Zooming in on Angwin airport

Year-long study a first step in county purchase of Parrett Field

By DAVID RYAN
Register City Editor

After years of talk, Napa County may eventually buy Angwin Airport — but first a joint study paid for mostly by the Federal Aviation Administration must take flight.

Cash-poor Napa County needs FAA money to purchase the airport outright from Pacific Union College, but to get that kind of federal money the county must follow federal rules. That includes a more than $350,000 year-long study performed by consultants Coffman Associates to figure out whether the airport will remain viable and whether an alternative site might be better.

About 45 aircraft are based at PUC’s Parrett Field, which has 25 hangars and a 3,217-foot-long runway. It’s been open to the public since 1961. The airport’s main value to Napa County is that it sits on a high plateau above the fog line, serving as a valuable landing spot in poor weather conditions. It’s also the only airport Upvalley, and has been used by President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to visit the Napa Valley.

“My understanding is that the FAA really is interested in maintaining small airports and the Angwin airport in particular because of the ability to land above the fog,” said Napa County Supervisor Mark Luce.

In addition, PUC offers a bachelor of science degree in aviation. On a good weather day, the airport is abuzz with the roar of engines as planes take off and land.

The study will take a look at existing airport use as well as develop new forecasts of airport demand. The FAA is contributing $332,000 for the study, the California Division of Aeronautics will provide about $8,000 and PUC is providing about $9,000 in local match funds.

The public will have a chance to weigh in on the study: Consultants will host three public workshops, though details are not yet available.

According to a county staff report, the county and PUC will enter into a memorandum of understanding about negotiations for the airport. Notably, under terms of the MOU, PUC won’t be able to abandon the airport or sell it while negotiations are underway.

If the county does end up operating the airport, the money to purchase it would have to come from the federal government, Luce said, adding that the board expects the FAA is interested in keeping Parrett Field in use.

“That is our expectation, that they are interested and it’s a federal priority to maintain these small airports,” he said. “I guess it is the college’s decision whether or not they’re going to sell, but if they are going to sell the money is going to come from the federal government.”

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