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Tracy Airport officials, city to plan for future

Photo by Jody Isaackson Tracy Municipal Airport Manager Shane Daniels stands next to the arrival/departure building on the airport grounds with the old hangar in the background. An FAA/MnDOT grant of $168,891 will help the airport’s 10-year plan include new hangars, aprons and PAPI (precision approach path indicator) lights.

TRACY — The Tracy Municipal Airport has several unique features that makes it an asset in the region.

The airport has three runways, with the main one in concrete and in “excellent condition.” It also has a weather station and 24-hour fueling station.

The airport future, however, received a boost July 12 when it was announced the airport will be receiving a $168,891 grant through the Federal Aviation Administration and Minnesota Department of Transportation. It will be used to conduct a 10-year master plan for the airport.

Working with Bollig Engineer Paul Jurek, based in Willmar, the Tracy Municipal Airport applied for the capital improvement grant.

Jurek is planning to attend a Tracy City Council meeting Aug. 14 to go over the preliminary 10-year plan that includes plans for new hangars, aprons (from runway to fuel station) and PAPI (precision approach path indicator for instrumental approach) lights. Other airport board priorities will also be shared with the engineer.

Other projects on the 10-year master plan would include runway improvements and runway exits, Tracy Municipal Airport Manager Shane Daniels said.

Daniels said that hangars, aprons and PAPI lights were at the top of the airport’s wish list and that the hope is to have them constructed in 2018.

“Improving infrastructure is key to boosting public safety and helping to create good, middle class jobs,” U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar said during the announcement. “This award will help Tracy Municipal Airport stay up-to-date and safe for all its travelers and employees.”

The grant will allow the airport to fund a master plan study to address key issues, objectives and goals pertaining to the airport’s future development.

Daniels and Jurek said that the grant application was drafted last fall after the engineer paid a visit to the airport to do a needs assessment.

“It was signed and sent in on May 23,” Jurek said. “It’s not official until August or September when we received the signed copies. We anticipate starting in September with our master plan.”

“A 10-year master plan is pretty typical,” Jurek added. “Airports all over Minnesota do that.”

A planning study will also be conducted to help decided where to place the aprons and so forth, Jurek said.

The amount applied for was $351,000, Daniels said. Whatever they received was to amount to 90 percent of the plan’s funding. It was a matching fund, and the city will need to cover the other 10 percent.

Daniels has been the airport manager for four years. He is also the Tracy public works manager.

At present, the Tracy Municipal Airport houses 10 small planes and only offers low lead fuel. Any planes having to use jet fuel have to bring their own, such as crop dusters, Daniels said.

The airport is also used, rarely, for fixed wing medical transports.

Other facts about the Tracy Municipal Airport include:

• The main concrete runway is 3,100 by 75 feet. The other two runways are grass and are 2,590 by 200 feet and 1,825 by 200 feet. During the winter months only the main, concrete runway is available.

• The airport terminal is also equipped a rest area and restrooms.

• A courtesy vehicle is available 24 hours per day for use in the immediate area.

• The airport has eight t-shaped hangars for rent and one maintenance hangar for rent, its website said.

During Tracy Box Car Days celebration on Labor Day Weekend, the city holds a fly-in pancake breakfast at the airport. Aircraft and other forms of transportation are welcome. There is plenty of parking.

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