The Grand Forks Regional Airport Authority approved a report Thursday that set the tentative date for construction of a new terminal building at 2009 and of a new east-west runway at 2008.
The terminal, which could cost up to $40 million, is awaiting an environmental impact study. Airport executive director Steve Johnson said if the study okays the site next to the FedEx terminal, the authority would need only a bit of financial assistance from other government entities. The city is one obvious source, though Johnson said he hasn't formally requested help yet.
The runway, though, is the more urgent of the two projects.
Airport commission chairman Brad Beyer said UND's flight school is telling him that it can't add any more flights without a new runway. Johnson said he understands there have been some "incidents" with student pilots because of the overcrowding.
The airport is ready to buy land for the runway, but it can't do so until it has absolute assurance from the city that its nearby landfill will close by 2008. The city has said the landfill will be full by 2007. Still, Johnson said he'll be asking the state and the North Dakota congressional delegation to help secure federal funding for the runway, and he doesn't want to embarrass them if the project is delayed because the landfill doesn't close.
Federal aviation officials will not tolerate a landfill close to a runway because scavenging birds could collide with approaching aircraft.
