Emergency Contingency Plan

Waco 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 James Harris, Airport Manager at jharris@wacotx.gov. Waco Regional 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, Waco Regional Airport will:

  • Provide for the de-planement 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).

Waco Regional 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 (254) 750-8657 for prior coordination of diverted flights, except in the case of a declared in-flight emergency. Specific facility constraints include the following: Acceptable Ramp Space, Terminal building occupancy restrictions. We have noted these constraints in Waco Regional Airport Airport/Facility Directory record. During diversion events Waco 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.

Airport Information

Name of Airport: Waco Regional Airport

Name and title of person preparing the plan: James Harris, Airport Manager

Preparer contact number: (254) 750-8657

Preparer contact e-mail: jharris@wacotx.gov

Airport Category: Non Hub

Contact Information

In the event of diversion or other irregular operations events, aircraft operators should contact the Director of Aviation at (254) 750-8657 or jharris@wacotx.gov for assistance.

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

Waco Regional 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

Two gates at Waco Regional Airport are under common use leases to air carriers and are controlled by the airport. Additionally, Gate #1 at Waco Regional Airport is under an exclusive lease to air carriers and is not fully controlled by the airport. We will coordinate with our tenants to make gates available to an air carrier seeking to deplane at a gate, to the maximum extent practicable. If additional gates are needed, we will coordinate with tenant air carriers to make preferential and/or exclusive use gates and other facilities available to an air carrier seeking to deplane at a gate, during those time periods when the tenant airline is not using, or not scheduled to use, the gate, to the maximum extent practicable.

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

Waco 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.

Public Access to the Emergency Contingency Plan

Waco Regional Airport will provide public access to its emergency contingency plan through the airport website (www.waco-texas.com/airport).

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