Boise Airport's Massive Expansion: A Comprehensive Overview

Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field (BOI) is a medium-sized airport located southeast of Boise, Idaho. It is a joint-use airport serving multiple aviation needs, including air carriers, cargo, military, and business aviation. The airport is divided into two sectors, with one sector dedicated to the final approach segment and the other handling all other operations. The airspace at BOI is designated as Class C, with a maximum ceiling of 6900' MSL. While it is a vital transportation hub for the region, pilots should be aware of potential risks, such as wrong surface landings and taxiway confusion, to ensure safe operations at the airport.

Medium-sized airport

The Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field (BOI) is a medium-sized airport located southeast of Boise, Idaho. It is a multi-use airport, serving air carriers, cargo, military, and general and business aviation. The airport has two parallel runways, 10R/28L and 10L/28R, with staggered thresholds. Due to the runway design, there is a risk of wrong runway events, where pilots land on the first runway they see.

The Boise airport is also known as the Gowen Field, named after Major David C. Gowen, a Boise native who died in a military plane crash in 1935. The airport covers an area of 2,840 acres (11.5 km2), with two asphalt runways measuring 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) and 6,700 feet (2,042 meters) in length. The airport's airspace is designated as Class C, with a ceiling of 6,900 feet MSL (mean sea level).

As a medium-sized airport, Boise Airport offers a range of facilities and services for passengers and aircraft operators. The airport has a control tower, administrative offices, and various support services for pilots and crew, including pre-flight planning resources and navigation aids. Boise Airport also has a joint-use agreement with the military, accommodating military aircraft operations and training.

In addition to its aviation functions, Boise Airport is also home to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). The NIFC is a critical coordination hub for wildland firefighting resources across the United States. It brings together various federal and state agencies to manage and deploy resources effectively during wildfire incidents.

The airport also has a history of aviation incidents, including wrong surface landings and aircraft missing turn instructions. These incidents are taken into account in pre-flight planning and navigation materials to improve safety measures and prevent future occurrences. Boise Airport actively works to mitigate these risks and ensure the safe and efficient operation of the facility.

Joint-use airport

A joint-use airport is an aerodrome that serves both military and civilian aviation. These airports typically contain the facilities of both a civil airport and a military air base. In the United States, several joint-use airports are listed in Federal Aviation Administration records, where they are also referred to as shared-use airports. An example of this is Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport, which utilises the runway and ATC services of Eglin Air Force Base. Charleston International Airport is another example, using the runways and services of Charleston Air Force Base.

Civil enclaves are common in countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, where a section of an air base is designated for domestic air traffic. In some cases, an altitude restriction may be adopted, meaning civilian aircraft cannot descend below a certain height while flying over the enclave. This can cause longer detours and greater fuel consumption. Conversely, a military enclave is an area of a civil airport allocated for military use, which is common in the United States. Airports containing these military enclaves include McGhee Tyson Airport and Harrisburg International Airport.

In some countries, security at civil enclaves is the responsibility of the military, while in others, civil security authorities are in charge. It is generally accepted that the military receives revenues from the civil use of ATC services if they own and operate them. However, it is unclear in some cases whether the military or civilian authorities are responsible for capital expenditures such as runway expansion.

Outside of the United States, there are several examples of joint-use airports. For instance, Šiauliai International Airport in Lithuania uses the runways and infrastructure of the Šiauliai Air Base, which is owned by the Lithuanian Air Force. Similarly, Changi Air Base in Singapore shares runway facilities with Singapore Changi Airport, the country's main international airport.

Runway safety

The Boise Airport in Idaho is focused on ensuring runway safety and has proposed a Runway Incursion Mitigation (RIM) Program. This program aims to enhance runway safety by implementing improvements and addressing any potential hazards. One of the key aspects of the RIM program is the extension of Runway 28L by 1,578 feet, resulting in a total runway length of 10,000 feet for Runway 10R/28L. This extension will be achieved by relocating a portion of Runway 10R to 28L and adding an additional 237 feet.

Additionally, the Boise Airport is considering the relocation or replacement of navigational aids (NAVAIDs). These NAVAIDs are physical devices on the ground that assist aircraft pilots in navigation. By optimizing these aids, the airport can enhance the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations. The NAVAIDs under consideration include Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), Localizer (LOC), Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing Lights (ALSF-2), and Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI), among others.

Furthermore, the airport has proposed the removal of portions of Taxiways J and F, along with the construction of new Taxiways B and P. These changes are designed to improve the flow of aircraft movement on the ground and reduce the potential for runway incursions. The City of Boise Department of Aviation encourages public participation in the decision-making process and has held open houses and sought comments from the community to ensure that all concerns are addressed.

Boise sectors

Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field (BOI) is a medium-sized airport located southeast of Boise, Idaho. The airport is divided into two sectors. One sector is responsible for the Final Approach segment, while the other sector handles all other operations. The Final Approach segment covers a 45-degree radius from the final approach course. Pilots should contact the final controller (Big Sky Approach) on 126.9 if they are arriving or operating within this area. For all other operations, pilots should contact Big Sky Approach on 119.6.

The Boise airport has a unique layout, with parallel runways (RWYs) 10R/28L and 10L/28R featuring staggered thresholds. This design can sometimes lead to Wrong Runway events, where pilots land on the first runway they see, which may not be their assigned runway. To mitigate this risk, it is important for pilots to carefully follow the instructions provided by the air traffic controllers and refer to official pre-flight materials, such as NOTAMs, airport diagrams, and VFR charts.

One notable hazard in the vicinity of the Boise airport is the Military Assault Strip, which is located 1 mile south-southeast of the airport and has a similar orientation to the BOI RWYs. Additionally, there is a risk of pilots mistaking Taxi-Lane K for TWY F, as portions of Taxi-Lane K and the Southwest Ramp are not visible from the tower. Boise Tower Administrative Office can be reached by phone during business hours, from 0800 to 0400 Local, Monday through Friday.

The airspace at Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field is designated as Class C, with a ceiling of 6900’ MSL. The airport caters to a range of aviation needs, including air carriers, cargo, military, general aviation, and business aviation. Boise is also home to the National Interagency Fire Center, which plays a crucial role in coordinating wildland firefighting resources across the United States.

Airspace class

The Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field Airport in Idaho falls under Class C and Class E airspace. The airport is divided into two sectors, with one sector working on the final approach segment and the other working on everything else.

Class E airspace extends upward from 700 feet above the surface within an 8.6-mile radius north of the airport, stretching 11.4 miles to the south, 17 miles to the east, and 30 miles to the west. This Class E airspace is an extension of the Class C airspace and was amended in 2016 to accommodate standard instrument approach procedures for IFR operations. The amendment also expanded two segments from a 5-mile radius of the airport, with one extending 12.8 miles southeast and the other 11 miles northwest.

The Class C airspace requirements for Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field Airport are outlined in CFR §91.130 and AIM 3-1-4; 3-2-4. These requirements include specific instructions for pilots departing from RWY 10L, as they often miss the left turn on TWY W and continue on TWY J. Pilots must verify their proper heading prior to takeoff to prevent wrong runway events, which occur when pilots land on the first runway they see.

Additionally, Boise Airport has a Military Assault Strip located 1 mile south/southeast, which is oriented like the BOI runways. This strip is considered a hazard, and pilots should be cautious to avoid wrong airport landings.

Frequently asked questions