Editor's note: This is part one of a two-part guest column series

Information and hearsay about issues with the Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJRA) have seemingly been running rampant lately. The key, first and foremost, is to understand the basics and background before coming to any conclusions.

First is to understand the ownership and management of GJRA. Currently, the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority (GJRAA) owns and operates GJRA. The Authority is a seven-member board, with three city-appointed members, three county-appointed members, and one at-large member. The board oversees the policy and sets strategic direction for the airport. GJRA airport staff reports to the board.

PERIMETER FENCE

One of the key issues lately has been the installation of a perimeter fence — that serves both as a security access fence and wildlife control fence — and associated access control gates. The construction of the perimeter fence arose from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirement to control certain wildlife in the air operations area. The FAA made its decision after a 12-month wildlife hazard assessment that it mandated, and which the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted in accordance with FAA regulation.

In a separate action, the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted an FAA-mandated wildlife hazard assessment at GJRA. Based on this assessment, the airport staff developed a wildlife management control plan, which the FAA approved. That plan outlined two final alternatives for the issues identified.

The first was to install control measures by way of additional patrols and removal of wildlife habitats. The second was to install a perimeter fence when FAA funding became available, and additional skirt fencing as other funds became available. The perimeter fence option included construction of access points, or gates, located along the fence.

FINANCIALLY SOUND DECISION-MAKING

The Authority made its decision based on sound financial judgment. GJRA did not have the funds to increase staffing to implement the first alternative. In turning to the fence alternative, GJRAA had hoped to replace the access points that existed on the old perimeter fence, which would allow tenants to control their own access. However, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations clearly stipulated that this was not an acceptable solution, and that the airport operator (GJRAA) must control access.

Therefore, the Authority approved the design for the perimeter fence, with a reduced number of access points, which GJRAA would control. Essentially, this project allowed the airport to cost-effectively accomplish multiple objectives by complying with both the FAA's wildlife control requirements and the TSA security requirements.

In other words, the airport could use already-available FAA funding to handle both the wildlife perimeter and access control. This was the most fair and cost-effective solution for both the tenants and the airport.

The solution assured short-term and long-term compliance with the TSA requirement. At the same time, it allowed full access to everyone. All individuals who are not badge holders are still welcome to visit the airport; the badged individual(s) they are visiting simply must be their escort.

ADVOCATES FOR GENERAL AVIATION

In reality, the fence does impose an extra security step for a few tenants. And given the unique configuration of the GJRA layout, the system affects some tenants more than others. Unfortunately, a few members of the general aviation community who are unhappy with the situation have concluded that that the GJRAA “does not advocate for general aviation.” However, this could not be farther from the truth. In fact, the majority of Authority members are tenants and general aviation pilots themselves.

GJRA operation is successful, maintaining steady growth and expansion for both commercial and general aviation users year after year. Among its accomplishments are new nonstop commercial service, record numbers of passenger enplanements, and major construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of roadways, parking lots, buildings, ramps, air carrier aprons and runway.

Understanding the background and realities of the GJRA perimeter fence will go a long way toward clearing existing confusion. The GJRA maintains its commitment to abide by all FAA and TSA regulations in ways that are most responsible and responsive to the entire aviation, business and general community.

To ensure clarity on GJRA financial operations, a column next week will outline the GJRA 2012 budget and capital improvement program.

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Doug Simons serves as chairman of the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority. He is owner and president of Enstrom Candies Inc. An advocate of general aviation, he obtained his pilot's license in 1982, and has owned four aircraft.