Tom Mahoney takes reins as new Idaho Aeronautics Administrator

BOISE – Tom Mahoney, an Idaho pilot with more than three decades of aviation experience in the Gem State, takes over May 15 as the new Idaho Division of Aeronautics Administrator. He replaces Jeff Marker, who is retiring in early June after nine years with the department and four years as Aero’s Administrator.

In leaving, Marker stated he is incredibly honored to have had the opportunity to work for ITD

“This is an extraordinarily professional group, and I feel privileged to have been at least a small part of the team,” Marker explained. “Aero and ITD will be in great hands as Tom takes over as Administrator.”

Mahoney brings enthusiasm and a wealth of Idaho experience to the new position.

“I am thrilled to be selected,” Mahoney said. “I am glad to continue to contribute to air commerce and safety in Idaho, a state that benefits tremendously from aviation.”

Mahoney has been a military aviator, aircraft owner, small-business owner, flight instructor, and air charter pilot in Idaho for the past 30 years.

“I will use all of those skills as I serve the team members in the Aeronautics Division,” he added. “I look forward to continuing Jeff Marker’s legacy and supporting the vision and mission of the Idaho Transportation Department.”

Aviation runs in Mahoney’s blood. “Aviation has been a passion of mine since winning an art contest for United Airlines when I was eight years old,” he said. “My father was a United Airlines employee, so I had early exposure to many great people in aviation.”

Like Marker, Mahoney has an Air Force background. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy (Physics), Air Force Test Pilot School, Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle University, and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. After a decade of flying fighter aircraft, Tom served for four years as a budget officer in the Pentagon.

Carter Hickey provides improvements to Smiley Creek Airstrip near Galena Pass

In mid-October 2022, 16-year-old Carter Hickey of Hailey (he’s part of Scout Troop 100 in Boise) completed an Eagle Scout project at the Smiley Creek Airstrip just over the Galena Pass in south-central Idaho, building a picnic pad area and campfire pit for the facility’s caretakers and the pilots camping there to use.

He had originally planned to build a picnic bench at the Indian Creek Airstrip with backcountry pilot, Galen Hanselman, but before he could do the project, Galen died from liver cancer. The cancer was caused by complications from Hepatitis A, which he had contracted many years before without knowing.

“I tried to continue the project in his name but couldn’t build where the Indian Creek Airstrip is located because it’s in a Wilderness area,” Hickey explained. “I wanted to stick with a project that would benefit backcountry pilots to honor Galen, so after being unable to build at Indian Creek, I decided on an airstrip closer to home that Galen used frequently – the Smiley Creek Airstrip.”

Hickey then reached out to Aero’s Airport Manager, Dan Conner toward the end of June 2022, and Carter and his father met on-site with Dan to share ideas on how to improve the airstrip.

Hickey prepared a detailed proposal for Conner on the project details and intent, an estimate on what supplies would be needed, the phases of the project, and the basic logistics needed to execute the project. It was approved by Conner, the scoutmaster of his troop, a project advisor, the troop’s committee members, and a representative from the counsel overseeing all the troops in the area.

Hickey then began the project. Most of the supplies needed were excess materials already at the airstrip, leaving Hickey to acquire the metal ring for the fire pit and other random supplies. The metal ring was graciously made and donated by a close family friend, Shay Doll, who welded the ring herself.

Hickey then ran up against another problem in early September – Mother Nature.

“Before I could begin the project, the Ross Creek wildfire started near the airstrip and it became inaccessible,” he explained. “The fire burned for a month and winter slowly grew closer, shortening the deadline for my project. Once travel to the airstrip was allowed again, it was closing in on mid-October and snow was forecast for the beginning of November. This forced me to reschedule rapidly and make some last-minute adjustments.”

Aero’s Sr. Utility Craftsman, Joe Fleck and his colleague, Mark Pfeifer, came to Smiley Creek on October 14 to start the project and help with the heavy loading for the pad. The next day, the Spring Family from his troop came up to Smiley Creek and helped finish the picnic pad and dig the campfire pit.

Thanks to Conner’s cooperation and flexibility, along with the help of the Spring Family, Hickey was able to complete the project on October 15!

“The project was a great success and ran without any hiccups, despite the rushed timeline,” Hickey said. It also was finished just in time, as the week after the completion of the project, Smiley Creek got 6 inches of snow.

“I’m glad we were able to expedite the completion of the project before the ground froze which would have prolonged it until late spring,” Hickey said. I am thankful I was able to work with so many talented individuals who made this possible and to work on a project that follows the path Galen and I set out on,” he said.

Conner told Hickey, “I have no doubt that you will be back one day as a pilot yourself and will be using these very spots that you built and telling your kids the stories of how you did it.”

Idaho students show talents in annual Aviation Art Contest

Idaho students age 5 and up competed under the theme “Aviation Gets You There” in the annual Aviation Art Contest through the Idaho Division of Aeronautics.

Age-group winners (categories listed below) received the following awards/recognition:

First place winners:
- Invitation to ride in an airplane
- Copy of their artwork signed by our Governor
- Congratulatory letter
Second place winners:
- Receive $25 in art supplies
- Congratulatory letter
Runners-Up:
- Runners-Up and winners are featured in the 2023 Aviation Art Calendar

Artwork Categories by Age:
Age Group I: 5–6 years old WINNER
Age Group II: 7–9 years old WINNER
Age Group III: 10–12 years old WINNER
Age Group IV: 13–15 years old WINNER
Age Group V: 16–18 years old NO ENTRIES

See all of the winning artwork on the art contest webpage under the “Safety & Education” tab.

Applications for next year’s contest will be available in January 2023 from the Aeronautics webpage.

2023 Art Contest Announcement, Entry Form & Certificate of Authenticity

Leading Idaho funds runway improvements to St. Anthony Community Airport

Grant funds in the amount of $1.7M from Gov. Little’s Leading Idaho initiative helped repair and replace sections of badly damaged runway at the small community airport in St. Anthony in October. The funds were used in conjunction with Idaho Airport Aid Program funding to complete the runway reconstruction and eliminate a significant safety hazard.

The consultant who managed the project, T-O Engineers, worked with the City of St. Anthony to help them reconstruct their only paved runway and build a new partial parallel taxiway for additional hangar development. The existing runway pavement was rated in “poor” condition in 2021 and was projected to drop to “very poor” within the next five years. The new partial parallel was constructed to provide access to the runway for existing and future hangars as well as improve safety at the airport.

Aviation Program Manager for T-O Engineers, Jared Norton, reported that the design included utilizing a CRABS (Concrete Recycled Asphalt Base Stabilization) process on existing runway pavement that was still in good condition and could be salvaged, which reduced construction costs and time, while providing a high-strength pavement section.

The project was not without its challenges, Norton said.

“During construction, we encountered unanticipated subsurface conditions that impacted the CRABS process. T-O Engineers worked with the city and contractor Depatco to quickly modify the design and allow the project to continue moving forward on schedule. In the end, the city was able to complete the full project on time and under budget. “

The new runway will better serve the agricultural spraying needs and general aviation operations at the small East Idaho airport.

“The Division of Aeronautics is honored to have the ability to collaborate with airport sponsors to ensure the safety and economic viability of the statewide aviation system,” said Aero’s Airport Planning Manager Jennifer Schildgen (pictured left). “It is wonderful to see project completion and the amazing work being done through partnerships that helps the communities. It is one of the reasons I look forward to work every day.”

“Leading Idaho” funds used for critical runway improvement in Malad

Idaho Governor Brad Little’s “Leading Idaho” funding initiative paved the way recently for badly needed runway improvements at the Malad City Airport.

Leading Idaho funding supplied 100% of project costs, to the tune of $1.6M.

The project began in September 2021 and finished in late July. It was managed by local airport officials and Idaho’s Division of Aeronautics. The airfield at Malad City is one of 48 community airports statewide that are managed by Aero, which is part of the Idaho Transportation Department.

Malad’s City Airport was at the top of the list for funding due to a runway that only scored a 37 (of 100) in the most recent Pavement Condition Index (PCI) – a rating that translated to “Very Poor.” The PCI is the primary rating tool to determine the level of pavement distress and subsequent need for improvement.

The Malad City Airport is just the first of many small community airports across the state that will utilize these Leading Idaho funds to tackle needed repairs.

“A huge thank you to Governor Little for his Leading Idaho Grant and for the State of Idaho Aeronautics for trusting in Oneida County – Malad Airport with the grant funds to rebuild our runway,” said Malad City Airport Office Manager Roxanne Albretsen. “We are beyond grateful and will maintain and keep it in beautiful condition for years to come!”

Airport Board member Mike Hess, in comments made to the local newspaper, The Idaho Enterprise, said the biggest beneficiaries of the runway improvement would include “Life Flight first and foremost; saving lives as Malad relies on medical transport in many life-threatening cases.”

Without a well-maintained runway, critical patients must be taken by ambulance to the nearest trauma center, which can often make a significant difference in their medical intervention.

Hess continued, “Firefighting would be next. Almost every year the Forest Service will set up a fire-fighting base there.”

This year’s fire season has not been as extreme as last year’s, but the recent Lemhi County and Yosemite fires suggest the season may have quite a few surprises left, especially as high temperatures and winds are in the forecast for much of August.

Hess also mentioned some less-visible benefits. “Each year, Agricultural spray planes base their operations at the airport for the local agricultural community. There were over 2,200 landings here last year. Many of these will take the Courtesy Car into town and buy lottery tickets and a meal. Many people fly in for other business purposes and/or family visits. Many visitors are flying cross-country and stop to purchase gas, which benefits the county.

The Idaho Department of Commerce has indicated that having a community with rail service, freeway access and an airport are three of the most important considerations new businesses look for when selecting a site.”

As part of Governor Little’s “Leading Idaho” initiative, the 2021 Idaho Legislature dedicated $126 million of one-time funds from Idaho’s budget surplus to transportation projects statewide. The funds were split 60/40 between ITD and local jurisdictions. Construction on this project is paid for with ITD’s portion of the funds that will accelerate projects to replace bridges, restore pavements, and improve mobility in communities across Idaho.

ACE Academy helps turn Nathan Johnson’s aviation interest into passion

We often don’t realize the impact our actions can have on others. Complementing a stranger, giving friendly advice and other seemingly insignificant things can change the trajectory of a person’s day. Those kindnesses can sometimes change the path of someone’s life as well.

Dan Conner, ITD Airport Manager with the Division of Aeronautics, was lucky to experience this when a friend’s son had an interest in aviation.

“We were sitting around a campfire on a hunting trip in 2019 when I learned that my friend’s son, Nathan, was interested in a career in aviation,” said Conner. “I recommended that he enroll in the ACE Academy to learn more about what he can do in the industry.”

Nathan attended the the Division of Aeronautics’ ACE Academy that year. That experience turned his interest into passion.

“I received Nathan’s high school graduation announcement this past June and learned that he is attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to continue his education,” said Conner.

Nathan’s father, Brett Johnson, said that Nathan still talks about what he learned in the ACE Academy.

The ACE Academy is held in Boise early each summer. For more information about the program or to apply, please contact tim.steffen@itd.idaho.gov or call 208 334-8780.

Nathan (second from right) at the 2019 ACE Academy.

Aeronautics launches upgraded aircraft registration system

The Division of Aeronautics launched SOAR (System of Aircraft Registration) in mid-July, a new system for registering aviation dealers and aircraft in Idaho. The Office of Communications spoke with Derra Kolar, Division of Aeronautics Technical Records Specialist, about the new SOAR program.

“In 2010, Aeronautics was in desperate need of a way to track aircraft and their owners, airmen and aircraft dealers. The Aircraft Dealer Airman Management (ADAM) formed a team and the system was born. The new system allows Aeronautics to quickly register aircraft and link their owners, businesses and pilots. It also created the capability to track aircraft dealers. Although ADAM provided functionality that made the job much easier, there were pitfalls that were not known prior to the system being built,” said Kolar.

The new SOAR system is much faster in processing aviation dealers and aircraft registrations. Dealers, aircrafts, and businesses are now on a single screen. This is much more efficient than ADAM where the user had to scroll through pages to find what they were looking for. Kolar said this capability has made a huge difference in the process.

With the implementation of SOAR, Aeronautics now has:

A more comprehensive and reliable approach to referring records to county assessors;
The ability to send an automated group of reminder renewal notices – which will increase revenue; and
Cleaner data organized in a more usable fashion, which allows us the ability to serve the public even better.

ITD considering partnership to reinitiate maintenance of backcountry airstrip in Lemhi County

Hoodoo Meadows Airstrip corridor and borrow trench - Photo taken near entrance facing North.

The Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Aeronautics (ITD) is seeking public comments as it considers restoring and managing a backcountry airstrip in the Salmon-Challis National Forest.

The Hoodoo Meadows airstrip (as shown in image above) is the highest in the state at an elevation of 8,200 feet, and provides access to the Frank Church – Wilderness of No Return. The airstrip is located just south of Yellowjacket Lake and near the popular Bighorn Crags area. It has not been used since the 1980s.

The site was managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) after its construction in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and traditionally used to gain recreational access for alpine lake fishing, wildlife viewing, and big game hunting. Although there were no reported accidents, in the early 1980s the airstrip was rated marginal for safety, and by 1989 trees had encroached the site and made it unusable.

In 2016, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) initiated the effort to restore the Hoodoo Meadows airstrip, due to repeated public inquiries about recreational accessibility. Together, USFS, IDFG, and ITD, with support from the Idaho Aviation Association and the Recreation Aviation Foundation, are working on an agreement that would open the site for air travel and provide for future maintenance.

“This effort has been underway for several years. Our role would be making the airstrip safe for pilots to land again, by clearing vegetation and installing safety features like runway markers,” Aeronautics Administrator Jeff Marker said. “It would take about a month of initial cleanup work on our part, but would provide more access for those who wish to explore some of the most remote places in Idaho.”

Visit itd.idaho.gov/aero to review the proposed partnership, then please provide ITD your feedback on the plan. Public comments will be accepted March 15 to March 29 through the following options:

Email jillian.garrigues@itd.idaho.gov
Record verbal testimony by calling (855) 785-2499
Send your written comments by mail to
ATTN: Jillian Garrigues
Idaho Transportation Department
PO Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707

The USFS sought comments in 2018 on reopening the Hoodoo Meadows airstrip. Now, the public can voice their support or concerns regarding ITD’s involvement in the partnership.

Airports across Idaho benefit from nearly $53M in federal and state grants

Federal Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants of about $39.5 million will help seven primary (commercial) airports across the state with needed improvements to their passenger and aviation facilities. In addition, AIP grants of almost $10 million will help 18 medium and small General Aviation airports across Idaho maintain and improve their aviation facilities.

A local match of $3.2 million is also included in the total.

“Idaho has a somewhat larger FAA program this year than previous years, with a few notable improvements,” explained Idaho Division of Aeronautics Airport Planning and Development Manager Bill Statham.

The Idaho Airport Aid Program (IAAP) will benefit 7 primary, 18 General Aviation, and 5 community airports throughout Idaho with $1 million. Here is a list of Gem State airports that received those grants:

– 4 primary airports (with commercial passengers) received 1 FAA grant each, totaling $10,159,682
Boise, Idaho Falls, Lewiston, and Twin Falls
– 2 primary airports (with commercial passengers) received 2 FAA grants each, totaling $2,355,315
Hailey and Pocatello
– 1 primary airport (with commercial passengers) received 3 FAA grants totaling $27,036,892 of which one was a supplemental FAA grant.
Moscow-Pullman
– 16 General Aviation airports received 16 FAA grants totaling $9,093,423.
Bear Lake County, Blackfoot-McCarley Field, Caldwell Industrial, Cascade, Challis, Coeur D’Alene -Pappy Boyington Field, Council Municipal, Gooding Municipal, Jerome County, Mountain Home Municipal, Nampa Municipal, Orofino Municipal, Priest River Municipal, Rexburg-Madison County, Salmon-Lemhi County, and Weiser Municipal
– 2 General Aviation airports received 4 FAA grants totaling $2,552,569 of which one was a supplemental FAA grant.
Driggs and McCall
– 25 primary and General Aviation airports got Idaho Airport Aid Program (IAAP) grants, totaling $646,426.
All listed primary and General Aviation airports
– 5 community airports received 5 IAAP grants totaling $223,471
Midvale, Rigby, Payette, Downey, and Mackay

Here is a complete list of airports receiving a grant, the amount of the AIP and IAAP grants, and the improvements that received funding.

Several Idaho airports are in the running for additional federal grants through a second round of FAA Supplemental Funding.

ITD’s Hinen assists in saving lives in aviation search and rescue

On Aug. 17, the quick thinking and decisive action of Division of Aeronautics Search-and-Rescue Coordinator Jim Hinen resulted in two lives being saved. Hinen was responding to a near-fatal crash near the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.

Bill Sperling and his friend, Tom, crashed around midday in the heavily wooded area northeast of McCall as they flew out after breakfast that morning at the Flying B Ranch. A second plane, flying nearby, said he saw Sperling’s Cessna 182 try to climb out of the canyon, struggle to do so, then crashed as he attempted to turn back.

When the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was activated by the crash, Hinen was involved as the SAR Coordinator for Aeronautics.

Hinen took the data, contacted air-traffic control and family members to obtain information on the flight path, and arranged for rescue assets to be deployed to the site. During that time, Jim worked with family members to answer questions and provide information.

Hinen’s speculation is that either the aircraft was unable to climb out, and during the turn around, slowed too much and stalled, or had engine/mechanical problems which affected his performance and during the turn around, slowed too much and stalled the aircraft.

“During the summer when the temperature gets hot at high altitudes, aircraft performance is degraded,” Hinen explained. “There is a higher-density altitude.”

“Pilots should be checking aircraft performance charts during preflight to determine if they have enough power available to take off and climb out. ”

They were taken to University of Utah’s burn center in Salt Lake City to recover from second- and third-degree burns sustained in the crash. The response happened within two hours of the crash, likely preventing much different outcome.

“Due to the quick response by Jim, both pilot and passenger are expected to recover,” explained Idaho Aeronautics Administrator Mike Pape.

The Krassel Helitac Crew of McCall performed an emergency short-haul mission to extract one of those involved in the crash who would not otherwise have been able to receive further treatment.

“Short-hauls are when we secure one of our medical providers at the end of a rope who in turn secures the patient,” wrote Anthony Botello, District Ranger with the Krassel Ranger District of the Payette National Forest. “Once secure, both our responder and the patient are hauled under the helicopter at the end of the rope to a place where Life Flight or other responders can take over.”

The Forest Service only has a handful of crews in the nation that are trained and capable of performing short-haul missions.

It is believed to be the first-ever short haul of a member of the public by a Forest Service helicopter and crew.

Hinen maintains he was just one moving part in the rescue. “There were many people involved in the recovery efforts from many agencies and we all assumed a different role in the recovery effort.”

“Fortunately, the people all survived,” said Hinen. “It doesn’t always work out that way.”