Front of ICT Terminal

ABOUT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
NATIONAL AIRPORT

The Wichita Airport Authority is conducting an airport master plan for the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) with the clear objective to provide systematic guidelines for the airport’s overall maintenance, development, and operation. The master plan is a proactive document which identifies and plans for future facility needs well in advance of the actual need for the facilities. This is done to ensure that airport management can coordinate project approvals, design, financing, and construction to avoid experiencing detrimental effects due to inadequate facilities. The master plan examines needs over a 20-year period. 

aerial view of hangars

ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN

The study will be prepared by Coffman Associates, a national aviation consulting firm specializing in airport planning studies. The study process is anticipated to take approximately 18 months to complete, followed by agency reviews and approvals. The structure of the master plan follows FAA guidelines. Accordingly, the FAA will also review and accept the master plan and approve two specific elements, the aviation forecasts as well as the Airport Layout Plan (ALP), which is the set of technical drawings depicting the current and planned layout of all airport facilities. 

The FAA requires certain airports, including ICT, to maintain an FAA approved ALP, which FAA uses to support grant funding for eligible capital projects. The master plan was last updated in 2005. The ALP has had minor updates since then to address specific changes at the airport. FAA recommends these be updated every five to ten years or as necessary to address changes at the airport and/or in the aviation industry. The airport has experienced significant increases in passenger levels in recent years, and completed a new terminal building, therefore, the timing is right to evaluate the future of the airport.   

What a Master Plan Is.

  • A comprehensive, long-range study of the airport and all air and landside components that describes plans to meet FAA safety standards and future aviation demand.
  • Recommended by the FAA to be conducted every 7-10 years to ensure plans are up-to-date and reflect current conditions and FAA regulations. The last Master Plan for ICT was completed in 2015.
  • Funded by the FAA through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides 90% of the total project costs. The remaining 10% is funded by the City of Wichita.
  • A City of Wichita document that will ultimately be presented for approval to the City Council. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and the FAA approve only the Airport Layout Plan (ALP drawing set).
  • An opportunity for airport stakeholders and the general public to engage with airport staff on issues related to the airport and its current and future operations, and environmental and socioeconomic impacts. Up to four (4) public information workshops will be conducted throughout the Master Plan process to facilitate this public outreach effort.

What a Master Plan Is.

What a Master Plan Is NOT.

  • A guarantee that the airport will proceed with any planned projects. Master Plans are guides that help airport staff plan for future airport development; however, the need/demand for certain projects might never materialize.
  • A guarantee that the City of Wichita, KDOT, or the AIP will fund any planned projects. Project funding is considered on a project-by-project basis and requires appropriate need and demand. Certain projects may require the completion of a benefit-cost analysis.
  • Environmental clearance for specific projects. The Master Plan includes an environmental overview that identifies potential environmental sensitivities per the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) guidelines. Most planned projects will require a separate NEPA study (environmental impact statement/environmental assessment/categorical exclusion) prior to construction.
What a Master Plan Is NOT
Front of ICT Terminal

ABOUT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
NATIONAL AIRPORT

The Wichita Airport Authority is conducting an airport master plan for the Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT) with the clear objective to provide systematic guidelines for the airport’s overall maintenance, development, and operation. The master plan is a proactive document which identifies and plans for future facility needs well in advance of the actual need for the facilities. This is done to ensure that airport management can coordinate project approvals, design, financing, and construction to avoid experiencing detrimental effects due to inadequate facilities. The master plan examines needs over a 20-year period. 

wichita straight down aerial

SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE

MASTER PLAN DOCUMENTS

Draft chapters will be posted as the study progresses. Files will be in PDF format and available for download and print.

Documents Available for Download

Download Draft PDF
flat plane

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

The approach to involving the community is multi-faceted. The Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) is a group of airport stakeholders who have been asked to volunteer their time to aid in the development of the master plan. The PAC will be convened for four meetings to review draft chapters as developed by the consultant team. The same draft chapters made available to the PAC will be posted to this project website. 

There will be three public information workshops during the study process. The workshops will be conducted in an open-house format where the public can visit with the project team and ask any questions they may have related to the project. The workshops are typically scheduled in the early evening to allow those heading home from work to stop by or to allow others to come after the dinner hour. The date and time of the workshops will be advertised locally and posted on this project website. 

Draft chapters of the master plan report will be posted to this dedicated project website so that anyone can learn about the study process and review and comment on the draft material during the study. All community members are encouraged to engage in the process and provide comments to the project team. Interested parties can also utilize the ‘Comment’ feature on this project website. Direct communication with the project managers via phone or email is also acceptable. The project managers for the master plan project are listed in the bottom of this website. 

Passenger aircraft at gate
baggage-claim-wichita-airport
Passenger aircraft at gate

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