PD Editorial: Airport plan is vital to local economy

Looking for an economic success story? Look no further than Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, the North Bay's regional airport.

Since commercial airline service resumed 4? years ago, the airport has emerged as a thriving economic hub. It supports 400 jobs in the surrounding community, it generates $112 million a year in economic activity, and airport tenants pay $1.4 million in taxes annually.

Charters, fire suppression and general aviation still account for the vast majority of flights, but commercial service is more than a convenience. It buttresses the tourism industry and makes Sonoma County a better location to open or expand a business.

Aside from a brief period during the Great Recession, Alaska Airlines' commercial flights have been filled to near capacity. Alaska has added flights and destinations to meet the demand, and more airlines are evaluating whether to start service to, among other places, San Diego, Denver and Phoenix.

With a $2.3 million expansion of the passenger terminal, completed this year, it's easier than ever to fly in and out of Santa Rosa instead of fighting traffic to San Francisco or Oakland.

To protect these gains, and for the airport to reach its full potential as an economic engine for the North Bay, the runways must be extended.

The main runway isn't long enough to accommodate the mid-size jets favored by regional carriers such as Frontier and US Airways, which have shown interest in starting service from Santa Rosa. Without a longer runway, the regional jets must take off with empty seats or carry less fuel, which reduces their range.

Safety is a second concern. The airfield's present configuration, a V-shape with both runways starting at the same spot, is inconsistent with federal safety standards adopted after a 2006 crash in Lexington, Ky.

To address those issues, the county plans to extend the main runway 885 feet to 6,000 feet and add 200 feet to the second runway, bringing it to 5,200 feet.

Money is available from the Federal Aviation Administration to cover the cost. Federal funds also could underwrite start-up costs should Frontier begin service from Santa Rosa to Denver, a major hub in the nation's air transit network.

That's enhanced safety and economic stimulus at no cost to the county.

Of course, an airport expansion invariably breeds controversy, and this one is no exception. Neighbors say it's too noisy already.

But the airfield was built in 1939, long before nearby subdivisions, and the first commercial air service began less than a decade later. A new runway was identified as a need in the 1980s, and the county's airport plan has long envisioned 30 daily commercial flights by 2030. So no one can credibly claim to be surprised.

The expansion plan could result in 10-12 flights a day by 2015. Now there are five. The plan includes noise monitoring and potential sound-proofing of homes nearest the runways. Airport officials also are exploring a voluntary moratorium on late-night flights. Beyond that, Sonoma County shouldn't delay making its airport safer and more versatile. A viable airport is vital to the local economy.