Dear Friends of the Granby Airport:

Good news! During the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 construction seasons, the runway at the Granby/Grand County Airport (GNB) will be widened by five feet, lengthened by 41 feet plus new lighting, plus the relocation of the fuel farm to the East end, an instrument approach, a back taxi-way, a new AWOS-III weather unit and many other improvements to bring GNB up to its full potential as an easy-in, easy-out mountain-community airport.

Let’s review the positive economic benefits of having a good community airport – even for those who do not fly General Aviation aircraft or even ride as passengers. In 1998, the Colorado Aeronautical Board (CAB) commissioned a study of the economic impacts of Colorado’s airports. With regard to GNB, the study found an ANNUAL positive economic impact of: $1,724,000. The study took into account the direct economic impacts, indirect economic impacts and positive economic multiplier effects that GNB was having on the economy of eastern Grand County.

To verify the 1998 study, the CAB commissioned an entirely different study group to do a second airport economic impact study in 2003. The 2003 study revealed a growth in ANNUAL total economic impact to: $2,417,000. In 2008, a third study will be completed. Given the even stronger economy of eastern Grand County since 2003, the 2008 total economic impact figure is certain to be even higher.

Obviously, GNB is a net economic plus that more than justifies the probably $6.2 million cost of the planned rehabilitation. But wait! Hardly any of that $6.2 million will come from Grand County taxpayers. Ninety-five percent of the money comes from the Federal Aviation Trust Fund (the FAA), 2.5-percent comes from the Colorado State Aviation Trust Fund and only 2.5-percent comes from Grand County. So, a $6.2 million project would cost Grand County only $155,000.

But wait! That’s not so because each year each General Aviation airport that has a qualifying AIP project gets $150,000 from the FAA. The multi-stage, multi-year project to rehabilitate GNB means our AIP Project gets $150,000 for 2008-2009 and $150,000 for 2009-2010. That means the County would net $145,000. Wow!
Yet, while we have been waiting for this AIP project, Grand County has provided staff time, maintenance personnel, and had to match some grants from the CAB just to keep the runway in a safe, even though deteriorating condition. So, that apparent net of $145,000 has probably already been spent to prevent further deterioration. Kudus to County Manager, Lurline Curran, to the BOCC and the CAB for their actions!

So, where does all this money come from? The FAA gets AIP money from the taxes paid by pilots for their fuel, for aircraft batteries, etc. and from the airline ticket tax. The CAB gets its money from fuel taxes paid by Colorado’s pilots and from a small percentage of the fuel flowage from Colorado’s commercial service airports. Counties get their money from various taxes they levy.

But what about the cost of relocating the road that the FAA said was too close to the West end of the runway? All of the costs of that land acquisition, the one condemnation and the road construction are 100-percent reimbursable from FAA AIP funding – ONCE the entire AIP project is complete.

So, by 2010, eastern Grand County will have a virtually brand-new, easy-in, easy-out General Aviation community airport at virtually no cost to local taxpayers. Please keep this in mind when those who might have little or no understanding of airport funding raise questions. You have the answers.

Four organizations deserve special praise: Experimental Aviation Association (EAA) Chapter 1267, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Grand County Airport Advisory Board and, of course, the Friends of the Granby Airport, Inc. (FGA). All have worked hand-in-hand over the years to bring this wonderful AIP project about. When the project is nearing completion, the FGA will be using its funds to educate the general public about the benefits of aviation, in general, and the benefits of GNB as a really good community airport, in particular.

Your $20.00 annual FGA dues have played a major role in keeping the needs of GNB before the BOCC, the CAB and the FAA. Please join or renew for 2008. Send your tax-deductable contribution to: Friends of the Airport, Inc. PO Box 2001, Granby, CO 80446. We are a 100-percent volunteer organization.

Thank you.

Bill Hamilton, president