Mankato Regional Airport Mankato, Minnesota
The Minnesota Office of Aeronautics is a vitally important part of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT), and serves 135 publicly-owned airports around the state. It also serves more than 20,000 certificated aviators, aviation mechanics and technicians.
Our Mission
The Minnesota Office of Aeronautics is responsible for promoting aviation and aviation safety within the state by supporting municipalities, townships, and counties in the development, maintenance, and safe operation of public airport facilities. Along with the 135 publicly owned airports, there are 19 publicly owned seaplane bases, and six privately owned (but open to the public) airports. Sixty (60) airports have one or more runways at or over 3,800 feet in length. Also, seven (7) Minnesota airports have commercial air service.
Minnesota is home to more than 100 navigational aids and a similar number of high-speed computer weather systems for pilots around the state. Many airports also have new or recently updated arrival/departure facilities to meet the quality standards expected by Minnesota aviators.
Where does the money come from?
The proceeds from the aviation fuel tax, aircraft registration, and aviation user fees are collected under Minnesota Statute 296.421, and are deposited into the State Airports Fund. The fund is used in accordance with Minnesota Statute Chapter 360 exclusively for aviation purposes. No General Fund monies are used for aviation in Minnesota.
Expenditures are approved bi-annually by the Minnesota Legislature. The State Airports Fund is administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Office of Aeronautics, and distributed to several programs including construction and maintenance of infrastructure; navigational aids; safety programs; and weather programs (primarily) for pilots; and weather programs disseminated through various media including the Internet and broadcast media.
The broadcast weather information is available to anyone with a television throughout most areas of the state. It is a direct benefit to non-flying citizens as well as certificated aviators, by providing up-to-the-minute weather radar, and current and future conditions information that is immediately useful to farmers, fire and rescue personnel, law enforcement, natural resources agencies, schools, and many others.
What benefits does aviation bring to the community and the state?
The benefactors of the State Airports Funds are initially those that use air transportation in any way. This includes the flying public and aviators who use the airports and facilities, attend safety seminars, and utilize safety and aviation information publications. However, the aviation system provides benefits to all citizens! It does so in the form of timely, reliable, and the safe delivery of goods, mail, perishables, high-value items, and the transportation of people.
The aviation system also actively aids the economic growth and well being of a community.
On-airport, aviation-related businesses that provide direct services and products to the aviation public depend on adequate and safe airports and airport facilities.
Off-airport businesses use airport facilities for transportation of personnel, parts and equipment, and document courier service. This is often accomplished through the use of their own business aircraft, or through the use of commercial or charter passenger flights and freight facilities that provide just-in-time services and flights. Safe, efficient airport facilities, accurate current weather information, and well-informed pilots help to ensure the continued safe operation of aircraft for those in the air and on the ground.
The communities benefit directly from having the airport as an economic engine and development tool. Many businesses seek out a community with an airport before deciding to locate in that community or area. These businesses bring jobs and economic growth to their communities.
Communities also benefit from having the airport as their “front-door.” An airport opens the way for expanded tourism, overnight mail and cargo services, expanded emergency and health services and capabilities, access to the world, and much more!
Many smaller towns very likely do not have a train station, or may not even have a bus terminal. But if they have an airport, that airport provides access to transport medical personnel, business people, urgently needed parts and supplies, tourism, and opens access to the global marketplace. So the answer to the question of who benefits from a strong, healthy, and viable aviation system is quite simply, everyone!
Minnesota’s system of airports contributed more than $12.1 billion to the state’s economy in 2009, while providing nearly 165,000 jobs that produced more than $6.4 billion in labor income. But, it is also very important to note that Minnesota’s small and medium airports alone brought more than $433 million to the state’s economy and provided nearly 4,000 jobs that produced approximately $184 million in labor income! *
Bear in mind that General Aviation (GA) has been and remains a vitally important economic engine in Minnesota, and throughout the nation. In fact, approximately 70% of all General Aviation is associated with some commercial activity. Business travel alone accounts for more flying hours than any other facet of General Aviation.
Consider the fact that the total economic impact of GA (annually) for 2008-2009 (in Minnesota) was $1,663,304,617, while the daily impact was $4,556,999. Thus, GA contributed more than $595 per person, based on combined direct, indirect, and induced effects in this state. It is interesting to note that Minnesota is number nine on the list of states with the highest General Aviation impact per capita.
With that in mind, it is then easy to understand why a municipality with an active airport is a better place to live, work and play. An active airport attracts motivated citizens, community-minded industries and adventurous visitors.
What is the Minnesota Office of Aeronautics
doing for the aviation community?
Navaids: Minnesota Office of Aeronautics professionals work hard to provide the best services and aviation products possible. One example is the dedicated work by the Navaids team to fill a large radar coverage gap in Minnesota by utilizing a new technology called Wide Area Multilateration (WAM). The project will be jointly funded by the FAA and the State through bonding and the State Airports Fund.
There is a large area of Minnesota where radar coverage is not available. Aircraft operating in this area have to be above 4,000 feet and sometimes as high as 10,000 feet to be in radar contact. There are 21 airports in this area including two with commercial service: Bemidji and Brainerd.
The area also contains Camp Ripley: an Army Airfield with significant training operations and a restricted area northwest of the airfield. In this airspace Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations are limited to one in/one out access. Air traffic services to pilots like traffic advisories, flight following and weather advisories are simply not available.
The Navaids team is working diligently to remedy this situation to help make flying in Minnesota not only safer, but also more efficient. The direct benefit to aviators will be to lower costs for pilots using that airspace or those 21 airports. The benefit/cost analysis study summary concluded that there could be annual savings of 300,000 hours of passenger time in flight, 1.4 million gallons of fuel, $6.3 million in aircraft operations, and $140,000 in search and rescue expenditures.
Airport Development: The Airport Development team is constantly working to aid airports in finding ways to improve their facilities, or upgrade their runways, tarmacs, hangars, and enhance their arrival/departure buildings. While always including safety in the scope of their projects, the aeronautics regional airport engineers often look for new ways to help make the airport more user friendly and even more esthetically pleasing to see.
From July 2009-June 2010, (FY2010), your Airport Development team handled 257 funded projects. The funding amounts included (Federal) $53,766,125.00; (State) $16,099,317.53, and (Local) $11,748,329.84. Total project costs: $81,613,772.37.
These dollars, while helping to improve and enhance local airports, also create jobs and economic benefits within those communities. This is not only a direct benefit to these communities, but is also directly beneficial to all citizens in those communities and surrounding regions.
Now you understand more about what the Minnesota Office of Aeronautics does for you and your community. We hope you will share this information with everyone in your community. Clearly you can see the value and importance of aviation and quality airports in Minnesota.
One more thought about aviation in Minnesota…
We offer one more thought about aviation: “When you build one mile of highway, you can only travel 5,280 feet and no further,” said Chris Roy, Director, Mn/DOT Aeronautics. “But when you invest in the construction of one mile of runway, you will have built a path that connects your community to the rest of the nation, and to the world.”
* Data from the Economic Impact Study by the University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies, 2010.
