Mason City Airport emergency contingency plan

The Mason City Municipal 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 David Sims at dsims@netconx.net.  The Mason City Municipal Airport is filing this plan with the Department of Transportation because (1) it is a commercial airport or (2) this airport may be used by an air carrier described in USC 42301(a)(1) for diversions.

This plan describes how, following excessive tarmac delays and to the extent practicable, the Mason City Municipal 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).

The Mason City Municipal Airport has facility constraints that limit our ability to accommodate diverted flights or maintain the airport’s safe operation and strongly encourages aircraft operators to contact the airport at 641-430-0980 for prior coordination of diverted flights, except in the case of a declared in-flight emergency. Specific facility constraints include the following: limited ARFF coverage, limited ramp space, no facilities for processing international passengers, and security checkpoint size.  During diversion events, the Mason City Municipal Airport will issue 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.1

Airport Information

Name of Airport: Mason City Municipal Airport

Name and title of person preparing the plan: David Sims

Preparer contact number: 641-430-0480

Preparer contact e-mail: dsims@netconx.net

Date of submission of plan: May 7, 2012

Airport Category: Non Hub Primary Airport

Contact Information

In the event of diversion or other irregular operations events, aircraft operators should contact Airport Operations at 641-430-0980 for assistance.

Plan to Provide for the Deplanement of Passengers Following Excessive Tarmac Delays

The Mason City Municipal Airport does not own or operate any of the equipment needed to safely deplane passengers from air carrier aircraft and is, therefore, unable on its own to provide for the deplanement of passengers. Additionally airport personnel are not trained to assist in the deplanement of passengers using equipment owned or operated by air carriers or contract service providers. We will 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.

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

The gates at the Mason City Municipal 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.  The Mason City Municipal Airport does not have jetways or air stairs for deplaning passengers of non stair equipped aircraft.

Plan to Provide a Sterile Area for Passengers Who Have Not Cleared United States Customs and Border Protection5

Mason City Municipal 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.[1]

Public Access to the Emergency Contingency Plan

The Mason City Municipal 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 (http://www.flymcw.com)

• Providing notice of the availability of the plan on the airport’s social media accounts.

• Posting signs in conspicuous locations in the terminals.

• Advertising the availability of the plan in local newspapers of record.