Birchwood Airport Master Plan Update
What is your vision for the Birchwood Airport?
THANK YOU, everyone that has helped shape the Birchwood Airport Master Plan (AMP) Update.
The FAA review of the master plan is underway!
Both documents are anticipated to be accepted and approved by the FAA by April 2025.1
The purpose of the Airport Master Plan Update
The Birchwood AMP Update is a revision to the 2005 airport master plan. The planning document provided a forecast of operations and recommended development needs based on the airport's current critical aircraft.
Throughout this process pilots, landowners, agencies and partners were brought together to determine how the airport can best serve the future interests and needs of the flying public, aviation community, Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF), and other stakeholders.
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Access the DOT&PF Submittal to FAA and related background materials:
Click below for the September 2024 DOT&PF Submittal to the FAA
- Birchwood Airport Master Plan (AMP) Update Submittal to FAA Complete 60MB
- Introduction
- Inventory of Existing Conditions 6MB
- Current and Forecasted Aviation Activity
- Airport Facility Requirements and Standards
- Alternatives
- Public Involvement Summary
- Implementation Plan 2MB
- Financial Plan
- Appendix A – Airport Inspection Report
- Appendix B – Facilities Standards Table
- Appendix C – Engineer's Estimates
- Appendix D – Public Involvement 75MB
Includes all public engagement and outreach materials, including Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting notes, public workshop summaries, and survey results. Please see plan documents and other appendices for additional project information.
- Appendix E – Airport Layout Plan 10MB
- Appendix F – Capital Improvement Program Datasheet
- Appendix G – Public Private Partnership Summary
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Contentious Issues Addressed in the Birchwood AMP Update:
- Birchwood Recreation & Shooting Park
- The plan does not recommend restrictions of the Birchwood Recreation & Shooting Park beyond the avigation easement that has been in place for many years.
- Runway Length
- The runway length will not be reduced. Recent FAA reauthorization language exempted Alaska from the requirement to reduce the runway length based on changes to critical aircraft.
- Instrument Approach
- The recommendation for a future instrument approach, as proposed in the 2005 master plan, was dropped because:
- An instrument approach is not required by the FAA based on the fleet mix utilizing the airport.
- Pilots did not express a need for the instrument approach during the planning process.
- An instrument approach would have expanded avigation easement needs, that would have potentially impacted:
- Eklutna, Inc., land
- Native Village of Eklutna culturally sensitive areas
- Uses at the Birchwood Recreation & Shooting Range Park.
- Public Private Partnership Agreement is not recommended at this time because:
- The airport is operational and profitable under DOT&PF ownership.
- Pilots voiced opposition to privatization due to fear of increased lease rates and restrictions
- Transfer to the Municipality of Anchorage is not recommended at this time because:
- The airport is operational and profitable under DOT&PF ownership.
- Pilots voiced opposition against the transfer due to fear of increased lease rates and restrictions
- Land Acquisition
- Although the master plan recommends acquisition of adjacent land for airport expansion as a long-term goal, there are no immediate plans or funding available for DOT&PF to pursue land acquisition.
Schedule
Community Involvement occurs throughout the planning process including interviews, stakeholder working groups, and public meetings.
Summer 2020
Reconnaissance: Current Conditions, Uses, Issues, and Needs
Fall 2020 – 2021
Assessment: Airport Facilities, Airspace, Finances, Partnerships, and Projected Uses
Fall 2022 / Winter 2023
Draft Plan Development, Preliminary Airport Master Plan Update, Airport Layout Plan, and Aeronautical Survey
Spring / Summer 2024
Public Review Draft Release, Public Comment Review, and Incorporation into the Airport Master Plan
Fall 2024
Airport Master Plan, Airport Layout Plan, and Refinement and Submission to the Federal Aviation Administration
Winter 2024
FAA Review and Finalization of Airport Master Plan, Airport Layout Plan, and Aeronautical Survey
Spring 2025
FAA Acceptance of Airport Master Plan, Airport Layout Plan, and Aeronautical Survey
Meetings & FAQs
Past Meetings
Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting: Aug 7, 2024
Public Meeting #4: Mar 30, 2024
Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting #4: Mar 22, 2024
Public Meeting #3: Nov 11, 2022
Public Meeting #2: October 27, 2021
Public Meeting #1: Mar 4, 2021
Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting #3: Dec 14, 2022
Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting #2: Oct 12, 2021
Stakeholder Advisory Group Meeting #1: Feb 9, 2021
Frequently Asked Questions
Project Documents*
February 2024 Public Review Draft:
- Birchwood Airport Master Plan (AMP) Update: Public Review Draft, February 2024 62MB
- Birchwood AMP Update: Public Review Draft, 5.0 Alternatives Excerpt (pgs. 74-110 of full draft) 3MB
Includes preliminary and other alternatives considered for the airport layout, evaluation of each alternative, and description/rationalization for the Preferred Alternative.
- April 2022 Birchwood Airport Master Plan Update: Stakeholder Survey Analysis
- 2022 Birchwood Airport Master Plan Update: Raw Survey Results
- Birchwood AMP FAQs
- Birchwood Airport Master Plan, 2005
* Please note, previously posted components of the Draft Master Plan have been integrated into the February 2024 Public Review Draft.
Have a question about the AMP update or next steps? Please contact the Project Manager:
Philana Miles, C.M.
Project Manager
(907) 269-0519; philana.miles@alaska.gov
Contact Us
Send us your comments, questions or concerns:
Philana Miles, C.M.
Project Manager
(907) 269-0519
philana.miles@alaska.gov
Use DOT&PF's Alaska Project Exchange tools to learn more about all of DOT&PF's active construction projects statewide!