Long-Range Facilities
and Sustainability Plan
Palo Alto Airport
September 16, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org
1 INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE
• March 23, 2023 – Council Study Session
• FAA planning process
• Looking at the next 20 years for the airport
• Seeking feedback and input on alternatives
• Preparing for electric aircraft/renewable energy future • Runway safety standards
• Runway length alternatives
• Unleaded fuel status update and draft transition plan
2 STEPS COMPLETED TO DATE
• Organized Sustainability Charrette
• Held five public meetings
• Completed Airport inventory
• Forecasted future operations and based aircraft
• Determined critical aircraft
• Most demanding aircraft with at least 500 annual operations • Determined potential improvements based on FAA criteria • Developed planning alternatives incorporating potential improvements
3 FORECAST & CRITICAL AIRCRAFT
2042 Forecasted Operations (takeoffs and
landings): 220,372
Historical High in 1992: 232,798
7-9 Passenger Turbo-Prop Aircraft
Critical Aircraft
4 POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS – RUNWAY SAFETY
Element Existing Potential Improvement Sufficiency?
Runway Width 70 FT 75 FT No - 5 FT deficient
Runway Safety Area
(RSA)
Width = 120
Length Beyond Runway = 240
FT
Width = 150 FT
Length Beyond Runway = 300
FT
Width = Yes
Length beyond Runway = No - constraints due to
grading/water
Runway Object Free
Area (ROFA)
Width = 250
Length Beyond Runway = 240
FT
Width = 500 FT
Length Beyond Runway = 300
FT
Width = No - would impact TWY Z, taxi-lanes,
apron, wind cones, segmented circle, and AWOS
Length Beyond Runway = No - Constraint s due to
grading/water
Runway - Taxiway
Separation 140 FT 240 FT No - Separation from TWY Z is 100 FT deficient Runway Protection
Zone
RPZs based on current runway ends meet standard, but locations may change based on the how other issues are addressed.
Runway Length 2443 FT 3500 FT No - 1,057 FT deficient - Constraints due to grading/water
5 POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENTS – OTHER ISSUES
• Relocate Terminal building
• Provide for future eVTOL
• Solar and microgrid locations
• Increase hangar spaces
• Levee alignment
6 ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT
• Mandated by FAA to develop alternatives incorporating potential improvements based on FAA safety criteria
• Runway configuration and length
• Developed with potential improvements in mind
• Efficiency, safety, and impact
• Try to incorporate City plans
• No preferred alternative yet
7 ALTERNATIVE 1 – NO ACTION
8 ALTERNATIVE 2 – 2600 FT RUNWAY
Future Vertiport
9 ALTERNATIVE 3 – 3500 FT RUNWAY W/ SW SHIFT
Future Vertiport
10 ALTERNATIVE 4 – 3500 FT RUNWAY W/ NE SHIFT
Future Vertiport
11 ALTERNATIVE 5 – 3000 FT RUNWAY W/ NE SHIFT
Future Vertiport
12 COMMUNITY INPUT
• Interest from City of East Palo Alto, City of Menlo Park, Midpeninsula Open Space, Save Our Bay, California Pilots Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
• Survey
• 1523 Responses
• Petitions
• Save the Palo Alto Baylands (change.org)
• Preserve the Palo Alto Baylands
Alternative 1 - No Action 43.3%
Alternative 2 - 2600 FT RWY with NE Shift 11.4%
Alternative 3 - 3500 FT RWY with SW Shift 4.1%
Alternative 4 - 3500 FT RWY with NE Shift 22.1%
Alternative 5 - 3000 FT RWY with NE Shift 6.2%
No answer provided 12.8%
Alternative Ranking
13 UNLEADED FUEL TRANSITION PLAN (draft)
15 • Receive Council feedback to inform
preferred alternative development
• Neighboring City Council presentations
for consultation and feedback
• Develop a preferred alternative
incorporating input received
• Plan additional public outreach, as
appropriate
• Review and consider preferred alternative
with City Council
• Implement fuel transition plan
NEXT STEPS
16 COUNCIL FEEDBACK REQUESTED
• What should be included in a preferred alternative?
• Areas for feedback:
• Preparing for electric aircraft/renewable energy
future
• Runway safety standards
• Runway length alternatives