Colfax airport beacon project finishes first phase

COLFAX - The Port of Whitman County completed the first phase of a rotating airport beacon at the Port of Whitman Business Air Center (POWBAC), an airport 3.5 miles southwest of Colfax, featuring t-hangars, private hangars, and Port-owned pole buildings. The site hosts a variety of tenants and occupants.

The project started because the existing beacon was determined to be at the end of its design life, states a press release from the Port of Whitman County from Tuesday, August 8.

The project was funded through a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant and an Airport Improvement Program grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), funding 90 percent of the project.

The Port and consultant Century West Engineering determined the bid appropriate. A resolution was adopted by the Port Commission on May 4 authorizing the Port to apply for and accept an airport aid grant for the project through the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), if awarded.

Assistant Communications Director for the Port of Whitman County Patty Kieburtz stated that the 90 percent FFA grant came to approximately $284,000, in addition to the WSDOT grant, which had yet to be awarded.

Kieburtz explained that the grant is essentially a reimbursement process, and the grants are reimbursing the Port.

Project Manager and Engineer at Century West Engineering, Greg Reince, stated that the existing beacon is mounted on a hangar, making it challenging to service or maintain.

"They have to get a lift truck to get to the existing beacon," Reince said.

Reince stated that the existing beacon will remain in place until the new one arrives next summer, "there won't be an interruption of the beacon," adding that once the new one is installed, they will remove the existing one.

The new beacon will be attached to a tip-down pole that one person can easily raise and lower, allowing for on-ground maintenance.

Reince explained that they've wrapped up Phase One of the process, which included electrical trenching, extended from the airport's existing electrical volt, a small shack next to the paved access road where the power for the runway lights and the beacon gets their main power source.

The new fixture is a 25-foot tall beacon pole, Reince explained that getting the new pole and beacon will take approximately 8 or 9 months from the time it is ordered to the time it shows up at the airport.

"The beacon is not gonna arrive until next year, but there's some work we're going to do now, which is what we've accomplished with this trenching," Reince said.

Reince stated the life expectancy of the new pole and beacon is around 15 years based on what the FFA publishes, "I anticipate that you're going to be able to get something much longer than that," he added.

The existing pole was at least 15 years old, Reince said, adding that no one could provide a date for its operation.

The new beacon will be a LED light fixture, requiring less energy to operate and remaining durable during its lifetime.

The beacon will flash white and green, signaling to pilots the existence of a land airport.

"Out there where the airport is located is a rural area," Reince said, adding that the flashing beacon will help the pilots locate the airport at night.

Kieburtz stated the airport serves as a general airport and an industrial park.

"There are a few different tenants at POWBAC," Kieburtz said, adding that they are all listed on the website, use the hangars, and lease from the Port of Whitman.

"The airplanes that fly in are mostly single-engine agricultural planes," Kieburtz explained, adding that most planes will be small and used for business.

Kieburtz stated that the airport hosts different events, including the Colfax Fly-In and Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 328 on September 23, from 8 a.m. to noon.

The Port of Whitman County sponsors the event and will provide activities for plane enthusiasts of all ages. Events include fly-ins by antique, military, and airshow aircraft and rides over the Palouse.