Pilots in the two-state Kansas City metropolitan area will have an opportunity to review recommendations for improving the region’s general aviation airports when the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) presents an updated Regional Aviation System Plan at an open house event on Dec. 15.
The update of the regional plan for aviation, for which the most recent edition dates to 2005, began last fall. The plan focuses on the 14 GA airports that serve the nine counties in Kansas and Missouri that make up the Mid-America Regional Council’s study area, said Yasmina Platt, AOPA’s Central/Southwest regional manager. AOPA is a member of the organization’s aviation committee.
The update is largely funded by the FAA with matching funds from both states. The regional plan for aviation guides the FAA and the two states’ transportation departments in setting priorities and allocating resources to support the general aviation needs of the Kansas City metro area.
Consultants developing the plan conducted a survey that painted a picture of the area’s GA airports in which 79 percent of runways are in good or better condition; 29 percent of study airports have approach lighting systems; 43 percent of facilities have full-parallel taxiways, but 57 percent do not have taxiway lighting; all plan airports have 100-octane low-lead fuel services. Sixty-five percent of regional airports offer full FBO services, while another 21 percent have limited FBO services. There were 1,175 based aircraft at the study airports—five of which are in Kansas and nine in Missouri.
AOPA encourages pilots to attend this last open house and comment on the recommendations.
The event will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Mid-America Regional Council Conference Center, MARC Board Room (second floor); 600 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri 64105.
