Rolle Field moves step closer to new status
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Apr. 7--Rolle Field is one step closer to becoming a "reliever airport" for the Yuma International Airport.
The Yuma County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to give the Yuma County Airport Authority the power to negotiate a new lease for Rolle through the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which currently owns the land.
Craig Williams, director of Yuma International Airport, said the move needed to happen in order for the authority to negotiate with the bureau.
He said the authority hopes to renew the lease, which expires in 2011, for 25 years.
If the authority renews the lease, it can then ask the FAA to change the airport's designation to "reliever airport," Williams said.
He said the move would help relieve congestion at the airport by re-directing some traffic to Rolle, located near San Luis.
Some local members of the general aviation community who would be affected by the eventual shift in traffic have expressed opposition.
Local pilots previously told The Sun the field lacks many improvements such as security and infrastructure necessary for them to consider making the move to south county.
The board also voted Monday to transfer the title of the field from the county to the authority.
Williams said the title transfer allows the authority to expand the land once the lease is renewed. He said the authority hopes to increase it from 640 acres to 1280 acres. He said that would allow them to double the length of the runway from 2,800 feet to 5,000 feet.
In addition, the title change will allow the authority to apply for grant money to make improvements to the field that would make it a more viable option for the general aviation community.
Williams said it will take approximately six months to renew the lease. Then, the authority will create a planning group that will include area stake holders such as the city of San Luis, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and the Somerton airport.
The group will help provide input on the design and layout of the project.
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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at [email protected] or 539-6857.