A paved runway and general aviation airport could be possible for Green River, but the city would need to address a hump on the landing strip before any work could begin.
Last night, Rick Patton, an aviation planner for GDA Engineers presented the final master plan needed for any improvements the city may decide to make to the Greater Green River Intergalactic Spaceport’s runway.
“You guys are unique in Wyoming,” Patton said. “You’re the largest community in the state without an improved landing strip.”
Patton said Green River’s landing strip compares more to communities like Shoshone and Medicine Bow, not similarly sized cities such as Evanston or Cody. The dirt runway isn’t a strip most pilots will land on because of concerns regarding debris causing damage to the aircraft. Patton said most aircraft not completely owned by the pilot would avoid the runway because of restrictions placed on the craft by lending companies providing financing for the plane.
Another issue involves a hump in the landing strip that would need to be leveled before any improvements to the landing strip can be made. The size of the strip itself limits the type of aircraft capable of using it and preclude it from being a commercial runway. However, the strip could still be used for general aviation.
“It’s a very simple runway to handle local traffic,” Patton said.
The minimum cost to level the hump is estimated to be at $1.5 million, with paving bringing the amount to approximately $2.4 million and would require a $80,000 environmental impact statement. However, the costs could mostly be footed by the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Division funding. The city would need to provide $8,000 towards the impact statement and because the hump reduction and paving could be considered a safety improvement to the strip, the city may only need to provide $241,000 of the $2.4 million cost. Yet, there could be a hitch in that plan.
Patton said WYDOT tends to favor safety projects over new airstrip pavement, which could mean paving the strip would be weighted lower on a project listing than other projects at the 45 airports across the state.
There is limited funding as well, with WYDOT having $15 million each biennium for grants.
Councilman Allan Wilson said he isn’t against improving the city’s landing strip, but would like to make sure they can maintain it.
“You build it, you better have the funding to maintain it,” he said.
Ed DeCastro, a member of the city’s now dormant airport advisory committee said the committee, which is now seeking to become an airport board, wants to show a small, general aviation airport is feasible
“We’re not looking to spend your checkbook,” he said.
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