The Boca Beacon - Volume 1, Issue 1

The Boca Beacon
SPECIAL
V O L U M E
POINTS OF
INTEREST:
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J U L Y
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Spotlight of Our Successes
 Runway is
6,276’ x 150’
plus safety
overruns
MISSION STATEMENT
The Boca Raton Airport Authority (BRAA)
operates a First Class Public use General Aviation facility dedicated to promoting safety,
economic and environmental excellence while
advancing aeronautical benefits to our Business and Regional Communities.
 Taxiways are
40’ wide
 125 T-Hangars
 2010 Operations - 54,000
(arrivals/
VISION STATEMENT
departures)
Collaborative Growth for Our Community.
 235 Based
Aircraft (May
2011)
We are proud to announce the first
 Two Fixed
Based Opera-
issue of a series of quarterly newslet-
tors Boca
Aviation &
ters. Designed to keep our loyal cus-
Signature
Flight Support
tomers informed, our newsletters will
present a variety of topics such as cur-
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
rent and future airport improvements and upcoming events. In addition, our publica-
Decade of Accom- 2
plishments
Costs for Operations
2
Economic Impact
3
Air Traffic Control 3
Tower Upgrades
Voluntary Curfew
Program
3
Jet Blast Deflector 4
Wall
Noise Monitoring
Flight Tracking
4
tions will introduce new members to our airport community. It is our goal to serve
the airport community and continue to be a great neighbor. If you have any suggestions or topics for further issues of this publication, please let us know!
Boca Airport Welcomes Signature Flight Support
We are proud to welcome Signature Flight Support to our airport. On Friday, July 22nd
Signature began its fixed based operation at the site formerly known as Avitat/Premier.
Signature is a well known successful fixed based operator with over 100 locations
worldwide. We will continue to offer the services of two fixed based operators to our
flying public; Boca Aviation and Signature.
Boca Raton Airport Authority
3701 FAU Blvd., Suite 205 Boca Raton, FL 33431
Phone: 561-391-2202 Fax: 561-391-2238 www.bocaairport.com
PAGE
A Decade of Accomplishments
Sound management, assisted by five employees, over the last decade has resulted in the
AUTHORITY CASH RESERVES RISING FROM $500,000 IN 2000 TO OVER $6 MILLION
TODAY! Reserves are assurance that the Authority will be able to operate and maintain
the airport in extraordinary circumstances, and allows the Authority to continue its success at times of recession when Federal and/or State funds may be reduced or frozen.
In the last decade significant improvements have occurred at the airport. The following
capital projects are just a few that have been completed, or in the process of being completed, with the large majority of the funds provided by either Federal and/or State funds.
New Secured Access Entry and Roadway at Gate #1
Airfield Service Road
to the Tower
Runway 5 Aircraft Hold Pad
Service Road Realignment and Improvements
Airfield Service Road to Tower
“Reserves are
assurance that the
Authority will be able
to operate and
maintain the airport in
extraordinary
circumstances…..”
New Runway-Taxiway Connector
Runway Pavement Rehabilitation
Taxiway Pavement Rehabilitation
Retail Development market Assessment
and Third party Development Request
for Proposals that resulted in 113,000
square foot City/Ashley Furniture
Showrooms
Aviation Development Request for Proposals that resulted in Premier/Avitat
(Now Signature Flight Support) Fixed
Based Operation
Control Gate
Air Traffic Control Tower Communication Upgrades
Administration Building Design/
Concept Plan
Design of New Automated Weather
Observing System
Runway Safety Area Enhancement and
Operational Needs Assessment
Master Plan Development—Phase II
Sound Mitigation of 44 Homes to Reduce Noise From Aircraft
Jet Blast Deflector Wall
Northeast Airfield Security Access
These Capital Projects are funded by either Federal and/or State funds, with a small percentage of funds paid by the Authority. Most Projects that are funded by the State Department of Transportation (FDOT) are commonly 80% State
participation with the Authority paying 20%.
Some Projects, per state statute, are fully funded by FDOT. Projects which are funded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are commonly funded with 95% FAA funds, and if FDOT is participating in the project they will fund 2.5%
and the remaining 2.5% by the Authority.
Costs for Operations The airport is operated and maintained from a user fee system. NO PROPERTY OR SALES TAXES ARE USED TO OPERATE THE AIRPORT. All administrative operational costs, including staff salaries, are paid from the revenues generated from the tenants’ rent payments and fuel
flowage fees.
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Economic Impact to the Region
The State of Florida Economic Council completed a study
that found the total annual economic activity generated by
the airport to be $154,474,100.00. This amount includes
the direct economic impacts of tenants and businesses located at the airport, and construction projects that are
undertaken by the airport or by on-site businesses, and the
indirect impacts associated with spending from visitors
who arrive in the area by way of general aviation aircraft.
The airport and businesses located on the property provide 1,237 jobs with a total annual payroll of
$35,327,800.00.
“...1,237 jobs
with a total
annual payroll
of
$35,327,800.00”
Boca Raton Airport
Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) Communications Equipment Upgrades
The Boca Raton Airport Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) has been in operation for more than ten years, utilizing all of
the originally installed communications and ancillary equipment. The frequency and cost of the maintenance and/or repair of
the electronic components has recently increased significantly. All of these items have now exceeded their useful life cycle
and need to be replaced. Additionally, in the last ten years the technology of air traffic radios, recorders, and switching devices has advanced to another level, and we need to upgrade our tower to a state-of-the-art facility.
The project includes the replacement of the radio transmitters and receivers, the voice recording system, the controller
voice switching consoles, the back-up power system, associated computers, headsets, microphones, handsets, and window
sun shades. The installation and cut-over to the new systems will take place during the evening hours when the tower is
closed, so there will be no interruption in the daily service provided to the aviation community.
Voluntary Curfew Program
In February 2003, the Airport Authority
initiated a Voluntary Curfew Program at
the Boca Raton Airport. This program was
developed as a result of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) denying a request for a permanent nighttime curfew.
The program was designed to mitigate the
noise impact on our community by educating pilots that utilize the airport during
nighttime hours.
During the Voluntary Curfew, all arrivals
and departures between 22:00-07:00
(10:00pm-7:00am) are highly discouraged. If
an aircraft needs to operate during those
hours, the Airport Noise Office must be
advised prior to the flight. This gives staff
the ability to inform the pilots of our noise
sensitive community, as well as provide
information regarding the airport noise
abatement procedures and encourage
flights at times other than during the Voluntary Curfew hours. Additionally, this
procedure also promotes a relationship between the airport and its pilots. Staff is also
able to respond to community inquiries relating to nighttime operations with detailed
information based on communication with
the pilots.
information, and a letter is sent to the
owner of the aircraft. As a voluntary program, this is not for disciplinary reasons,
but a way to reach out to the pilots and
encourage participation in the Voluntary
Curfew Program.
The Noise
Hotline is
available
24 hours a
day, 7 days
a week,
which
enables
pilots to
leave messages regarding nighttime operations, even when the
noise office is closed. Operations during the
Voluntary Curfew hours that have not been
called into the airport noise office are publicized at our monthly meetings with detailed
At the inception of the Voluntary Curfew
Program, there were approximately 250
nighttime flights per month. Today, the
airport averages approximately 120 nighttime flights per month. We understand
there are circumstances that require pilots to fly during the Voluntary Curfew
hours. Developing a strong relationship
with the pilots and recognizing their efforts with thank you notes and acknowledgements during public meetings, has
resulted in everyone working together to
make every effort to fly prior to the Voluntary Curfew hours and most importantly, to be a good neighbor.
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Jet Blast Deflector Wall
At the Boca Raton Airport we have
full service jet aircraft maintenance
facilities located at both of our
fixed base operators. These repair
stations and other jet aircraft owners and operators have the need to
perform high power engine run up
procedures from time to time. Due
to the physical constraints of the
airport, high power engine run-ups
can only be conducted in one location on the airport
Jet Blast
(the Runway 5 holdDeflector
ing bay), and the
Wall
aircraft must be
positioned so as to
be heading northeast. The details of this procedure
are spelled out in a Letter of
Agreement between the Control
Tower and the Airport Authority.
Conducting high power engine runups anywhere else on the airport,
or positioned on any other heading, would direct the jet blast into
public areas, endangering any persons or property in that area.
tions on the aircraft owner/
operator’s ability to conduct required high power engine run-up
procedures when the prevailing
wind is coming form the south or
the west.
“...providing
The installation of a jet blast deflector wall located west and north of
the Runway 5 holding bay, appropriately sized for the jet aircraft
fleet mix at Boca Raton, will provide jet aircraft owners/operators
the opportunity to safely conduct
high power engine run-up operations regardless of the prevailing
wind condition.
jet aircraft
owners/
operators the
opportunity to
safely conduct
high power
engine run-up
operations…”
These constraints put severe limita-
Noise Monitoring Flight Tracking System
The Boca Raton Airport Authority
uses a state of the art Noise Monitoring and Flight Tracking System
(NMFTS). The system is composed
of 6 permanent and 1 portable
community noise monitors. The
system also incorporates a tracking
program that monitors local radar
and various components that process, store and calculate statistical
data.
The airport is able to monitor all
flight activity entering and exiting
the Boca Raton area. This includes
the runway usage, aircraft tracking
and altitudes, as well as, noise impacts affecting our community. In
order to better serve the community in mitigating noise, the system
is capable of storing long term data
of flight operations, aircraft types
and flight patterns at the airport.
This tool allows us to develop long
term planning opportunities in identifying noise sensitive areas within
the community.
Please visit the airport’s website at
www.bocaairport.com for more
information on the airport’s flight
tracking and noise monitoring program. The viewer will notice actual
flight tracks of local aircraft and any
resulting noise that is recorded
from the 6 permanent monitors.
The information can be seen online in near real time display or the
viewer may wish to travel back in
time and see historical prospective
of flight operations at the Boca
Raton Airport.
“…..identifying noise sensitive areas within
the community”
Portable Noise
Monitor
WebTrak flight track
monitoring at
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