2.0 INVENTORY AND EXISTING CONDITIONS
INVENTORY AND EXISTING CONDITIONS
INVENTORY AND EXISTING CONDITIONS
2.1 Introduction The purpose of this chapter is to document the existing facilities and conditions at MRI. This information was collected through on‐site airfield inspections, interviews with FAA and MRI staff, advisory groups, and the review of the following previously prepared documents: MRI’s 2000 AMP, MRI’s Airport Master Record, the current Airport Layout Plan (ALP), the 2012 Updated Airfield Inspection Report, environmental data collected for the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) Highway‐to‐Highway project, and from other existing MOA planning documents. The data and information contained in this report reflects information collected in 2012 when the MRI Master Plan Update was initiated and is in accord with FAA AC 150/5070‐6B Change 1 (Section 603). Collectively, this information provides the basis for assessing existing
conditions and future airport facility requirements.
2.2 Existing Conditions This section presents the existing facilities and conditions at MRI that are important to the AMP update process. These topics include the following: Airfield Airport access, circulation, parking and security General aviation Airport support facilities Avigation facilities and procedures
2.2.1 Airfield This section documents the existing airfield characteristics in accord with FAA AC 150/5070‐6B Change 1 (Section 603 b.1). Topics include: the functional use and geometry of runways, taxiways, aprons; lighting, marking, and signing of runways and taxiways. Runways The existing airfield consists of three runways: two asphalt paved runways, Runways 16/34 and 7/25; and one gravel runway, Runway 5/23. The runways and their parallel taxiways are depicted in Figure 2‐1 and key data is summarized in Table 2‐1.
Utilities
Meteorological data
Runway 16/34 is oriented in a north‐ south direction and is 2,640 feet long and 75 feet wide. It has an effective gradient of 0.26 percent. The runway is asphalt paved, in fair condition1,
Land use
Related plans, programs, and
1
Airport maintenance and operations (M&O) Environmental considerations
projects Financial data
Merrill Field Airport Master Plan and Noise Study
2‐1
The Airport Master Record lists the pavement for Runway 16/34 in fair condition. In 2010, the runway pavement was rehabilitated so the current condition is likely to be good or excellent.
DRAFT November 2012
INVENTORY AND EXISTING CONDITIONS
Figure 2‐1 Runways and Taxiways
visual approach slope indicators (VASI), and runway 34 is equipped with a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI). Runway 16/34 has runway end identifier lights (REIL) at both ends. On Runway 16, the threshold crossing height of the visual glideslope indicator equipment is 22 feet; on Runway 34, it is 21 feet. Runway 16/34 has a runway safety area2 (RSA) that is 3,043 feet long by 120 feet wide. The runway object free area3 (ROFA) identified on the latest ALP for Runway 16/34 is 3,120 feet long and 250 feet wide.
2
Source: FAA Airport Diagram (AK, 26 JUL 2012 to 10 SEP 2012), Revised ALP 2010
painted with basic (runway and centerline) runway markings, and has a
DRAFT November 2012
medium intensity runway edge lighting system. Runway 16 is equipped with a
2‐2
A runway safety area (RSA) is a “defined surface surrounding the runway prepared or suitable for reducing the risk of damage to aircraft in the event of an undershoot, overshoot, or excursion from the runway.” (FAA 2012:8) 3 The runway object free area (ROFA) is centered about the runway centerline; objects non‐essential for air navigation or aircraft ground maneuvering purposes must not be placed in the ROFA. (FAA 2012:89)
Merrill Field Airport Master Plan and Noise Study
INVENTORY AND EXISTING CONDITIONS
Runway 7/25 is oriented in an east‐ west direction and is 4,000 feet long by 100 feet wide. It has an effective gradient of 0.25 percent. The runway is asphalt paved, in good condition, painted with precision instrument runway markings, and has a medium
intensity runway edge lighting system. Both ends of the runway have VASI. On Runway 7, the threshold crossing height of the visual glideslope indicator equipment is 43 feet; on Runway 25, it is 21 feet. The visual glide angle for Runway 7 is 3.75, for Runway 25 it is
3.00. The runway does not have centerline or touchdown line lights. Both ends have runway end identifier lights. The runway safety area is 4,600 feet long by 150 feet wide. The ROFA for Runway 7/25 is 4,600 feet long and 500 feet wide.
Table 2‐1 Summary of Existing Runway Data Runway length (feet) Runway width (feet) Runway end elevation (feet above MSL) Surface type Surface condition Runway markings Runway lighting Centerline lights Touchdown lights
Runway 16/34 2,640 75
Runway 7/25 4,000 100
Runway 5/23 2,000 60
124.4 ft/117.1 ft (MSL)
124.4 ft/136.9 ft (MSL)
128.50 ft/133.65 ft (MSL)
Asphalt Fair Basic Medium None None
Asphalt Good Precision Instrument Medium None None
Gravel Good – – – –
Visual and Instrument Navigational aids
VASI 2R/PAPI 2L REIL, REIL
VASI 2L/VASI 2L REIL, REIL
–
Runway safety area width (feet) Runway safety area length (feet) Runway safety area length beyond the threshold (feet) Landing Gear Gross Weight Strength (Single Wheel)(lbs) Landing Gear Gross Weight Strength (Dual Wheel)(lbs) Runway Approach Category/Design Group Source: Airport Master Record, ALP
120 3,043
150 4,600
120 2,480
240/163
300
240
20,000
50,000