Cloud seeding an option for upgraded Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport

Jan. 06--In December, there were 10 canceled flights because of low-level fog at the Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport, an issue that Manager Tony Bean believes could be remedied by a process known as cloud seeding.

By dispersing high pressured carbon dioxide into the air, cloud seeding essentially creates a pocket in the fog so a plane can fly through. The substance cools the moisture in the air, eventually turning it into a small snowfall and creating a path for the pilot.

"They pull carbon dioxide out of the air and then bottle it, basically just releasing it back into the air, and it's a low amount," Bean said.

Bean said the airport in Missoula, Mont., has similar conditions to those on the Palouse, and has had success using a cloud-seeding method, though there are different approaches to the process depending on certain conditions at each airport.

"We're researching it, a lot of our problem is obviously cost, but it's such a pain for people when they can't get in and they have to turn around and go to Seattle," Bean said. "It's probably the biggest problem we have in terms of flight cancellations."

Bean said an estimated cost of a cloud seeding program is about $5,000.

"But us missing an aircraft is probably $1,000 each time with the total impact," he said. "It costs the carrier, the airport, the traveler, then there's the cost of rental cars and switching things around. So I think it may be less expensive for us to invest in something like this."

Structure changes

There are also a few new revamps in progress at the airport -- since September, the airport fire station has been under construction for a new addition, almost doubling the size of the existing building, Bean said.

"It's going to house our new fire truck, so there are two of those now, plus a rescue vehicle and an operations vehicle," Bean said. "We've kind of just had them scattered around in the past, so this is definitely an improvement."

The addition will also include a training room and an office for snow and fire operations, Bean said. The total cost of the new construction was about $1.5 million in the form of a grant project from the Federal Aviation Administration. Bean said they expect construction to be finished by February.

In addition, a new pedestrian rampway project was put in the parking lot and a new set of doors were put in the terminal.

"There's no more stairs from the parking lot to the terminal, so now there's two ramps and a walkway that goes across the street," Bean said. "We're trying to clean all that up so we have a place to put taxis and busses."

That project, he said, cost about $126,000 of local money.

"The airport board decided it needed to happen for the enjoyment of the public, it's not a federal project," Bean said. "Hopefully it turns out to be much better for people to get loaded and unloaded. You have enough stress to deal with at the airport anyway."

Runway update

It's been part of the airport's plan for about a year to lengthen the runway, which Bean said will begin this year by starting an environmental assessment with Mead & Hunt, an architectural and engineering firm.

"They start studying everything out there that could have an environmental impact, and we know we'll have to deal with wetland issues where we'll be putting the runway," Bean said. "Those will have to be moved or mitigated somehow."

That assessment will take 12 to 18 months, Bean said, and if it goes smoothly, they'll subsequently begin with planning and design. Bean said they'd ultimately like to add about 400 feet to the existing 6,700-foot runway. By doing so, he said, they'll be able to accommodate large aircraft in case of an emergency situation. Previous Airport Manager Robb Parish estimated the runway reconstruction to cost about $50 million.

"We're really pushing hard to make sure we're utilizing the carrier," Bean said. "The more we fly and use the systems, the easier it is for us to grow."

This is the first year the airport has had three direct flights to Seattle, Bean said, so it's important to keep the three daily flights full.

"It's a faith-based initiative for the airline and we like to prove to them that we can support those flights," Bean said. "With Spokane losing their flights to Seattle through Southwest, after Jan. 9, we'll hopefully become a better financial option to not fly out of Spokane."

Kelli Hadley can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 234, or by email to [email protected].

Copyright 2012 - Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Moscow, Idaho