspace is a major resource for the state for evaluating
technologies. He continued on slide 21, titled "Advanced Air
Mobility (AAM)," which featured 5 regions within the state
broken down by areas of communities, economy, how people get
around, and how goods are transported.
1:47:20 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE opined that the chart [on slide 21] was
"one of the best snapshots" to portray the full perspective that
law makers must take into consideration. She stated she will
share the slide on her web pages.
1:48:24 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES asked about any special licensing the
operators of unmanned vehicles must possess.
MR. MARLOW confirmed all pilots must have the remote pilot's
certificate.
1:49:47 PM
MR. BINDER rejoined the presentation following additional
commentary he provided on the many pilots that are now licensed,
what the UAS are used for, and the remote sensing laboratory.
He noted there will be more details on this next week. He
continued on slide 22, titled "Airport Workforce," which
featured challenges and solutions from the aviation perspective.
He stressed one of the biggest challenges being to find
qualified and interested people, and to address continued
training needs. He also explained project delivery is dependent
on funding, leaving some projects to be incomplete for years.
As for solutions, he noted expanding to nationwide recruitment
efforts, success being had in flexible work schedule options for
employees, and incentive pay contributing to retention.
1:54:39 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES observed the much larger size of UAS, not
small like a "little drone."
MR. BINDER replied that most DOT&PF systems are small, sub-scale
at 20 to 50 pounds. There are various sizes depending on what
they will be used for; it comes down to what type of "payload"
that would drive a larger system. He continued on slide 23,
titled "Airport Environment." Keeping airports clear due to
weather is highlighted as a major obstacle, and there is "the
equipment element." He eluded again to the higher performance
requirements needed. One solution he focused on was road
weather station (RWS) utilization, which feeds into the National
Weather Service resulting in much more foresight.
1:57:47 PM
MR. BINDER proceeded to slide 24, titled "Remote Airport
Lighting," where the question of the working order of airport
lights is a concern. He explained it is a very expensive
project to fix being that it is one element that must be
contracted out, and DOT&PF will make efforts to delay the fix
until it can be paired with another project such as runway
servicing. He noted emergency lighting systems that are
available as an option for a scenario such as a helicopter
medivac. The lights are located primarily at places with no
runway lights. He concluded the presentation and offered to
answer questions from the committee.
2:00:26 PM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE commented on the airport leases for parking
spaces, and the backlog in requests in the leasing office. She
requested more information on why there is this backlog and what
the process is.
MR. BINDER replied as far as a backlog, he is not aware of
leasing being able to manage those applications, and a lot of
time there is back and forth with incomplete applications
submitted. He said he will do research on this. Specifically
related to Homer, there is a terminal upgrade project. He
stated that the parking needs of additional airports will be
addressed, as well as the best way to move forward.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE asked about the assessment of abandoned
vehicles impacting the airports and how bad the problem is. She
noted recognizing the budgetary need for the abandoned vehicle
fund would be helpful for future planning.
MR. BINDER agreed and stated he will provide more information on
a future date.
2:05:36 PM
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES commented on two different business owners
in Kodiak, Alaska, who have been in touch with DOT&PF because of
parking lot and structure problems. She noted the lack of
response from the state, and she offered to provide Mr. Binder
with the names of the individuals.
MR. BINDER said he appreciated the insight and would follow up
with Representative Stutes' staff.
2:07:12 PM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Transportation Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 2:07
p.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| (H)TRA - DOTPF Aviation Overview 2.2.23.pdf |
HTRA 2/2/2023 1:00:00 PM |
(H)TRA DOT&PF Aviation Division |
| H TRA 02-02-2023 DOTPF Aviation - Responses to Committee (FINAL).pdf |
HTRA 2/2/2023 1:00:00 PM |