In the fall of 2008, the City of The Dalles and Klickitat County provided direction to the airport’s consulting engineer, Precision Approach Engineering, to begin the process of preparing a grant application and scope of services for an Airport Master Plan Update for The Columbia Gorge Regional Airport (DLS).  Following development of a scope of services, budget, and schedule, the City of The Dalles and Klickitat County subsequently received a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in February 2009 to conduct the study.  Following negotiations and independent reviews of study costs, a contract was approved with Precision Approach Engineering in August 2009.

The study is designed to provide guidance for future development and provide updated justification for projects for which the airport may receive funding participation through federal and state airport improvement programs.  Working with Precision Approach Engineering is Coffman Associates, an airport consulting firm which specializes in master planning and environmental studies.  The firms have worked together on similar studies in the FAA’s Northwest Mountain Region.

The Airport Master Plan Update will be prepared in accordance with FAA requirements, including Advisory Circular 150/5300-13, Airport Design (as amended), and Advisory Circular 150/5070-6B, Airport Master Plans (2005).  The scope of services, budget, and schedule has been approved by the City of The Dalles and the Klickitat County Board of Commissioners, following review by the FAA.