Tracy Airport Master Plan

Blog favorite, Boyd Aviation, is at it again. Here is an update on the Master Plan for Tracy Airport (http://www.ci.tracy.ca.us/departments/parks/transportation/airport/)



Tracy airport is only living up to a fraction of its potential, according to a consultant, but expansion plans would see more flights pass over homes, including the proposed Ellis and Tracy Hills housing projects.Aviation specialist Michael Boyd from the Boyd Group told City Council and the Airport Commission that the airport, which was “paying pretty much for itself,” earned the city $875,000 in employment, profit and taxes in 2005.

He said this figure could be quickly increased by building more hangars and by taking over airport gas sales from Tracy Flight Center. The city only earned seven cents per gallon from the 24,000 gallons sold at the airport last year, despite gas prices that were about a dollar higher than prices at Byron Airport, according to Boyd.Boyd said the city was also short-changing itself on hangars and fees.“There are people that want to park their airplanes,” he said. “People will pay for a T-hanger which is basically a shed.”Hangar rentals accounted for two-thirds of airport revenue last year, and Boyd said the city should build more low-cost T-hangars in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, and that it should increase rental fees, which currently range from $500 to $800 per year.Pilot Marty Turny said he paid just $10 a month to park his Piper Warrior in the open at Tracy Municipal Airport. Turny said there was a waiting list for airport hangars, but he recently turned down a hangar when he reached the top of the list.“The only reason I have it tied down is for easy access for my daughter during her flight training,” he said.

Boyd suggested the city sell New Jerusalem Airport, although FAA rules would make this difficult.The biggest risk to the airport was homebuilders, said Boyd. “I’m not a big fan of developers,” he said.Commission Chairman John Howard said the council should try to protect areas around the airport from homebuilders.Tracy’s stunt pilots used the airport for more than a decade until complaints from people living in newly built homes close to the airport shut them down in 2004. The pilots finally took to the air again this year, but were immediately dogged by noise and safety complaints.The Surland Cos.’ proposed Ellis housing project and AKT Homes’ and Souza Realty’s proposed Tracy Hills housing project would both be under the paths of airplanes, according to developers.“We’re planning Ellis with the airport in mind,” said Surland President Chris Long. “There’s about 23 acres set aside for an outer approach zone. You could still have some limited uses there you could have one home per acre.”Councilwoman Suzanne Tucker said extensions to the Tracy runway would be virtually impossible because there isn’t any more room.The City Council asked staff to prepare a report and recommendations on a raft of Boyd’s recommendations, including debt refinancing and the construction of sewage and other infrastructure.