Tuesday, December 22, 2020 – (Warwick, RI) – The Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) is inviting community members and other stakeholders of outlying general aviation (GA) airports to receive an update on RIAC’s strategic business planning process and seek additional community input. RIAC operates and maintains RI’s GA airports (Block Island, Newport, North Central, Quonset and Westerly) for the benefit of the state, local communities and stakeholders. Please note that due to the current pandemic situation, all meetings will be held virtually on the Zoom platform.
A link to the Zoom meeting will be posted on RIAC’s website on the day of each meeting. A notice of this series of meetings, including an agenda and links to the zoom meeting, is available on the Secretary of State’s website at https://opengov.sos.ri.gov/OpenMeetings
6:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 5, 2021 – Block Island State Airport
6:00 p.m., Thursday, January 7, 2021 – Westerly State Airport
6:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 12, 2021 – Newport State Airport
6:00 p.m., Thursday, January 14, 2021 – North Central State Airport
6:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 19, 2021 – Quonset State Airport
Since 2019 RIAC has been gathering community, stakeholder and public input into a strategic business plan for general aviation airports throughout the state intended to identify airport and community needs, as well as the feasibility and desirability of on-airport amenities, and other potential development. The key elements of the strategic plan will include:
· Development of a ten-year plan to assess the condition of the airport infrastructure. This plan will summarize and prioritize necessary improvements at each airport.
· Development of a ten-year plan to assess the condition of airfields, roadways and parking area pavements. This plan will summarize and prioritize necessary pavement repairs and reconstructions at each airport.
· Development of an updated airspace analysis plan. This plan will identify current obstructions present within the airspace surrounding the airports and runways.
· Preparation of a ten year business plan which will evaluate the current financial health of each airport, define economic development opportunities and provide potential paths forward to establish self-sustaining operations.
Links and information will also be posted on our website prior to the start of the meeting, which can be accessed by proceeding to the www.pvdairport.com and clicking on General Aviation Strategic Business Plan meeting button on the home page. Best practices for virtual/online meeting experience will also be included with the documents. For technical difficulties the day of each meeting please contact RIAC Information Technology at 401-691-2239 or 401-691-2487 or 401-691-2303.
