Agency Does Not Agree With Airport's 20-Year Activity Outlook

The airport master plan developed for the City of Mankato, MN for Mankato Regional Airport (KMKT) calls for the construction of a control tower and additional hangars while expanding the terminal and the presence of Minnesota State University at the airport. It also has plans for accommodating unmanned aircraft at the facility.

But there's a fly in the ointment. The FAA has discounted the airport's recent activity numbers or future activity projections.

The Mankato Free Press reports that the FAA sent a letter to the city saying it does not concur with the 20-year outlook forecast by the city.

The consultants that prepared the master plan told the City Council Monday night that there has been steady growth at the airport since 2009, and that it is expected to continue. There has been an influx of private business, and the Minnesota State aviation program is currently providing flight training to some 200 students at KMKT. The long-range plan even includes housing for MSU aviation students at the airport, as well as other pilots who might come to take advantage of training and certification opportunities.

Consultant Tricia Fantinato said that while most small and mid-sized airports in Minnesota are getting less busy, the FAA does not understand that Mankato is unique because the city's business base and the MSU program have grown dramatically, increasing traffic at the airport.

Some of the caution on the part of the FAA may come from the up-and-down history of the MSU program, which has been a source of frustration on the part of Mankato Mayor Eric Anderson. While there was a possibility that MSU would discontinue its aviation program several years ago, it began to see steady growth when St. Cloud University ended its program, leaving only MSU to provide aviation degrees in the state.

The paper reports that while the FAA's position will delay final federal approval of the airport master plan, Fantinato said that the city can and should move forward with finalizing the plan. She said she is "confident" that the FAA will eventually agree with the projections in the plan.

FMI: Original Report