Progress Update:

The North Dakota Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) and the Project Team are excited to share that the 2025 North Dakota State Aviation System Plan (NDSASP) and North Dakota Aviation Economic Impact Study (NDAEIS) are nearing completion. Since the last project update, the team has continued advancing the remaining study components and final deliverables while incorporating feedback from NDAC, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), airport representatives, and aviation stakeholders.

Two major chapters have been developed, reviewed by NDAC and the TAC, and finalized over the past several months: Chapter 7. Issues and Industry Advancements and Chapter 8. Cost Estimates and Recommendations. Chapter 7 explores the issues and industry advancements that may shape the future of aviation across North Dakota, including emerging technologies, evolving user needs, resiliency considerations, workforce trends, funding challenges, and other changes that may influence how airports plan for and respond to future demand.

Chapter 8 serves as the concluding chapter of the NDSASP and summarizes the study’s recommendations, cost estimates, system needs, and anticipated funding considerations. Together, these chapters provide a forward-looking overview of North Dakota’s airport system today and the investments, strategies, and planning considerations that may be needed to support it in the years ahead.

In addition to the NDSASP, NDAC and the Project Team continue to advance Chapter 9. NDAEIS, which is currently undergoing review by the TAC. Chapter 9 documents a detailed overview of the terminology, data collection efforts, assumptions, and methodology required for modeling the economic impacts of the 89 public-use airports in North Dakota’s aviation system and the other aerospace industry activity included in the project. Detailed results, by airport and at the statewide level, are presented in Chapter 9.

The fourth and final TAC meeting was held on July 22 at 2:00 pm CT. This meeting provided an opportunity to review final study findings, discuss remaining deliverables, and share the path forward as the project moves toward completion. A summary of this meeting and the PowerPoint presentation are available here: TAC Meeting #4

Next Steps:

Looking ahead, the Project Team is focused on developing the final deliverables associated with the project, which include the 2025 NDSASP and NDAEIS Technical Report, Executive Summary, Fact Sheets, Individual Airport Brochures, and other web-based tools. Once complete, these deliverables will be made available on the project’s website.

The project team is also preparing for in-person Regional Presentations to share the findings of the NDSASP and NDAEIS. These presentations will be held at the end of August in four cities across North Dakota. Dates and times for those meetings are below:

Bismarck, ND
Tuesday, August 25 | 9:00–11:00 a.m.
Bismarck Airport ARFF Building
2301 University Drive, Building 14

Minot, ND
Tuesday, August 25 | 3:00–5:00 p.m.
Minot City Council Chambers
10 3rd Avenue SW

Grand Forks, ND
Wednesday, August 26 | 1:00–3:00 p.m.
The Hive
375 2nd Avenue N

Fargo, ND
Thursday, August 27 | 9:00–11:00 a.m.
Fargo Air Museum
1609 19th Avenue North

NDAC appreciates the continued engagement of TAC members, airport stakeholders, and the public as the Project Team works toward concluding this comprehensive and forward-looking plan for North Dakota’s aviation system.

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