Longer airport runways do not appear to be in Naples' immediate future.
An Oct. 18 Naples Airport Authority workshop discussion of runway extension to attract carriers that fly larger jets was at the request of two of the newer commissioners who believe the notion warranted investigation, airport authorities said Thursday.
It was prudent to discuss the issue at the same time that the runways at Naples Municipal Airport were due to be repaved. The repaving project is expected to cost about $8 million.
"I'm trying to nip this in the bud so it doesn't become a big community issue," former airport commissioner Ronald Soulard said earlier this week in response to the discussion.
A city ordinance prohibits runways exceeding 5,280 feet and aircraft weighing more than 75,000 pounds, Soulard said.
Airport spokeswoman AnneElena Foster said that while commercial air service is in much demand, and major carriers have asked the airport to consider extending its runways, most of Naples' passengers seem content with flying in propeller planes.
Runway extension is an option that might be worth exploring, but airport officials are more focused on attracting carriers that will service Naples' niche market.
There are four regional airports within driving distance of Naples, said airport Executive Director Ted Soliday. That need is being met, he said.
The possibility of extending the runways was briefly discussed during Thursday's airport authority meeting in connection with a telephone survey of Naples residents that was conducted in the past few days.
Airport Commissioner Peter Manion said he was somewhat concerned that he and fellow commissioners didn't get to see the questions on the survey before Naples residents were queried.
He thought the commission had agreed that the survey, developed by a consultant, would focus on Naples' air services, so he was alarmed to see a question asking folks to "rate the quality of government services in Naples."
"We have a responsibility to maintain relationships with the community. There are a lot of leading questions here," Manion said.
Why were folks being asked about runway length? Manion asked.
The commission hasn't changed its position, is not planning on expanding the runway to accommodate larger planes or exceeding the current weight limit, Manion said.
Commissioner Bill Hobgood called the contents of the survey "volatile."
Commissioner John Allen said he received a call from a Naples City Council member who was surveyed. He declined, after the meeting, to identify the council member.
"I had to call the office and ask, 'Are we doing a survey?" Allen said.
Soliday said his team removed some questions they believed were too leading, but conceded that, perhaps, the questions in the survey should have been run by the commissioners before the consultants proceeded.
Commission Chairman Ernest Linneman said he thought the survey was going to focus on how Naples residents feel about the availability of scheduled air service.
However, the survey was done, and they should just decide what to do with the results, when they are compiled.
Commissioner Jim Lennane said maybe survey questions are those "we have to ask ourselves, first, before we ask members of the public."
"I don't know where we are on runways and scheduled service. I don't know how I feel about those things," Lennane said.
"We can't massage the survey. It is what it is," Allen said.
Lennane and Allen both questioned lengthening runways when they were appointed to the commission one year ago.
After Thursday's meeting, Lennane said longer runways might be a good deal for Naples.
Or not. Longer runways would enable planes to fly at a higher altitude, which would, likely, reduce noise.
"That is a benefit," he said. On the other hand, even if Naples built longer runways, there's no guarantee that commercial carriers flying jets would fly to Naples.
Delta Air Lines ended service to Naples on Sept. 30 because it planned to start using 50-seat planes, too large for Naples' runways.
The survey was developed largely by Wragg & Casas/Intermedia, a marketing and public relations partnership hired in July by the Naples Airport Authority. Billed on a monthly basis, Wragg & Casas' prices range from $45 an hour for clerical services to $150 for technology project management.
