08.05.15

Hoeven, Heitkamp, Cramer Working to Support Sloulin Field International Airport in Williston

WASHINGTON – Senators John Hoeven and Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer this week wrote a letter to Michael Huerta, Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), urging him to approve the relocation of Sloulin Field International Airport in Williston. In April of 2014, the delegation invited Huerta to visit North Dakota to see firsthand the need for airport expansion and improvements in the state.

“North Dakota’s airports are vitally important to both our state and our nation,” the delegation said. “As our population continues to grow, we must ensure that our airports have the resources they need to keep pilots and passengers safe. We are grateful for the support of the FAA and Administrator Huerta, and we will continue our efforts in Congress to keep this important project moving forward.”

The number of enplanements at the Williston Airport has grown from 7,800 in 2007 to 120,900 in 2014. In addition, the current runway is designed for 30 passenger turbo props and is presently accommodating 50 passenger regional jets, which places tremendous stress and degradation on the runway. Moreover, the airport is restricted to flying aircraft no larger than the 50 passenger regional jets, limiting the community’s potential for growth. Failure to complete this project in a timely fashion will restrict airfield capability and potentially compromise aircraft and passenger safety. The runway at the new airport will be capable of servicing 70 to 220 passenger aircraft with potential operations to every hub airport in the United States.

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