Are Very Light Jets safe? Should the Port of Anacortes allow a fly-in? Are the details of the Airport Layout Plan complete enough to fold into the port’s comprehensive plan?

These issues, all pertaining to the Anacortes Airport, were discussed at the Skyline Beach Club April 17. The regular port commission meeting was moved to the club to encourage those who live in the airport vicinity to attend and provide comments on the issues.

Small jets or VLJs have already flown in and out of the airport. The topic was brought up because a privately owned VLJ will be based at the airport soon, and commercial charter airlines will on occasion fly in and out of the airport, said John Hachey, port director of operations and facilities.

Marlene Deaton said every one of the commissioners was asked if they would allow jets at the airport when they were running for office. Each said no, Deaton said.

Commissioner Keith Rubin said the VLJs were not an issue when he was running for office. Larger ones that would require a runway extension were, and he said he was opposed to that. Rubin added that he didn’t think the commission even has the ability to say no to VLJs. It’s an Federal Aviation Administration issue.

Hachey said if the commission wanted to restrict VLJs, it would violate the FAA grant requirements.

Deaton expressed concern with the amount of fuel VLJs carry. It was a concern reiterated by Commissioner Ray Niver, who said some of the VLJs carry 200 gallons of fuel.

Some of the jets actually carry less fuel than prop driven planes. Two typical VLJs, one made by Diamond Air and another by Eclipse Aviation, carry about 260 gallons of fuel, according to Hachey.

The biggest prop driven airplane allowed to land at the Anacortes Airport carries 521 gallons, he said. San Juan Airlines’ Cessna Caravans carry 335 gallons each.

The VLJs also abide by other restrictions at the airport. They weigh approximately 10,000 pounds. The weight limit is 12,500 pounds. They operate at a maximum 2,500-feet runway range. The Anacortes runway is 3,018 feet long. The landing approach speed is 87 knots. The airport is listed with a less than a 91-knot landing speed.

These jets are the next phase of small aircraft, Hachey said at the meeting. They are here now and can operate safely in an out of the airport.

Commission President Bill Short said the airport has had jet-powered airplanes flying in for years.

“I think the safety (of VLJs) is much, much higher,” he said.

Deaton also spoke up against the fly-in, which supporters are hoping to hold June 28 at the airport.

The fly-in held two years ago went off without a hitch, Deaton said, but residents are concerned with the number of planes coming in on a single day.

Hachey said the static display fly-in would be quite a bit different than an air show. The pilots would fly in and three or four hours later, fly out, he said.

Reports of tandem takeoffs at the last fly-in were brought up at the meeting, but both Ken Davies and Hachey said no tandem takeoffs happened. Other pilots would have reported the takeoffs to the FAA, Davies said.

Davies, a pilot who lives in Oak Harbor and is member of the Washington Pilots Association, presented the proposed fly-in to the commissioners.

The event would be similar to the one held in 2006 with about 100 planes, but with more displays, vendors and live music.

The goal of the fly-in is to introduce the public to the pilots and vice-versa, Davies said.

According to the port, the airport manager has the power to approve the fly-in. The last fly-in was approved by port Engineering Director Bob Elsner, who was airport manager at the time.

However, the issue was brought before the commission this time because it is such a hot issue, Hachey said. It will be brought back to the commission May 1 for a decision.

The airport is the third and final piece of the port’s comprehensive plan update, which started last year with the Cap Sante Boat Haven and Guemes Channel marine terminal.

Project manager Marc Estvold explained that many of the features of the Airport Layout Plan updated by the port last year could be folded into the comp plan. Any changes would probably only include the updates of new tenants at the facility.

The northeast area of the airport would not be included in the plan because of the development agreement with the city. That document states the currently vacant area would not be addressed until the master plan is updated in 2012, Estvold said.

The next step in the comp plan updating process will be to take public comments and roll the plan into a preferred option to present to the commission, as was done with the other portions of the plan.

Eventually all three sections will be put through an environmental review followed by another comment period this summer and then into a final plan probably by September.