Category: Master Plan Blog
Duluth International Airport – Taxiway A Reconstruction
Once an aircraft lands at an airport, it utilizes taxiways to travel from the runway to various areas of the airport, including the terminal, aircraft parking and hangars. A Taxiway is a defined path established for the taxiing of aircraft from one part of an airport to another. Often, taxiways are constructed parallel to runways, providing access for aircraft exiting the runway and entering runway ends. DLH has a taxiway (Taxiway A) that parallels the primary Runway 9/27 and a taxiway (Taxiway C) that parallels Runway 3/21. Additional taxiways provide access to other areas of the airfield, including Taxiway B, Taxiway D, and Taxiway F. The existing DLH taxiway network is shown below.
Taxiway A – Runway 9/27’s Parallel Taxiway
Taxiway A is a full-length parallel taxiway and provides access to both ends of primary Runway 9/27. A parallel taxiway is required on this runway to meet FAA design standards. The taxiway has several connector taxiways that allow aircraft to enter the runway ends for departure and exit the runway after landing.
Portions of taxiway A were last constructed in 1974 while some portions were last reconstructed in 1985 and 1992. Pavement maintenance projects have occurred throughout the life of the pavement, but it is nearing the end of its useful life. (See the pavement condition blog post for more information on airfield pavement conditions at DLH and the life cycle of pavement).
What type of aircraft does Taxiway A need to serve, and what should the future Taxiway A look like?
As part of the Master Plan process, a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) was utilized to document the needs of the taxiway system and evaluate alternatives for meeting existing and future needs. The TAC identified several areas of the Taxiway A network that do not meet current FAA design standards. Additional user needs that were documented included improving confusing intersections, maintaining a compass calibration pad, ensuring adequate Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) access, meeting military aircraft needs and the need for Taxiway A to serve large wingspan aircraft.
FAA taxiway funding is based on the design needs of the civilian critical aircraft that uses the taxiway. This is the aircraft using the taxiway that has at least 500 takeoffs or landings per year. At DLH, an Airbus A-319 is considered the critical aircraft. However, Taxiway A is frequently utilized by civilian aircraft larger than an A-319 and by military aircraft including the F-16 Fighter Jets operated by the 148th Fighter Wing. The TAC recommended that Taxiway A be constructed to ensure all existing aircraft utilizing DLH can continue to utilize the taxiway, even though the FAA may not fund all of the infrastructure needed to meet those needs.
In order to meet the needs of existing users, the Master Plan recommends that Taxiway A be reconstructed at 75 feet wide (the same as the existing width) and paved shoulders be added (most of Taxiway A does not currently have paved shoulders). The FAA will fund 90% of 50 feet wide of taxiway and 20 feet wide of shoulder pavement. The remaining pavement areas will be funded by DAA and other sources including the 148th Fighter Wing.
The Master Plan also recommends that some areas of Taxiway A and its connectors be slightly realigned during reconstruction to meet design standards and improve sight lines for both aircraft and the air traffic control tower. The final recommended layout of Taxiway A is shown in Figure 1.
Taxiway A will be reconstructed in multiple phases over multiple years. The final phasing and schedule will be dependent upon FAA, MnDOT, DAA and 148th Fighter Wing funding availability. Phase 1 of Taxiway A reconstruction (the east end) received an FAA grant in summer 2021 and construction will occur in 2022. Construction of the remaining phases will occur in 2023 and beyond.
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Duluth International Airport – Aviation Activity Forecast
The aviation activity forecast in a Master Plan documents existing activity levels and projects future activity levels. This includes the change in annual aircraft operations (a takeoff or a landing at an airport), expected passenger enplanements (how many passengers get on a plane at an airport) and the number of based aircraft. The forecasts prepared for this master plan document baseline and forecasted activity levels for the 20-year planning period, through 2040. Forecasts developed for airport master plans and/or federal grants must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The forecast developed for the Vision 2040 Master Plan was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in June of 2021.
Developing a forecast of aviation activity helps plan for existing and future needs. The forecasting efforts for the Master Plan began in late 2019. The most recent full year of data (2018) was used as the base year.
The Master Plan forecast development was nearing completion right before the Coronavirus pandemic nearly halted air traffic globally. The forecast for the Duluth International Airport (DLH) we re-evaluated in winter 2020/2021 as the ongoing pandemic continued to impact air travel. It was determined that the forecasted five- and ten-year projected activity levels remained realistic projections of likely future activity levels. The forecasts also identify potential scenarios that may occur, such as the addition of air service to a new destination.
For some airports in the US, particularly those with heavy leisure travel, passenger levels are returning to normal levels. The long-term impacts of the pandemic on air travel remain unknown. With the introduction of several effective vaccines in 2020, travel is expected to rebound in the coming years. Air service is forecasted to return to pre-pandemic levels in some markets by 2023. Additionally, Domestic air travel will likely reach pre-pandemic levels before international travel.
Forecast Data Sources
Various data sources are used to develop the aviation activity forecasts. Air travel demand is typically correlated with a region’s demographic and economic characteristics. The economic strength of a region can have a major impact on the aviation activity at an airport. Data used to develop the forecast include local and regional economic and population data, airline ticket data and historical passenger and aircraft operations provided by the FAA. Since DLH has a 24-hour air traffic control tower (ATCT), a count of aircraft operations is available from the FAA. The FAA also publishes annual passenger enplanements (the number of revenue passengers boarding an aircraft); this data helps identify trends.
Chart 1 shows annual passenger enplanements since 1991. Passenger enplanement numbers are important when developing facility recommendations for the terminal building and the landside facilities (parking, vehicle access and transportation).
When developing airside recommendations related to the runways, taxiways and aircraft parking aprons, the number of aircraft operations (a takeoff or a landing) by each size of aircraft is important. Chart 2 shows the historical number of operations of general aviation aircraft at DLH. General aviation operations account for roughly 77% of all operations at DLH! The remaining operations consist of commercial operations (15%) and military operations (9%).
Aviation Activity Forecasts
To develop the aviation activity forecasts, historical data, forecasted socioeconomic data, aviation trends and other aviation activity forecasts published by the FAA and the Minnesota DOT Office of Aeronautics were analyzed. Considerations for COVID-19 were incorporated into the forecasts as was the departure of American Airlines from the Duluth market in early 2020. Because the base year was 2018 (2019 was still an estimate when the forecasted effort began), the base year forecast is more conservative than the record year seen in 2019 when American Airlines was flying into DLH.
The aviation activity forecasts included in the Master Plan project passenger enplanements, aircraft operations and based aircraft. Table 1 below shows the activity forecasts through the 20-year planning period.
| Table 1 – Approved Aviation Activity Forecasts | ||
| Year | Airport Forecast | |
| Passenger Enplanements | ||
| Base Yr. | 2018 | 140,485 |
| Base Yr. + 5 Years | 2023 | 145,000 |
| Base Yr. + 10 Years | 2028 | 152,710 |
| Base Yr. + 20 Years | 2038 | 177,720 |
| Total Operations | ||
| Base Yr. | 2018 | 62,600 |
| Base Yr. + 5 Years | 2023 | 67,046 |
| Base Yr. + 10 Years | 2028 | 71,026 |
| Base Yr. + 20 Years | 2038 | 78,739 |
| Base Aircraft | ||
| Base Yr. | 2018 | 68 |
| Base Yr. + 5 Years | 2023 | 72 |
| Base Yr. + 10 Years | 2028 | 76 |
| Base Yr. + 20 Years | 2038 | 85 |
Airport Design and the Critical Aircraft
Why do these forecast numbers matter? They help identify the critical aircraft. The critical aircraft is a representation of a grouping of the most demanding similar sized aircraft that has over 500 operations in a calendar year. The critical aircraft, along with stakeholder input, is a key element to informing the master plan process. It guides how airport facilities should be designed to ensure safety requirements are met. It justifies project funding to funding partners.
This information will continue to guide the recommendations of the taxiway network, runways, aircraft parking areas, terminal and landside facilities as the Master Plan is completed.
Duluth International Airport – Airfield Pavement Condition and Life Cycle
The Duluth International Airport (DLH) is one of Minnesota’s 133 public-use airports. According to the 2019 Economic Impact Study conducted by MnDOT Aeronautics, DLH contributes $760.6 million in economic activity. This economic contribution would not be possible without a well-maintained and managed pavement system.
The Duluth Airport Authority (DAA), 148th Air National Guard, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and MnDOT Aeronautics all play a major part in maintaining DLH’s pavement. MnDOT Aeronautics performs Pavement Condition Inspections (PCI) and prepare an airport pavement management system (APMS) at each airport in Minnesota on a 3-year cycle. These studies help airports make informed decisions on how to best manage and maintain their pavement in a cost effective manner. The last inspection at DLH was in 2018 and the next inspection is expected to occur in 2021.
Airfield Pavement and Condition
DLH has two runways that accommodate a range of sizes of aircraft to land and takeoff. Runway 9/27, the airport’s primary runway, is 10,591’ long and 150’ wide. Runway 9/27 has approximately the same amount of pavement as 12 miles of highway or — for a local perspective — 9 miles of Superior Street in downtown Duluth! Runway 3/21, the airport’s second runway, is 5,719’ long and 150’ wide.
Both runways are served by several taxiways, which allow aircraft to get to and from aircraft parking areas. The approximately 6.7 million square feet of airside pavement (pavement used by aircraft) is comparable to more than 75 miles of a typical city street.
Similar to the roads you drive on, airfield pavement deteriorates and needs to be maintained. Airports are unique because aircraft travel at substantially faster speeds and can be substantially heavier than your car or semi-trucks, subjecting the pavement to a greater level of distress. Also unique to many airports is that the pavement condition is regulated by the FAA.
In addition to the Airport Authority’s required airfield and pavement inspections, the 148th Air National Guard also continually inspects airfield pavement to ensure safety of their F-16 fighter jet operations. There are higher standards for airfield pavement condition when compared to your typical street or highway. As pavement deteriorates it sometimes creates pebbles, rocks, and debris which, if ingested by an aircraft engine, can be a safety risk and can cause extensive aircraft damage that is very costly to repair and a dangerous situation for the pilot and passengers.
The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) from the 2018 MnDOT study shows the condition of the various pavement surfaces at DLH ranges from excellent to very poor. Determining a PCI value offers valuable information for planning reconstruction and maintenance projects, but does not provide a complete evaluation of the pavement structure. PCI only assesses the surface of the pavement. Pavement can be further evaluated by conducting geotechnical borings to understand the condition below the paved surface.
Figure 1 shows the current Pavement Classification Index (PCI) using the 2018 MnDOT report and also uses updated data to reflect recent pavement maintenance and construction projects.
It is important to document the condition of the existing pavement, as well as the life cycle of typical airfield pavements and the associated costs of supporting that pavement as it ages. As part of the Vision 2040 Master Plan, pavement age and condition will be documented and used to identify maintenance priorities, development and redevelopment areas, as well as inform the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).
Pavement Life Cycle and Cost of Maintenance
As a pavement ages and progressively deteriorates, the cost of maintaining that pavement will increase. Figure 2 below shows how pavement deteriorates over time, gradually at the beginning, and then more rapidly at the end of the pavement’s useful life. As the pavement gets older and the conditions worsen, there are generally higher costs associated with maintaining and rehabilitating the pavement. As shown in Figure 2, it is more cost-effective to rehabilitate pavement in fair condition rather than waiting until the pavement condition worsens. This also extends the projected usable life of the pavement, maximizing the investment made with its original construction.
Rehabilitation measures can range from simple crack/joint sealing to actually removing, or milling, a portion of that pavement and repaving it with a new surface layer. The Vision 2040 Master Plan will identify appropriate maintenance or replacement activities and a timeframe for each pavement area to make the infrastructure last as long as possible to safely serve the users of DLH.
Figure 2 – Pavement Life Cycle
Duluth International Airport – Economic Benefits
How does aviation support Minnesota and our local community?
Aviation continues to shrink the distance and time between people and goods. An airport like DLH, while capable of providing access to a warmer destination in the middle of winter, also contributes significantly to the local economy. In early 2020, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Office of Aeronautics released the results of a Statewide Economic Impact Study which documented the economic impact of the 133 public airports in the state, including the economic impacts of the Duluth International Airport.
Economic Impact of Public Airports in Minnesota
The 133 public airports have a combined annual economic impact of $18.2 billion. These airports see 5.4 million commercial airline visitors a year and 562,000 general aviation visitors. The study estimated that public airports contribute 5% of the total State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and generate $623.4 million in annual state and local tax revenue.
DLH’s Economic Impact and Community Benefits
The study also documented the economic impact of Duluth International Airport (DLH) which demonstrated that DLH continues to be a significant contributor to the local and statewide economy. The summary Fact Sheet from MnDOT’s study can be found here.
The annual economic impact of DLH is related to activities associated with airport management, businesses located at the airport, average annual capital investment in the airport, and spending by visitors who arrive via the airport. The study estimated that DLH contributes to $483.3 million in annual spending and over $760.6 million in economic activity. This economic activity generates an estimated $32.9 million in state and local tax revenues. The Airport connects visitors from around the world to Duluth and the region. Commercial and general aviation visitors traveling through DLH account for over $39 million in annual spending.
Employment – DLH is a Significant Contributor
DLH supports a total of 6,230 area jobs and $277.3 million in annual payroll, second in the state to only Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
The largest employer at DLH is Cirrus Aircraft which manufactures single engine and light jet aircraft and employs over 1,000 people.
Another large employer is AAR, which employs over 400 people at DLH. AAR is located on the north side of the airport and currently provides aircraft maintenance, repair and operations services to United Airlines’ Airbus fleet.
The Minnesota Air National Guard 148th Fighter Wing is a significant contributor to the local economy and is based at DLH. The 148th, which currently flies the F-16, employs approximately 720 full-time people locally. In 2018, military aircraft accounted for 9% of the total takeoffs and landings at DLH.
A fixed based operator, or FBO, is an organization that provides various services including fueling, maintenance, and pilot facilities. Monaco Air, located on the south side of the airport is DLH’s only FBO. Monaco provides general aviation terminal services, fueling and deicing to aircraft as well as offering other services for both aircraft that are based at DLH and aircraft that are visiting.
These and the many other businesses located at DLH contribute to making the airport an economic force within the community and region.
Our airport plays a large role in the economy and the success of our region. The airport generates over $760 million in annual economic activity, supports travel and tourism, creates jobs and generates income that flows back into our community. The next 20 years has the power to transform our region, and our Master Plan will provide the framework needed to lead the way.
You can view the MnDOT Office of Aeronautics Statewide Economic Impact Study documents on their website, here.
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Build our future. Together. Get Involved! Community involvement is key to the success of our Master Plan. We welcome and look forward to the public’s involvement in this process! Check out our Community Involvement tab for more information on how to get involved.
Who uses DLH and where do they go?
When you think of the Duluth International Airport (DLH), what is the first thing you think of? Most people would probably say “flying commercially for business or leisure.” You might be surprised to learn, then, that while there were over 65,000 departures and arrivals at DLH in 2018, less than 10,000 of those were from commercial airlines.
DLH supports many different users who contribute $646.5 million dollars annually in economic impact to the local community and region. A few of the common uses of Duluth International Airport are listed below.
Commercial Airline Service (Air Carrier)
Commercial service airlines allow leisure and business travelers to connect to the rest of the world. Delta Air Lines provides non-stop flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and American Airlines and United Airlines fly non-stop to Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Many passengers connect at those airports to other national and international destinations. Enplanements (people who got on a plane at DLH) are a way to track how many paying passengers are boarding commercial aircraft. In 2018, DLH had 136,806 enplanements.
Where do passengers departing from DLH travel to? The top 20 domestic destination markets for passengers in the first quarter of 2019 are shown below.
Military
The Minnesota Air National Guard 148th Fighter Wing is based out of DLH. The 148th currently flies the F-16 Block 50 Fighting Falcon. In 2018, military operations accounted for 9% of total operations at DLH, with the 148th Fighter Wing completing over 5,971 flying hours. According to their 2018 Annual Report, the 148th Fighter Wing is the seventh-largest employer in Duluth, with over 1,000 members. The 148th conducts training flights in designated military training airspace in northern Minnesota, over Lake Superior, and in northern Wisconsin.
General Aviation
General aviation is a term used to describe aviation activities that do not include commercial flights, military operations, cargo or charter operations. Most people think of general aviation as recreational flying in smaller propeller aircraft. 68 aircraft based at DLH fall into this category, including private planes owned by local businesses. General aviation also includes aircraft flying to DLH for recreational, business or other purposes.
General aviation at DLH also includes a locally based Civil Air Patrol squadron. The Civil Air Patrol is a volunteer organization that supports communities with emergency response, aviation services including search and rescue services, and aerospace education.
Education and Training
Whether you’re aspiring to become a professional airline pilot or simply want to experience the thrill of flying a recreational aircraft, you need to go through training. Student pilots learn by attending ground school and receiving flight instruction, and DLH is home to a number of users that train aspiring pilots. Lake Superior College (LSC) offers a growing professional pilot degree program and conducts flight training at DLH, as well as offering aircraft maintenance and mechanic degree programs. Lake Superior Helicopter, also located at DLH, offers flight training for aspiring helicopter pilots.
United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Aircraft traveling international routes are able to stop at DLH to clear U.S. customs, refuel, and then continue on to their final destination elsewhere in the United States. On average, at least one international flight arrives at DLH each day. International flights come from departure points in Canada as well as transatlantic locations such as Europe and the Middle East.
Cargo
Airports are an efficient way to move packages throughout the country and around the world. DLH has three cargo carriers that utilize the airport. Mountain Air, a Federal Express (FedEx) carrier, provides daily cargo operations between Duluth and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to connect Duluth to FedEx’s global network. Bemidji Air contracts with UPS to provide daily cargo flights between Duluth and MSP. The United States Postal Service (USPS) contracts with air carriers to move US mail.
Manufacturing & Research and Development
Research and development activities allow aviation to continue to be one of the safest means of transportation. Cirrus Aircraft, located on the south-west side of the airfield, manufactures piston and jet aircraft and continues to innovate and incorporate new technologies into their aircraft.
Aircraft Maintenance
Just like a car, aircraft require routine maintenance. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates these maintenance services. Monaco Air Duluth, the Fixed Based Operator (FBO), currently provides annual and routine maintenance services for single-engine and light twin aircraft, and is a Cirrus Authorized Service Center.
AAR specializes in Airbus and Boeing narrow-body airframe maintenance. It is located on the north side of the airport and is home to a 188,000 square foot facility. United Airlines currently uses AAR for its Airbus 319 airframe maintenance.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) / Drones
Uses of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also commonly referred to as drones, are rapidly evolving. Drones have the potential to change how our local and regional businesses conduct their operations. The Vision 2040 Master Plan will look at how drone operations could affect the Duluth Airport and the surrounding communities. As part of the Vision 2040 Master Plan, drones have been used to survey tree heights that may pose a hazard to air navigation. During the Runway 9/27 reconstruction project in the summer of 2019, progress photos and videos were captured using drone footage.
Medical Transport
Aircraft and helicopters are capable of rapidly transporting patients with life-threatening injuries or illnesses to another hospital when transporting them by ambulance may not be feasible or could risk the life of the patient. DLH provides the necessary facilities for aircraft and helicopters to transport patients or organs for medical use. DLH supports the local medical facilities by providing instrument approaches when visibility and cloud cover limits the use of heliports located at hospitals. Additionally, some medical transports use fixed-wing aircraft that require a runway.
Non-Aviation Support Functions
DLH also supports the region by providing access to non-aviation transportation. Car rentals are available at the terminal through Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise and National. The Duluth Transit Authority (DTA) provides city bus service to the airport terminal on three bus routes. Landline offers bus service from DLH to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), with stops at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 at MSP.
A mile of highway will take you a mile, but a mile of runway will take you anywhere. Below are graphics showing where domestic general aviation aircraft leaving DLH landed, and where aircraft that landed at DLH came from.
Arrivals
Departures
Duluth’s Vision 2040 Master Plan will help us meet the existing and long-term needs of all these users including airlines, passengers, military, cargo carriers, private aircraft, tenants, our local communities we serve and the many visitors to our region.
Build our future. Together. Get Involved! Community involvement is key to the success of our Master Plan. We welcome and look forward to the public’s involvement in this process! Check out our Community Involvement tab for more information on how to get involved.
Why does an airport like Duluth do a master plan?
Successfully moving forward is hard without a plan, which is why we’re in the process of creating the Duluth International Airport’s Vision 2040 Master Plan. This plan will help us identify and meet the existing and long-term needs of our users including airlines, passengers, military, cargo carriers, private aircraft, tenants, the local communities we serve and the many visitors to our region.
An airport master plan is a long-term framework for the future operation and development of an airport. Master plans help airports like ours forecast what types of activity levels are likely in the next 20 years. Through this process, we can answer many questions about future activity levels, including:
How might our airline service change in the future?
How many passengers will pass through our airport in a day?
How many aircraft will visit our airport in a day?
How many aircraft will ‘live’ full-time at our airport?
Once we identify future activity levels, we can better plan for future needs. A few of the questions that can be answered regarding future needs include:
- How do we maintain our existing infrastructure moving forward?
- When will we need to repair and upgrade existing infrastructure?
- How and when – if at all – should our runways and taxiways change to meet user needs?
- Do we need to improve access for aircraft in inclement weather conditions?
- Does the airport need more aircraft hangars to store aircraft? If so, where should those hangers go?
- As our tenants grow and new tenants relocate to DLH, where can new development occur on our airport? What types of uses should be developed and where?
In order to meet the needs identified in the master plan, we need a funding and implementation plan in place. This will not only helps the airport, but also creates a financial framework for the airport to estimate the capital costs of future projects and identify potential funding sources. In addition, the best timing or sequencing of projects can also be explored.
Build our future. Together.
Get involved! Community involvement is key to the success of our Vision 2040 Master Plan. We welcome and look forward to the public’s involvement in this process! Check out our Community Involvement tab for more information on how to get involved.
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