Naples Airport Authority to study move to east Collier County
For the second time in 30 years, the Naples Airport Authority will study whether a move from its current location is feasible.
The Airport Exploratory Study will look at possible locations in Collier County, cost and timing, along with whether maintaining the airport in its current location along the west side of Airport-Pulling Road is a possibility given community needs and future growth expectations. The Airport Authority board approved a contract Oct. 19 with consulting group Environmental Science Associates for $438,321.
"There’s a lot of reasons to consider the feasibility of a new airport," Airport Authority Executive Director Chris Rozansky said in an interview. A major one, he said, is expansion constraints.
"We’re never going to grow in footprint any bigger than we are today," Rozansky said. "And we’re very constrained and we have a lot of demand, tremendous demand for hangar development and aeronautical business. We have a waiting list of 100 potential customers who we currently cannot accommodate."
Hurricane Ian ― which roared through Southwest Florida in late September 2022 ― is another reason to consider a move, he said.
Several feet of storm surge flowed onto the airport, which was closed for about 72 hours.
"We were able to open it up fairly quickly. It was perhaps a limited opening for military and emergency response," Rozansky said.
"But of course, there’s still a lot of ongoing repairs from that storm surge. We have to replace all of the airport lighting and navigational aids ― (at a) potential cost of $10 million."
And then there's the commercial airline component – there's not one. Some airlines served the airport in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s.
"We have significant constraints," Rozansky said. "Predominately our weight limit for our runways – 75,000 pounds, which limits the size of airplanes we can handle to about 50-seat regional jets. And airlines have moved away from 50-seat regional jets in the past couple of decades."
The 1990s study
A study about moving the airport began in the 1990s, Rozansky said. It didn't get to the site identification stage. The hired consultants estimated a new airport would cost $100 million.
"When that estimate came out, I think all the policymakers said, 'We don’t have that kind of money; we aren’t going to continue down that path.' "
Like today's study, the 1990s one came about after years of noise complaints and a noise study.
Noise complaints and studies in Naples have been going on since 1980s
In the late 1980s, the Airport Authority conducted its first noise study, according to archives. In 1999, in response to complaints from residents, the Airport Authority commissioned another study to examine noise exposure from aircraft in the area surrounding the airport. The 1999 study found that a restriction on all Stage 2 aircraft would considerably reduce the number of people exposed to significant noise levels. Effective Jan. 1, 2001, the Airport Authority adopted a ban against all Stage 2 aircraft, which are the oldest and noisiest types of jet aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) disagreed and determined the ban unreasonable. The Airport Authority sued the FAA and won on appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals in 2005.
The most recent study began in 2019 and was completed in June, at a cost of $2 million. The FAA is reviewing the study now and is expected to provide feedback sometime this year on proposed measures and whether they may be implemented.
How many complaints recently?
Naples Airport received around 800 noise complaints from October 2021 to September 2022. That figure dropped to 499 in fiscal year 2023, which ended last month, said Zac Burch, airport engagement/communications manager said in an email Monday.
In its report to the FAA, the Airport Authority included three land-use measures it will pursue to prevent future noise issues and protect the public, including investigating relocation of the airport.
"The study we have prepared – it's primary purpose is to look at the feasibility of finding a site," Rozansky said. "The consultant is going to meet with Collier County, we’re going to meet with landowners that are out east in Collier County and we’re going to meet with tenants, customers and businesses."
The study also will review commercial airline possibilities, along with whether keeping the airport exactly where it's at may be best, Rozansky said. Airport Authority members stressed at their Oct. 19 meeting that they wanted to make sure that was a consideration.
Most who use airport own homes in community
Of the more than 100,000 takeoffs and landings and more than 200,000 passengers served last year, Rozansky said, "we have surveyed these folks and nearly 80 percent are homeowners here in Naples and Collier County."
"Yes, there is some tourism, but the vast majority are invested in this community. They of course are very important stakeholders," he said. "It’s incredibly convenient for people who use the airport."
The airport is an important economic driver too, with an impact of $780 million in 2022, almost triple the amount in 2010, when its impact was estimated at $273.1 million, according to annual Florida Statewide Aviation Economic Impact Studies.
Looking ahead: Naples Airport seeking FAA approval for several noise abatement measures: What to know
"It’s a tremendous asset for Naples and the regional economy and I think, as we’re studying the feasibility of a new airport, we don’t want to neglect that important aspect," Rozansky said.
"We need to determine what is the ultimate use of the airport. Looking at a 30,000-foot view, I think it’s very healthy for a growing county to look at its long-term transportation plans."
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples Airport Authority to study move to east Collier County
