Denali Area Airport Planning Study

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an airport planning study?

An airport planning study is a way to understand the aviation needs of a community. This study will guide future airport investments in the Denali area by identifying development, maintenance, and social needs, and providing solutions that best serve the community. The study will also help the Denali area airports meet the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) goals for the National Airspace System.

Planning studies like this one also feed into the statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP).

Guidelines for planning studies include:

• FAA Advisory Circular 150/5070-7, Change 1: The Airport System Planning Process
• Section 403, Stakeholders and Their Roles
• FAA Advisory Circular 150/5050-4A: Community Involvement in Airport Planning
• FAA Advisory Circular 150/5070-6B, Change 2: Airport Master Plans
• Advancing the Practice of State Aviation Planning, 2022 (National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)

Who is paying for this study?

The FAA is funding the DAAPS through their Airport Improvement Program The AIP provides grants to public agencies for the planning and development of public-use airports that are included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The grant for this study is managed by DOT&PF Northern Region.

Why is this study being done?

This study is being done to clarify how the airports in the Denali area meet the region’s needs. Multiple regional plans have suggested developing a regional airport in a location that is less windy and has room for expansion, if needed.

• 2015 Denali Borough Comprehensive Plan, Goal 4 on page 19
• 2018 Denali Borough Land Use and Economic Development Plan, page 18
• Denali Borough Planning Commission Resolution PC19-02

The study will also help the Denali area airports meet the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) goals for the National Airspace System.

Is this part of the Doyon Limited Denali Airport Concept Overview?

This study is separate from the report released by Doyon Limited in 2022. That report was privately funded, and its recommendations do not meet the FAA requirements for an airport to be included in the NPIAS. If an airport is not included in the NPIAS, it cannot receive AIP funding.

Which airports are included?

The planning team is inventorying all airports that serve the Denali area to understand how they work together. This includes some airports outside the Denali Borough. For example, Minchumina (MHM) might be a back-up airport when there is bad weather at Kantishna (5Z5). The team will inventory all the airports in the area but will focus on the ones that are included in the NPIAS, which means they are eligible for federal funding. The research and public outreach for this study will focus on State-owned public-use airports.

This map shows all airports identified by the planning team.

What is the end goal of this study?

The goal of this study is to determine where future investments should be focused to best serve the community and meet the FAA goals for a National Airport System.

How are people involved?

Public involvement is important to this study. You can send comments to the DAAPS team at any time by emailing us at DenaliAirportStudy@RESPEC.com. You can also sign up for our mailing list to receive updates and notifications about the project.

As of Fall 2024, we have held two public meetings. Future meeting information will be shared on this website, with our mailing list, and through any agencies or organizations that sign up to share information.

Please let us know if you have ideas for how we can communicate with the public. If your organization would like to have a meeting with our team, please email us.

How do I submit comments?

Email us, attend a public meeting, or send mail to:

Denali Airport Planning Study
Patrick Cotter, RESPEC Project Manager
1028 Aurora Drive
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709

If you prefer to speak on the phone or in person, please email us to arrange a meeting time.