Updates about Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (NWFBIA)

[Kurt]

Boardings down at Panhandle airports (see CHART) - The News Herald

The three major airports on the Emerald Coast do not appear immune from hard times in today's slumping economy.


Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport appears to be hurting the most. For each of the first four months of 2009, its drop in boardings has ranged from 16.5 percent to 22.3 percent. The Panama City-Bay County International Airport has seen a drop ranging from 3 percent in March to 8.8 percent in January.


Pensacola does have the most carriers (six) and the most daily flights in and out (76), according to its Web site. Northwest Florida Regional Airport has five carriers and 54 daily flights, while Panama City has two carriers and 11 daily flights.
Randy Curtis, director of Panama City's airport, said "about two-thirds of the balance here is business and military travel."


The Air Force is the main reason for Northwest Florida Regional's stability, said Greg Donovan, Okaloosa County's airports director.


"There's a lot of business activity associated with the military, because if you work for Lockheed and you're connected with the F-35, you can come from Fort Worth on American Eagle," Donovan said. He also referenced that the airport property belongs to Eglin Air Force, which controls the air space.


"We've got involvement with Eglin, we're connected with Hurlburt (Field) and we've got those Army Special Forces coming in here, too," he said. "All those things mean activity here that is resilient to a national downtrend."


Melinda Crawford, interim director of Pensacola's airport, estimated 53 percent of its passengers come on business, 26 percent are connected with the military and 21 percent are classified as "leisure."


At Northwest Florida Regional, the breakdown is 42 percent military/civil service/government contractors, 30 percent leisure and 28 percent business other than military.


All three continue to compete in a market that's known throughout the Southeast as a drive-to destination. Last year, Pensacola added "Gulf Coast" to its name. It also has a $35 million expansion under way. Okaloosa Regional Airport became Northwest Florida Regional last September. The airport's new rental car service facility, fuel farm and aircraft parking area were completed in March at a price tag of $14.7 million.


In Bay County, the $318 million airport near West Bay scheduled for completion in May 2010 has been trumpeting its "international" title for months.

Holy grail

Still, low fares cannot be ignored when it comes to customer appeal, and Pensacola does have low-cost carrier Air Tran. Even so, securing Southwest Airlines remains a sort of holy grail quest for all three airports.


Curtis calls Southwest "one of our major objectives, and they're the cream of the crop."
At the University of West Florida's Haas Center, Rod Lewis is preparing a seven-county report on airlines that is due for delivery July 1.


"Every community is looking for increased air service and low-cost carriers to improve the tourist environment and expand its reach," Lewis said. "The result would be more business and more convention visitors."


What determines the winner in this ongoing contest?


"The number of people employed at each airport, the number of flights in and out and the total number of people they bring into the region," Lewis said. "And having them spend their money in the region that would not have come but for that airport."

Donovan and assistant Mike Stenson have a June 3 meeting scheduled with representatives from Southwest.


But Mike Boyd, who heads aviation consulting firm The Boyd Group in Colorado, doesn't think Southwest will come anytime soon. Boyd is considered a national expert who appeared at Donovan's invitation in Fort Walton Beach last year.

"You have to bang on their door," Boyd said. "They'll say they love you, but they might not be there. They're going to open Milwaukee this fall, and they're not coming to small and mid-size markets right now.


"But you can never trust an airline when they tell you ?no,'" he added. "They'll say they're not coming right up until the day they sign a deal to come there."


As for the overall picture in the near future, Boyd said he is not optimistic.


"The airlines are cutting back in capacity, anticipating a major reduction in travel this fall," he said. "It's not going to be a rosy picture ... about 12 percent less capacity this fall."

 

[Kurt]

The most recent aerial photos of the new airport site document the progress that continues to be made. The new airport is currently expected to open in approximately one year - in May 2010.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/newpfn...flickr.com/2456/3585786375_e92307f139.jpg[/IM

There are more construction photos here.

 

[Kurt]

Construction Update: 5/28/2009

by NewPFN on June 1, 2009
Contract 1: Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting
Approximately 86% of the contract work is complete with only 64% of the contract time used.

• 8400’ of Runway 16-34 is 100% complete. (Still awaiting final approval for 10,000’)
• Grooving of the runway is complete.
• Final grading of the main access road is underway.
• Paving of the taxiway connectors is underway.
• Turf establishment in the western perimeter ditch is complete.
• Stabilization of Morrell Branch outfall is complete.

Contract 2: Terminal Building, ATCT and Support Buildings
Approximately 30% of contract work is complete with 38% of contract time used.
Terminal

• Continue erecting structural steel at Areas B&C (Connector Hall and Ticketing/Airline offices) with 90% complete.
• Continue with metal decking with nearly 70% complete.
• Continue with the installation of underground utility runs including plumbing and electrical rough-in.
• Began the excavations for the pedestrian bridge from Terminal to Terminal Parking.
• Began fire sprinkler install at Area A (baggage reclaim).

Air Traffic Control Tower

• Completed concrete pour of 3rd floor shaft walls.
• Continue installing reinforcing steel levels 4 and 5.

Air Maintenance Facility, Air Maintenance Shed, Air Cargo Facility

• Continue erecting metal panels and roofing.

Rental Car Facility

• Continue with layout and forming of foundations for rental car facility.

Public Safety Building

• Completed concrete placement slab on grade admin area of PSB.
• Split face block delivered and ready for install.

The average manpower on site for Contract 2 per day is 105 people based on a five-day work week.
Contract 3: Utility Contract
Approximately 34% of contract work is complete with 36% of contract time used.
Main Access Road

• 3W2” Power Distribution Duct Bank is 87% complete.
• Street light duct work is 87% complete.
• 6W4” Power Distribution Duct Bank is 87% complete

Joyner Road

• 24” water main is 98% complete

GA Access Road
30” water main is 72% complete

• 12” water main is 69% complete

Lift Station

• Lift station is 35% complete.

Booster Station

• Site work continuing.

Gas Main Installation

• 2 weeks to completion.
• AT&T duct bank installed from main gate to intersection.

Force Main on CR 388

• Expected completion date: May 30.

Fuel Farm

• Site work beginning.

 

[Kurt]

THE ST. JOE COMPANY (NYSE: JOE) ANNOUNCES MASTERPLANNING AGREEMENTS WITH HASKELL AND TRANSYSTEMS​

Team to Focus First On 1,000 Acres Adjacent To New International Airport Scheduled To Open May 2010

West Bay, Florida - (June 12, 2009) - The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) today announced that it has entered into agreements with The Haskell Company, America's Green Design-Build Leader, and TranSystems Corporation, one of the world's leading transportation planning and engineering firms, to masterplan JOE land adjacent to the new Panama City - Bay County International Airport which is scheduled to open in May 2010.


The initial parcels are being planned and positioned for office, retail and industrial users, totaling approximately 1,000 acres (400 hectares). This land is a portion of approximately 71,000 acres (28,400 hectares) that St. Joe owns within the West Bay Sector, a large mixed-use master-planned project located in Bay County in Northwest Florida.



The sector is anchored by the new 4,000-acre (1,600-hectare) international airport now under construction.


"With the scheduled opening of the airport now less than one year away, we are accelerating our preconstruction activity and stepping up marketing outreach to global users who need ready access to the new airport," said St. Joe's president and CEO Britt Greene. "Our land at West Bay is a world-class asset, and our marketing outreach is to global users. Our initial marketing focus will be aerospace, logistics and defense-oriented technology companies."


"Our land at West Bay also has easy access to a nearby deepwater port in Panama City and very good road and rail connections," said Greene. "It's truly a unique opportunity to be part of one of Florida's largest mixed-use planned developments."


"We are very pleased to have The Haskell Company and TranSystems working with us on our project at West Bay," said Greene. "Haskell has earned its reputation as one of the best design-build firms in the nation. TranSystems is an acknowledged leader in engineering and planning and supply-chain management consulting. Together, we can provide a complete solution for a broad range of commercial, industrial, office and retail users."



"JOE's project at West Bay is one of the most exciting we've seen in a long time," said Steve Halverson, President and CEO of The Haskell Company. "There are very few greenfield opportunities with a strategic location and high-quality access to an airport, a deepwater port, road and rail connections. We are proud to be part of a team that can deliver a valuable product to a wide range of users."


"The site at West Bay brings tremendous resources to service the campus cluster style that leading edge technology users demand in a Green environment. With the new Airport added to the transportation infrastructure mix, this development provides for the realization of what it means to be a world leading LEAN site that wrings out inefficiencies in the supply chain," said Brian Larson, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of TranSystems.


As part of the master-planning process, the team is creating a development node capable of joining the Gulf Coast's aerospace corridor. A concentration of U.S. Air Force, Navy and Army aerospace and aviation facilities along the Florida, Alabama and Mississippi Gulf Coast have created a cluster of aerospace and aviation businesses and workforce talent in the region.



This Gulf Coast corridor also includes the site selected by Northrop Grumman and EADS for the final assembly of a new aerial tanker, the KC-45, for the U.S. Air Force, should they win the contract. The U.S. Air Force is expected to issue the new bid package for the $35 billion (25 billion euro) aerial tanker project later this summer. Northrop Grumman and EADS have teamed to compete for the contract.


St. Joe's project at West Bay is part of the larger West Bay Sector Plan, a product of Florida's unique sector planning process. A planning framework is in place for approximately 75,000 acres (30,000 hectares), which includes the airport, to ensure long-term land-use compatibility. Approximately 41,000 acres (16,500 hectares) in the West Bay Sector have been preserved forever through the establishment of the West Bay Preservation Area.


About JOE
The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), a publicly held company based in Jacksonville, is one of Florida's largest real estate development companies and Northwest Florida's largest private landowner. We are primarily engaged in real estate development and sales, with significant interests in timber. More information about St. Joe can be found at our web site at www.joe.com.


About Haskell
Haskell is one of America's leading integrated, single-source, design-build firms practicing in the general building and civil infrastructure markets. The company has annual revenues of more than $700 million with offices in the United States and Mexico. More information can be found at www.haskell.com.


About TranSystems
TranSystems' approximately 1,100 professionals in 47 offices throughout the U.S. provide architecture, engineering and planning; management and supply chain consulting; real estate consulting; and security to all sectors of the transportation industry. To access current and historical information, visit TranSystems' web site at www.transystems.com.
​

 

[Kurt]

Construction Update: 6/11/2009

by NewPFN on June 15, 2009
Contract 1: Heavy Civil and Airfield Lighting
Approximately 86% of the contract work is complete.

• 8400’ of Runway 16-34 is 100% complete. (Awaiting final approval for 10,000’)
• Seeding and mulching continuing on the Main Access Road.
• Sub-grade being placed on taxiways in the General Aviation area.
• Stabilization of the Perimeter Road is ongoing.
• Sand being installed in the bottom of Pond C.

Contract 2: Terminal Building, Air Traffic Control Tower and Support Buildings
Approximately 33% of contract work is complete with 41% of contract time utilized.
Terminal

• Completing structural steel sequence 6-13.
• Continue with metal framing of exterior walls in Area A 1st and 2nd level.
• Completing roof decking in Area’s A and B and partial in C.
• Began the excavations for the pedestrian bridge from Terminal to Terminal Parking.
• Began fire sprinkler install at Area A (baggage reclaim).

Air Traffic Control Tower

• Completed concrete pour on shaft walls level 5.

Air Maintenance Facility, ,Air Maintenance Shed, Air Cargo Facility

• Continuing metal stud walls.

Rental Car Facility:

• Completing installation of settling tanks for Car Wash.

Public Safety Building:

• Began installation of CMU walls.

Manpower:

• The average man power on site for Contract 2 per day is 105 people based on a five day work week.
• Approximately 17 people work on Saturday.

Contract 3: Utility Contract
Approximately 38% of contract work is complete with 40% of contract time utilized.
Main Access Road

• 3W2” Power Distribution Duct Bank is 87.5% complete: Working on final tie-in underway & transformer pads.

• Street light duct work is 87% complete; wire is being pulled.

• 6W4” Power Distribution Duct Bank is 87.5% complete.

Joyner Road

• 24” water main is 98% complete.

GA Access Road

• 30” water main is 80% complete.

• 12” water main is 73% complete.

Lift Station

• Station is 35% complete; plumbing is being installed.

Force Main on CR 388

• Work is complete.

Fuel Farm

• Work is 2% complete; site work is ongoing and the grounding system is being installed.

Booster Station

• Site work is underway.

Contract 4: Landscaping Contract

• Notice to proceed issued on June 8, 2009.

 

[SHELLY]

THE ST. JOE COMPANY (NYSE: JOE) ANNOUNCES MASTERPLANNING AGREEMENTS WITH HASKELL AND TRANSYSTEMS​

...I see by the headlines that JOE is approaching their quarterly financial report.

.

 

[Kurt]

 

[Kurt]

Coastal Vision 3000 chairman stresses unity - The News Herald

The man Okaloosa County commissioners believe went to Washington, D.C., to campaign for the closure of the Northwest Florida Regional Airport is still on the board of directors at Coastal Vision 3000.

But the chairman of that regional board, which was formed to promote all of Northwest Florida, told commissioners Tuesday that it won't happen again.


"I can assure you if anybody on the board does not adhere to the principles that I just spoke about, we would address that," said Davage "Buddy" Runnels, chairman of Coastal Vision 3000.


While meeting with area congressmen in Washington in February, Okaloosa officials learned that four supporters of the Panama City-Bay County International Airport now being built had met with lawmakers earlier to seek support for closing Northwest Florida Regional based on legal grounds with the Air Force.


One of the four people who reportedly met with the lawmakers was Jerry Ray, senior vice president of St. Joe Co. and a board member of Coastal Vision 3000.


St. Joe donated 4,000 acres for the Panama City-Bay County International Airport.


County commissioners sent a letter to Runnels after the controversy broke, asking that Ray be removed from the board. Runnels confirmed at Tuesday's meeting that Ray is still on the board, but commissioners did not press the issue.


Runnels also did not address the recent controversy directly. Instead, he talked about moving forward.


"I want us to focus on things that unite us to work together to succeed, not divide us," Runnels said.


According to Okaloosa officials, the three other people who petitioned for Northwest Florida Regional Airport's closure were Panama City attorney William Harrison; Brian Yablonski, the vice president of public affairs for St. Joe Co.; and Lisa Walters, a Panama City attorney and chairwoman of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance.

 

[SHELLY]

This morning the CEO of Southwest Airlines, Gary Kelly, rang the opening bell at the NYSE to celebrate the airline's 38th anniversary. During his interview with a CNBC talking head, he mentioned that Southwest was extending service to LaGuardia in NYC and Logan in Boston. He said his airline needed to cut back on the number of flights serviced in other areas in order to provide this new service because they couldn't afford to take on any more costs. Surprisingly, he made no mention of opening up full service to a new hub at THE™ Beach Airport. :roll:

 

[Busta Hustle]

That's just good poker playin

This morning the CEO of Southwest Airlines, Gary Kelly, rang the opening bell at the NYSE to celebrate the airline's 38th anniversary. During his interview with a CNBC talking head, he mentioned that Southwest was extending service to LaGuardia in NYC and Logan in Boston. He said his airline needed to cut back on the number of flights serviced in other areas in order to provide this new service because they couldn't afford to take on any more costs. Surprisingly, he made no mention of opening up full service to a new hub at THE? Beach Airport. :roll:

That play is a year away. No need to get other interested competitors (Greyhound/trailways) an opportunity to horn in on your future pots.

And you think a measly 1/2 cent bed tax increase will get them here?