Agency Wants Aviation To Be Terminal's Primary Purpose

The Northern Great Plains Interagency Fire Dispatch Center should be concentrating on fires... but is instead facing eviction.

The FAA is to render a decision this month if it will seek the removal of the multi-state agency to free up the space for aeronautical purposes. Last year's FAA policy on moving non-revenue generating governmental operations out of airports is to blame, according to South Dakota television station KOTA-3.

The center is one of several agencies housed in a terminal at the Rapid City Regional Airport in South Dakota. The terminal was empty in 2001 when the state, airport and then-governor Bill Janklow hammered out a lease agreement. The state then initiated $1.8 million in improvements.

The dispatch center coordinates firefighting efforts in South Dakota, Nebraska and part of Wyoming, and has operated in its current facility for five years.

Airport executive director Mason Short says they'll be able to hold out -- for a short time, anyway.

"There's plenty of chance they'll stay there for a while," Short said. "We don't consider this a threat to the immediate fire season and look forward to continuing dialogue with the state to come up with an alternative location."

The South Dakota Division of Wildland Fire Suppression, a state radio center providing law-enforcement and emergency dispatch services and several federal resource agencies also have offices at the remodeled terminal and will more than likely follow the center, according to The Rapid City Journal.

Janklow believes the original agreement should continue to be honored. He doesn't buy the FAA argument that the space would be better utilized for "aeronautical purposes."

"There is nothing about that building which brings about such a demand from the FAA, other than arrogance and haughtiness," Janklow said via e-mail. "The city of Rapid City and the FAA both agreed to the building's current use. It is a far too valuable and necessary emergency asset to allow bureaucrats, who are without vision but who possess great power and authority, the right to destroy its use."

Short said the FAA has warned aviation uses are to be the priority for the terminal. "As long as the space wasn't needed for aeronautical purposes, it wasn't a crucial issue," Short said.

But that has changed, he said. Demand has increased for aviation space.

"We're running out of space at the airport for aeronautical uses. We have to make room for those uses," Short said. "At the end of the day, that's really what we're out here for, is to be an airport. That's our mission."

The old terminal does serve aeronautical purposes as it is. Firefighting and other emergency aircraft are housed there.

"So I think this is an aeronautical use that goes along with it (the dispatch center) that has not been recognized," South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds said. "We do think we've got evidence that shows this is an appropriate use for that location."

Thirty-two other dispatch centers across the nation are housed on airport property, according to Joe Lowe, coordinator of wildland fire suppression for the state. Even the national interagency fire center in Boise, Idaho, is housed in an airport, Lowe said.

"This has served us well. It's a more efficient way to dispatch fire resources," Lowe said. "This consolidation has reduced costs to the taxpayers. The center serves the citizens of the state, and not just the few private aircraft owners that need hanger space."

Rapid City Mayor Jim Shaw said it "makes sense" to have the dispatch center as well as related agencies at the airport.

"The air tankers use the airport, and fire personnel fly in there during wildfires," he said. "I fully understand the airport is running out of space for new private hangers and aviation," he said. "But I would hope that common sense could prevail and that we could continue this use. It's a good partnership between a number of different agencies."

Short said only about 100 of the 1,800 acres owned by the airport are suitable for development. The old terminal is a prime location for aviation service, he said, and the city and airport do come under the authority of the FAA and its requirements, he reminds critics.

Janklow said he hopes the city and airport board refuse to "cave in" to FAA.

"The FAA has no legal right to evict anyone," Janklow said. "They don't own the building. It was and still is owned by the city of Rapid City, and the FAA has no legal right to willy nilly evict anyone."

Short disagrees. He said the airport and its board determine who leases space, but the FAA "provides millions of dollars for airport maintenance and upkeep." It's likely the FAA will eventually get its way, he said.

The 20-year agreement comes up for renewal every three years.

Jason Glodt, a senior advisor to Gov. Rounds, said they are in negotiations with the FAA to allow the center to remain where it is at least through the summer. 

Short believes the center will be ok for this fire season, but the next one is uncertain.

"I believe it is has a very vital mission in our community," Short said of the dispatch center. "And we welcome the opportunity to visit with the state, which we have done, to put a facility at the airport - just not on that spot."

FMI: www.rcgov.com/Airport/pages/Default.htm