BoiseAirport

Connections
Inaugural Honor Flight Soars
Family, friends, and media
turned out early the morning of
September 5th to see off the
inaugural flight for Honor
Flight of Idaho carrying twenty
-four Idaho WWII veterans and
12 volunteer guardians for a
once in a lifetime trip to our
nations capital. Southwest
Airlines donated tickets for the
WWII veterans to fly out of
Boise Airport for a two-day trip
to Washington D.C. to visit and
reflect at the national memorials dedicated to their service.
Patriot Guard Riders formed a
flag line pre-screening to welcome veterans. At Gate 15, Air
National Guard leaders including Major General Gary Sayler
saw off veterans. A Boise Police Officer detail sang the
National Anthem as the veterans boarded beneath a Military Honor Guard saber salute.
There were more than a few

damp
eyes in
the terminal
that
morn.
Lance
Stephensen
organized
the trip
and
serves
as Director of Honor
Flight of Idaho. In conjunction
with the National Honor Flight
Network in Ohio, Honor Flight
allows WWII veterans to travel
to Washington D.C. that might
be too costly or physically
challenging otherwise.
Their return that Friday to a
water salute on the ramp and

Volume 1, Issue 4
Oct-Nov-Dec 2012

Looking for ideas/volunteers:

Patti at PAMiller@cityofboise.org

crowds of wellwishers was a terrific

first, and hopefully first of
many, Honor Flights of
Idaho.
Your words may be forgotten, but
For more information
about Honor Flights,
go to

how you make people feel will be

remembered.
AllisonGraham,FastCompany

www.HonorFlightIdaho.com.

Commissioner Mike Pape Promoted

At the October meeting, Airport Commissioner Mike Pape
reported that he had been
named Administrator of the
Idaho Division of Aeronautics
with the Idaho Transportation
Department. He has served as
a Boise Airport Commissioner
since 2005.
In an ITD Aeronautics Division
press release, L. Scott Stokes,
Chief Deputy at said, Mike is
a great example of how we are
providing remarkable custom-

er service. He is passionate
about the importance of our
airport system and its vital role
in building a strong Idaho
economy.
Pape had previously served as
Director of Flight Operations
for the Aeronautics Division,
functioning as chief pilot of all
flight operations. He oversaw a
$300,000 annual budget and
was responsible for staffing
and supervising ITD pilots,
mechanics and schedulers.

Pape is a
veteran
pilot.
Prior to
ITD, he
was a
flight
captain
for Boise Cascade, Albertsons
and U.S. Bancorp. He also held
flight officer positions with
Iowa Airways, Eastern Airlines, Pan Am Airways and
Ryan International Airlines.

Inside this issue:

Friction Testing Vehicle

Techno Toolbox

Award & Retirement

The Directors Corner

Best Buy Vending Option

Airport Statistics

Calendar

BoiseAirport

Page 2

Connections

Whats Happening on the Airfield by Sarah Demory

The temperatures are getting cooler and
that means weather changes for BOI.
The Airport Operations and Airfield
Maintenance teams have been working all
summer revising and updating the Boise
Airport Winter Operations plan in preparation for the 2012-2013 winter operations
season at BOI. This year we also have a
new tool in our toolbox to assist us and
enhance airfield safety.
The Boise Airport (Airport Operations)
purchased a (slightly used) FAA approved
Airport Surface Friction Tester that will
better allow us to test the runway after
snow removal to ensure it is safe to open
for aircraft use.

How does it work? While Airport Operations drives the vehicle continuously
down the runway after the snow removal
team has removed the snow, a computer on the vehicle attached to a
5th wheel measures the coefficient
of friction on the runway. The computer then gives a friction value for
the runway. If the friction value is
within FAA standards, we can reopen the runway. If it isnt, well
know that the snow removal team
will need to keep working to remove the snow and ice.
The Airfield Team has been working hard since last winter to ensure

that our program is the best that it can

be. Were ready, so let it snow!

5th Wheel

Techno Toolbox - by Bob Prahl (Ops) and Jeremy Wheeler (IT)

The IT world has been busy since the last
newsletter! We have started many projects
that will add enhancements and improvements to the Boise Airport. The parking
system received a massive overhaul and is
now upgraded to current technology. Four
airport office locations are receiving Voice
over IP (VOIP) upgrades for their phone
systems. Airport Catering, Airfield Maintenance, ARFF and the Airfield Electrical
Vault will now have this new digital phone
technology allowing them to more efficiently utilize their phones in day to day
business and emergency situations.
Groupwise has been decommissioned and
we are now using Microsoft Outlook. We

have also replaced some of

the old problem
printers with
newer, more
efficient multi-function units.
With the South runway project underway,
IT staff is upgrading runway surface sensors which enable Airport Operations to
get an up-to-the-second reading of the
surface temperatures of the runways; vital
during winter operations. Allegiant Air is
also set up now at BOI and ready to use our
infrastructure and technology to help facilitate their operations. Also, the second Boise Airport Technology Summit was held

Awards, Retirements and Other News

In a retirement party fit for the unique man he is, Jack Nelson retired on August 30th from
Operations after 9 1/2 years with the Airport. As told in the faces of the photo below,
good food, good memories, and a good time was enjoyed by all. Best wishes, Jack!

BoiseAirport

September 26th, which brought together

multiple departments from across the city
and the airport to have great discussions
on technology initiatives and processes for
reporting technical issues and projects. A
lot of great ideas were shared and we think
overall, employees have a much better
understanding of the IT process.
New projects coming up in IT include: A
WiFi re-model and upgrade, Airfield Wireless installation, Eagle Systems FAR Part
139 airfield inspection software enhancements, new PC rollouts, new printer installations and new conference room enhancements, just to name a few.

Airport Security Manager Gary Smith

received recognition for his piece Black
Bottle September 6th in the Citys Employee Art Show. Gary submitted two
wood pieces in the adult professional art
category.

Page 3

Volume 1, Issue 4

Directors Corner Comments

By now you have probably heard the disappointing news that Southwest has decided to discontinue its BOI-PDX
service. You are probably also wondering, why and what this means for the Boise Airport.
There are a number of factors Southwest considered in making this decision, primarily low load factors. If people
are not using the service, it wont be profitable. In a conversation with one of the route planners, he indicated the
load factor on that route was below the standard industry and network averages which are generally above 80%.
There are likely other factors as well including overall weakness in the short haul market which is exacerbated
by the high cost of fuel, more emphasis on focus cities and network revenue, and opportunity cost the
Director Rebecca Hupp
aircraft can be used more effectively in other markets. This week Southwest also announced it would be replacing aircraft in markets that had been previously served by Air Tran aircraft with Southwest aircraft. Given Southwest is not expanding their aircraft fleet; these aircraft had to come from existing markets.
It is possible that Alaska Airlines will increase frequency or aircraft size on this route to at least partially offset the loss of service. I am in
the process of scheduling a meeting with the Alaska Airlines route planners to discuss the potential for increasing service at BOI. We will
also continue to explore other opportunities for air service expansion.
Which brings us to the next point - what does this announcement, and other changes, mean for Boise? Fortunately, the Boise Airport has
been fiscally conservative over the years and is financially strong. However, as we approach and plan for the next budget year, it is imperative we all work to keep our rates and charges to the airlines low. We will have to look for ways we can be more efficient, do things
differently and reduce costs. Some of you have already made suggestions about ways we can ...

Continued back page

New Businesses by Amy Snyder

ZoomSystems arrives at Boise Airport with the installation of a Best Buy Express
ZoomShop on October 9, 2012. ZoomSystems works with several branded concepts to
create ZoomShops: custom-branded automated, self-service retail stores that combine
the convenience of online shopping with the immediate gratification of traditional retail.
Located just past security screening, the Best Buy Express is BOIs first automated retail
consumer electronics experience. Products offered are high-quality name brands that are
not available elsewhere at the Boise Airport.
Best Buy Express ZoomShop products include portable media players, digital cameras,
gaming consoles, headphones, phone chargers, travel gadgets and other popular products, focused on the needs of the busy traveler.
Best Buy Express ZoomShops are now in more than 100 locations, from airports, malls,
military bases and resorts, across the U.S. and now with their first location at BOI!

Airport Stats

Boyd Group Int l Aviation Predictions for 2017

Airports across the nation are still adjusting to fewer seats being
offered by the airlines. Airlines are generally seeking fuel efficient aircraft, higher passenger loads, and the best yields
(profit) available. That translates to continued trimming of service.
At BOI, the first half of the year shows enplanements (boardings)
at 4.8% vs +1.6% nationally. Few airports are anywhere close
to pre 2008 enplanement numbers.

Month
June
July
Aug

Enplaned Enplaned % Pax

2012
2011
Change
114,909 128,067 -10.27%
120,150 132,962
-9.64%
124,353 134,746
-7.71%

% Seat
Change
-13.4%
-16.1%
-16.9%

- The growth in air passenger travel will be more dependent on airline

capacity decisions than on traditional economic drivers.
- Enplanement growth in the US will settle into annual rates of 2.0% or
less.
- Scheduled air service in North America will be consolidated into at
least 100 fewer airports.
- In the US, there will be more regional gateways that aggregate passenger traffic from a very wide geographic area, with the emergence of
road hubbing.
- Global alliances will increasingly make the decisions regarding member airline schedules and route systems.
- Airlines globally will be facing a clear shortage of pilots, the result of a
decade of post 9/11 cuts in compensation and benefits, causing fewer
individuals to enter the profession.

BoiseAirport

Directors Corner Continued:

reduce energy consumption. Im sure there are things we can do as well. Many
of you may have additional suggestions and I encourage you to bring them to
your supervisors. Or you may have a suggestion on a way to increase revenue.

BoiseAirport

There may be some improvements or purchases we can postpone. However, we

will continue to invest in our infrastructure in ways that make sense, including
the parking garage. The decision to build the garage was not based on where
we are today or even the next year but rather on what we need to do to be ready
for the next 20 years. The parking garage is an investment in the future of the
Airport.

3201 Airport Way

Suite 1000
Boise, Idaho 83705

Phone: 208-383-3110
Fax: 208-343-9667
E-mail: boi@cityofboise.org

ToMakeBoisetheMostLivableCity
intheCountry

CityofBoiseMayorDaveBieter

The future will certainly hold its challenges, but it also is filled with opportunity.
The future of the Boise Airport remains bright because we are taking a cautious,
measured, approach to growth so we are ready for tomorrow while containing
our costs today.

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NEW
FACES
L-R: Maint Ryan Baine, Admin Sydney Bernard, Ops Bruce Gard, Custodial Sibeoyande Kodet,
Custodial Brian Leonard, & Custodial Sead Sose

BOI Connections
David H. Bieter
Mayor of Boise
Rebecca Hupp
Airport Director
Airport Commission
Paul Cunningham, Chair
Mary Carol M.C. Niland
Russell Westerberg
Major Gen. Gary L. Sayler
Michael Pape
Meg Carlson
Bill Connors
Council Liaisons
Council Member Lauren McLean
Council Member Ben Quintana
Patti Miller
Editor

BoiseAirport

Quarterly Calendar
Thursday, October 4
Boise Airport Commission
Salmon River Room, 8:30am-10am
Tuesday, October 23
Red Cross Blood Drive
Salmon River Room, 9am-1pm
Friday, October 26
Allegiant Air begins 2xWeek to Las Vegas
Thursday, November 1
Boise Airport Commission
Salmon River Room, 8:30am-10am
Monday, November 12
Veterans DayAdmin/Badging Closed
Thursday, November 22
Thanksgiving Admin/Badging Closed
Tuesday, December 25
ChristmasAdmin/Badging Closed

BOISE AIRPORT (BOI) is a municipally

owned entity operating as a selfsupporting enterprise. No City of Boise
general funds are used to operate the Airport. BOI is served by 6 airlines which offer
daily service to 16 non-stop cities.