By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays plans to file a passenger facility charge (PFC) application with the FAA to impose and use the PFC at the Hays Regional Airport.

The additional $4.50 per enplaned passenger will fund the local share of certain PFC eligible airport improvements.

The PFC is expected to be effective February 1, 2020, through May 1, 2024, and generate an estimated $276,257.

“Our last groups of projects is about to expire and so we have submitted a new group of projects to the FAA in order to justify the charge,” said Toby Dougherty, city manager.

Federal regulations require a public hearing prior to implementation to the PFC.

Dougherty says the process is more geared toward bigger airports such as Denver that “might have 25 different carriers that might want to come ask questions about it. We only have one carrier (United Express) and they’re well aware of our charge.”

A list of the PFC projects and the city’s share of the cost is shown below. Costs are split with the FAA which usually pays 90 percent of the total project amount.

A 30-day period is provided for filing of comments by the public. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25.

The Hays Regional Airport will hold an air carrier consultation meeting at 3 p.m. on Nov. 26 at the Hays Regional Airport conference room.

After the air carrier consultation meeting/public notice another 30-day period is provided for filing of comments. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. Dec. 26.

Comments may be submitted to:

City of Hays
Hays Regional Airport
Jesse Rohr, Director of Public Works
1002 Vine St.
Hays, KS 67601

UPDATED Oct. 27, 2019 to clarify the PFU would be a continuation of a previously approved implementation by the FAA. An air carrier consultation meeting, not public hearing, will be held Nov. 26.