Public invited to Apple Valley Airport future growth workshop
The Department of Airports will host a public information workshop to discuss the future growth of the Apple Valley Airport.
The Apple Valley Airport Master Plan Study will be discussed during the meeting from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, at the airport terminal building, 21600 Corwin Road in Apple Valley.
The Apple Valley Airport study is being undertaken to evaluate the airport’s capabilities and role, and to forecast future aviation demand, according to San Bernardino County officials. The study will also include plans for the timely development of new or expanded facilities that may be required.
The goal of the master plan is to provide systematic guidelines for the airport’s overall maintenance, development, and operation.
The master plan is conducted to ensure that airport management can coordinate project approvals, design, financing, and construction to avoid experiencing detrimental effects due to inadequate facilities.
Following Federal Aviation Administration guidelines for a qualifications-based consultant selection process, Coffman Associates, Inc., was selected to undertake the master plan.
Coffman Associates is a national aviation consulting firm specializing in airport planning studies.
The study process is anticipated to take about 16 months to complete, followed by agency reviews and approvals.
The structure of the master plan follows guidelines by the FAA, which will review and approve the aviation forecasts and the airport layout plan, which includes technical drawings of the current and planned airport layout.
Draft chapters of the master plan will be presented to and reviewed by a Planning Advisory Committee that is composed of various airport stakeholders, including representatives from the Town of Apple Valley, San Bernardino County, airport businesses, tenants, area economic development interests, airport administration, and FAA.
Three public information workshops are planned at strategic points in the process to encourage citizens to learn more about the plans for the airport.
Public comments
Citizens are encouraged to provide comments and suggestions to the project team. Comment sheets are provided to the PAC and at the public information workshops.
Citizens can also utilize the “comment” feature on the website. Direct communication with the project managers via phone or email is also acceptable.
The project managers for the airport master plan are listed in the Apple Valley Airport Master Plan Public Information Workshop “contacts” section at applevalley.airportstudy.net.
For more information about the Department of Airports, visit airports.sbcounty.gov.
Apple Valley Airport
The Apple Valley Airport was built in 1970, with the general aviation facility currently offering fuel, maintenance, rentals and flight training.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol helicopter operations are also based there.
Private hangar development Midfield Aviation also offers a flight school.
The Little Aviator Café also operates on the property
The airport is home to the Apple Valley Airshow.
History
The first airline flights to Apple Valley were to the old airport by Air West predecessor Bonanza Air Lines from the late 1950s until 1966: DC-3s, then Fairchild F-27s.
From 1970 to 1973 Apple Valley was served by Air West and successor Hughes Airwest F-27s to Las Vegas, Riverside, Ontario and Los Angeles (LAX). In 1979 commuter airline Inland Empire Airlines scheduled Swearingen Metros to Ontario, Los Angeles, Bullhead City and Las Vegas.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Public invited to Apple Valley Airport future growth workshop
