TO:                  Whom It May Concern
FROM:             Patrick Dame, C.M., Executive Director
DATE:              December 15, 2018
SUBJECT:       Rapid City Regional Airport / EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY

 

1. Rapid City Regional Airport has prepared this Emergency Contingency Plan pursuant to §42301 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. Questions regarding this plan can be directed to Patrick Dame at patrick.dame@rcgov.org. Rapid City Regional Airport filed this plan with the Department of Transportation because it is a commercial airport. This plan describes how, following excessive tarmac delays and to the extent practicable, Rapid City Regional Airport will:

 

• Provide for the deplanement of passengers;
• Provide for the sharing of facilities and make gates available at the airport; and

• Provide a sterile area following excessive tarmac delays for passengers who have not yet cleared United States Customs & Border Protection (CBP).

 

2. In accordance with FAA rules to prevent lengthy tarmac delays to passengers, airlines are required to comply with the Three-Hour Tarmac Rule. The airline experiencing problems will contact the Airport Operations Department at (605) 593-3419. Upon notification from the airline the airport will accomplish the following.

 

3. Rapid City Regional Airport has facility constraints that limit our ability to accommodate diverted flights and strongly encourages aircraft operators to contact the airport at 605-593-3419 for prior coordination of diverted flights, except in the case of a declared in-flight emergency. Specific facility constraints include the following: lack of international passenger processing facilities, limited numbers of aircraft parking positions, inability to accommodate park or service certain types of aircraft. We have noted these constraints in Rapid City Regional Airport Airport/Facility Directory record. During diversion events Rapid City Regional Airport issues NOTAMs regarding its ability to accommodate diverted flights to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the airport and its ability to serve the civil aviation needs of the public during irregular operations events.

 

4. Airport Information

Name of Airport: Rapid City Regional Airport

Name and title of person preparing the plan: Patrick B. Dame, Executive Director

Preparer contact number: 605-394-4195

Preparer contact e-mail: patrick.dame@rcgov.org 

Date of submission of plan: May 14th, 2012

Airport Category: Non Hub

 

5. Contact Information

In the event of diversion or other irregular operations events, aircraft operators should contact

the Airport Operations at 605-593-3419 or rapops@rcgov.org for assistance.

6. Plan to Provide for the Deplanement of Passengers Following Excessive Tarmac Delays.
Rapid City Regional Airport has limited equipment and personnel needed to safely deplane passengers from air carrier aircraft. We will utilize this equipment to deplane passengers as soon as practicable after receiving requests from such airlines at the contact number listed above. We will also provide a list of airlines, ground handlers, fixed base operators and others who may have the necessary equipment and personnel to safely deplane passengers to airlines as soon as practicable after receiving requests from such airlines experiencing excessive tarmac delays at the contact number listed above.

7. Plan to Provide for the Sharing of Facilities and Make Gates Available in an Emergency.

The gates at Rapid City Regional Airport are under common use gate leases, permits, or agreements to air carriers and are controlled by the airport. We direct our common use air carrier users to make gates and other facilities available to an air carrier seeking to deplane at a gate, to the maximum extent practicable.

 

8. Plan to Provide a Sterile Area for Passengers Who Have Not Cleared United States Customs and Border Protection.

Rapid City Regional Airport does not have international passenger processing facilities. We will coordinate with local CBP and law enforcement officials to identify suitable areas and procedures for establishing a temporary sterile area into which international passengers on diverted aircraft who have not yet cleared United States Customs and Border Protection can be deplaned. Once these efforts are complete, we will coordinate with local CBP officials to develop procedures that will allow international passengers who have not yet cleared United States Customs and Border Protection to be deplaned into these sterile areas to the extent practicable.

 

9. Public Access to the Emergency Contingency Plan.

Rapid City Regional Airport will provide public access to its emergency contingency plan through one or more of the following means:

 

Posting in a conspicuous location on the airport website at www.rapairport.com.

 

Sincerely,

Patrick Dame, C.M.

Executive Director