Williston Airport: Federally Funded Or Independent Project?

is williston airport a federal project

The Williston Basin International Airport (XWA) in Williston, North Dakota, is a federal project. The $270 million airport was built to replace the Sloulin Field International Airport, which had difficulty handling increased air traffic to the region due to the North Dakota oil boom. The project was a collaboration between the state of North Dakota, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the city of Williston. The new airport was designed with expansion in mind and includes a new runway, parking lots, a fuel farm, a new FBO with a customs facility, and a new terminal with ample seating, jet bridges, and a dedicated mother's care area. The Williston Municipal Airport, a smaller airport in the city, also received $3.5 million in funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to build a new terminal, bringing it to regional status.

Characteristics Values
Name Williston Basin International Airport
Location 9 nautical miles (17km) northwest of Williston, North Dakota
Cost $270 million
Owner City of Williston
Funding Federal Aviation Administration, State of North Dakota, City of Williston
Construction company JE Dunn Construction
Engineering firms Ulteig Engineers, KLJ, Passero Associates
Year opened 2019
Previous airport Sloulin Field International Airport
Distance from previous airport 12 miles
Area 1600 acres
Number of runways 2
Terminal area 110,000 square feet
Number of gates 4
Number of jet bridges 3
Annual passenger capacity 350,000
Aircraft based at airport 32

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Williston Basin International Airport is federally owned

The Williston Basin International Airport (XWA) is not federally owned. It is owned by the city of Williston, North Dakota, and was built to replace the Sloulin Field International Airport, which had difficulties dealing with the increase in air traffic to Williston amid the North Dakota oil boom. The new airport is designed to be flexible, right-sized, and efficient, accommodating the existing air activity in Williston while also allowing for future expansion.

The $270 million project was a collaboration between the state of North Dakota, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the city of Williston. The FAA provided oversight and coordination to engineers and contractors, ensuring compliance with FAA design standards and regulations. The airport covers 1,600 acres of land and features two runways and a 110,000-square-foot terminal building. It can handle up to 350,000 passengers annually and currently has 32 aircraft based there.

The construction of the Williston Basin International Airport was recognised as the 2020 Airport Business Project of the Year by Aviation Pros. The project was managed by the city of Williston, which assembled a team of professional service providers, including five separate engineering firms and over thirty prime contracts, to monitor and communicate ongoing construction progress. The terminal was designed by Alliiance and constructed by JE Dunn, featuring ample seating, a restaurant, jet bridges, and a dedicated mother's care area.

The airport's development included a new runway/taxiway for larger aircraft, new parking lots, a new fuel farm, a new customs facility, a new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting operations facility, and a new Snow Removal Equipment maintenance facility. The project also considered environmental impacts, construction costs, hazardous wildlife attractants, aeronautical obstructions, and airport utility. The relocation from the previous airport site also presented opportunities for the City of Williston to repurpose the land for residential, commercial, and business development.

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The Federal Aviation Administration provided funding for the airport's construction

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided funding for the construction of the Williston Basin International Airport in Williston, North Dakota. The airport was built to replace the Sloulin Field International Airport, which had difficulties dealing with the increase in air traffic to Williston due to the North Dakota oil boom. The new airport was designed to meet the flying needs of Williston's current and future travellers and community. It is owned by the city of Williston and cost $270 million to construct. The state of North Dakota, the FAA, and the city of Williston collaborated to build a flexible, right-sized, and efficient airport.

The construction of the Williston Basin International Airport was a significant project that involved the coordination of multiple engineering firms and contractors. The city of Williston hired KLJ in 2011 to conduct a site selection and airport feasibility study, which determined that a new location would best accommodate the city's needs. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was also conducted and submitted to the FAA, which garnered approval in September 2015. The process of transforming the initial conceptualization into a fully planned and environmentally cleared airport was completed in just four years.

The new airport covers 1600 acres of land and features two runways and a 110,000-square-foot terminal building. The terminal includes ample seating, a restaurant and lounge, jet bridges, a dedicated mother's care area, a security checkpoint, and a baggage conveyor system. The construction of the terminal was a separate project that cost $3.5 million and was undertaken by JE Dunn Construction. The new terminal was designed to enhance the airport's functionality and attract more visitors, bringing in revenue for further expansion.

The FAA's involvement in the Williston Basin International Airport project extended beyond funding. The FAA also played a role in the approval process by evaluating the Environmental Assessment and ensuring compliance with FAA design standards and regulations. Additionally, the FAA has continued to be involved in the ongoing operations of the airport, as evidenced by their consideration of a proposal to change the use of airport land from aeronautical to non-aeronautical, demonstrating their ongoing support and presence in the airport's development and maintenance.

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The airport's construction was a federal project

The construction of the Williston Basin International Airport (XWA) was a federal project. The airport is located about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Williston, North Dakota, and covers 1600 acres (647 ha) of land. The project cost $270 million and was completed in October 2019, with the airport officially opening to the public on October 10, 2019. The airport was built to replace the Sloulin Field International Airport (ISN), which had served Williston for 70 years but struggled to cope with the increase in air traffic to the region amid the North Dakota oil boom.

The new airport features a 110,000-square-foot (10,000 m2) terminal building, two runways, and a variety of facilities and services. The terminal includes an entry hall with passenger counters, TSA offices, a security checkpoint, baggage conveyors, restrooms, a restaurant with a full kitchen and bar, an enclosed tug tunnel, boarding bridges, ample seating, and a dedicated mother's care area. The airport can handle up to 350,000 passengers annually.

The construction of the airport was a collaborative effort involving various organizations and professionals. The state of North Dakota, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the city of Williston worked together to build an airport that was flexible, right-sized, and efficient. The city of Williston also played a crucial role in the project's development and coordination. They assembled a team of professional service providers, including five separate engineering firms and over thirty prime contracts, to monitor and communicate ongoing construction progress. Additionally, they hired Cardon Global as the owner's representative to keep city leadership informed and Chrysalis Global Aviation as a transition consultant to ensure all stakeholders were updated on schedules and information.

The construction of the airport took into account environmental factors and future expansion plans. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was conducted and approved by the FAA, ensuring compliance with environmental considerations and regulations. The airport was also designed with expansion in mind, featuring increased general aviation areas and new expandable facilities for cargo and FBO operations. The project received recognition as the 2020 Airport Business Project of the Year by Aviation Pros, highlighting its successful planning and execution.

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The airport's construction was a collaboration between federal, state, and local governments

The Williston Basin International Airport (XWA) in Williston, North Dakota, is a product of collaboration between federal, state, and local governments. The $270 million project was designed to meet the flying needs of the community, both current and future, and to address the inefficiencies of the previous airport serving the city, the Sloulin Field International Airport. The new airport was built from the ground up to replace the 70-year-old Sloulin Field International Airport, which had difficulty coping with a significant rise in air traffic amid the North Dakota oil boom.

The planning process for the new airport began in 2010, during the economic boom due to hydraulic fracturing for energy. It involved public input from the community, airport users, businesses, and federal, state, and local leadership to define the region's air service future and the facilities required. The city of Williston also played a crucial role in the project's development. They hired a team of professional service providers, including five separate engineering firms and more than thirty separate prime contractors, to monitor and communicate ongoing construction progress. The city also brought on Cardon Global as the owner's representative to keep city leadership informed and Chrysalis Global Aviation as a transition consultant to ensure all stakeholders were updated on schedules and information relating to the overnight relocation from the old airport.

The state of North Dakota and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also collaborated with the city of Williston to build a flexible, right-sized, and efficient airport. The FAA was involved in various aspects of the project, including considering proposals for the use of land at the new airport and the previous airport site, now intended for commercial and residential development. The FAA also approved the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the new airport's construction, which evaluated factors such as environmental impacts, construction costs, hazardous wildlife attractants, aeronautical obstructions, airport utility, and FAA regulations.

The new Williston Basin International Airport officially opened on October 10, 2019, and features a 110,000-square-foot terminal building, two runways, and various facilities to accommodate existing and future air activity in the region.

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The airport's construction was subject to federal regulations and approval

The construction of the Williston Basin International Airport was subject to federal regulations and approval. The project, which cost $270 million, was a collaboration between the state of North Dakota, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the city of Williston. The airport was designed to meet the flying needs of Williston's current and future travellers and community, and it was important to ensure that it complied with FAA design standards.

To address Williston's inefficient air activity, the City hired KLJ in 2011 to execute a site selection and airport feasibility study. It was determined that a new location would best accommodate Williston's needs. An Environmental Assessment (EA) was conducted beginning in 2012, which was awarded the American Council of Engineering Companies of North Dakota (ACEC/ND) Engineering Excellence award in 2014. The EA was submitted to the FAA in August 2015 and approved in September 2015, demonstrating the project's adherence to federal regulations and approval processes.

The construction of the airport involved extensive planning and teamwork, with the process beginning as early as 2010 during the economic boom due to hydraulic fracturing for energy. The planning process considered public input from the community, airport users, businesses, federal, state, and local leadership to define the region's air service future and the facilities required. The project included the construction of a new runway/taxiway for larger aircraft, new parking lots, a new fuel farm, a new FBO co-located with a customs facility, a new Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting operations facility, and a new Snow Removal Equipment maintenance facility, among other improvements.

The new terminal, designed by Alliiance and constructed by JE Dunn, features ample seating, a restaurant and lounge, jet bridges, and a dedicated mother's care area. The terminal building covers 110,000 square feet (10,000 square meters) and has two levels. The lower level includes an entry hall with passenger counters, TSA offices, a security checkpoint, baggage conveyors, and restrooms. The upper level houses a restaurant with a full kitchen and bar, an enclosed tug tunnel, and boarding bridges. The construction of the terminal building also involved careful budgeting and constructability reviews to ensure the project stayed within the allocated budget.

Overall, the construction of the Williston Basin International Airport was subject to federal regulations and approval, with the FAA playing a key role in the planning, approval, and construction processes. The collaboration between federal, state, and local entities resulted in a successful project that addressed the flying needs of the Williston community.

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Frequently asked questions

Yes, the Williston Basin International Airport is a federal project. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) collaborated with the state of North Dakota and the city of Williston to build the airport.

The Williston Basin International Airport is owned by the city of Williston.

The construction of the airport cost $270 million.

The Williston Basin International Airport opened to the public on October 10, 2019.

The Williston Basin International Airport terminal is 110,000 square feet.

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