Airport plans for instrument takeoffs

The Daily Inter Lake

The 55-foot estimated height of a Hilton Garden hotel will be a factor in calculating instrument approaches to the Kalispell City Airport.

However, the heights of other buildings and signs near the airport also will be factored in when mapping out conditions for instrument-only takeoffs and landings, Airport Manager Fred Leistiko said.

The four-story Hilton Garden complex - accompanied by a convention center, restaurant and casino - will be built next to the airport, east of the north-south runway. The complex is expected to open in summer 2007.

The airport has federal money set aside to extend its 3,700-foot runway to the south by another 1,000 feet. But that extension is stalled because two 325-foot KGEZ radio towers exceed a 100-foot height limit in a zone south of the airport.

Radio station owner John Stokes refuses to move the towers, contending the city won't pay what he thinks is sufficient to do so. Stokes' stance is complicated by his involvement in other litigation.

The city of Kalispell expects to hire Hatfield and Dawson Consulting Engineers of Seattle - the winner among consulting proposals submitted to the city - to study ways to either move the towers or otherwise mitigate their location. The city expects to negotiate a contract with Hatfield & Dawson in mid-November, Leistiko said.

The airport probably will add the capacity to do instrument-only approaches and takeoffs about five years after the runway is extended, Leistiko said.

The heights of surrounding buildings and signs need to be factored in so planes don't fly too low, plus pilots can be told under what conditions they will be allowed to use the airport with instrument-only flying.