Direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on the social fabric and the economics in our local communities resulting from ski resort over-development is of concern to Taos Mountain Alliance. The Taos area has long been, and is, culturally and spiritually important to people from all walks of life. The diversity of backgrounds, histories, perspectives, and interests is what makes the Taos area unique and special.
Ski resort over-development feeds growing housing prices, accelerates an exodus of local citizens who are forced out or cash out, and the loss of young seasonal workers, who are scared away by the impossibility of finding a place to live. The result can be devastating to communities: it can deplete diversity, uniqueness, local environment, and local economies.
Ski resort over development has dramatically changed many other Rocky Mountain towns into resident-free resorts. The book “Downhill Slide” by Hal Clifford explains what happens to quaint mountain towns and how their inhabitants are affected by the over-development of adjacent ski resorts. This is a story that has been told across the Rocky Mountains and one that should not be told about Taos.
Town of Taos Regional Airport - Direct Relation to Taos Ski Valley Development
A reminder that the intention of Taos Mountain Alliance is to be accurate when providing educational materials related to our mission and issues. Please provide us feedback/corrections through the “contact us” page. Thank you for the feedback we have already received which has been used in the following revisions.
The Taos Regional Airport is owned by the Town of Taos and resides within the County of Taos.
While there are many aspects of socioeconomics for which TMA is concerned, the Taos Regional Airport and its associated Town of Taos effective and conscientious management (or lack thereof) is a key issue. Development and expansion of an airport in the vicinity of an expanding ski resort and its real estate development is necessary to support and entice wealthy investors. In Taos, where the public is keenly aware of the biases toward developing the airport to support the resort in the Taos Ski Valley, we are concerned that our local government make wise decisions and not cater to money interests or ignore the needs and desires of the Town and County citizens. Understanding the reality of the situation requires a little historical background.
Taoseños might be a bit confused about what’s going on regarding the Taos Regional Airport.
There is a thriving general aviation community at the Airport. Local pilots (many of them your neighbors and friends) are of all ages and levels of experience. Some of the pilots have their own aircraft that are in private hangars on Town land and some are tied down outside or sheltered in a large hangar at the South end of the Airport facility area. There is a Civil Air Patrol club, and the https://flytaossky.com/ flight training and scenic air tours business. Recently, local pilots and have started the https://www.taospilots.org/, which is a non-profit organization.
The building at the South end of the airfield is the ‘Fixed Based Operation’ (FBO - which is owned by Taos Aviation Services, Inc. a subsidiary of the same company that owns the Taos Ski Valley resort) and sells aviation fuel and provides other services for the local and visiting pilots including temporarily storing aircraft in its large hangar. This building has a conference room, a front waiting/viewing area, offices, bathrooms for visitors, and is generally open early mornings until about 6:30p, 7 days a week. also housed in the large hangar is a business that operates the medical evacuation helicopters.
Halfway down the Airport Road is the Town aviation terminal which is used to serve passenger arrivals/departures from regional air carriers (Currently JSX contracted to operate as Taos Air). It’s a small building with a lobby and external bathrooms which is only open around the times of the regional aircraft arrivals or special events. The Maestas Town administration, with the recommendation of the Airport Advisory Board (AAB - comprised of all the original 2022 members) approved a single story version of the terminal described in the draft Airport Master Plan. The old terminal will be torn down and replacement with the new terminal. Armstrong Engineering has a contract with the town to design and build the new terminal and the Town has received about 5 million federal dollars toward the project (July 2023 Town Council Meeting). Most of the other buildings on the Airport are either privately owned aircraft hangers on Town land or Town-owned buildings with Airport equipment and vehicles.
Airport Runways
The Airport has a runway oriented along the prevailing winds (Rwy 04/22) which has been in existence for many years. Small to medium sized aircraft (including small jets) can land and take off on this runway. The final approaches and departures to 04/22 are over Hotel Mystica Luna and the Taos Pueblo land West of the Airport.
The New BIG Runway
A few years ago, a new runway was built. It was called the “crosswind runway”, but that is a misnomer (crosswind runways exist so that planes can safely land when the winds deviate from the prevailing direction and landing on the main runway is unsafe). The new runway is a BIG runway, sufficient in size and design to land large aircraft. The orientation of this runway (Rwy 13/31) is such that large aircraft now have final approaches from the North over Arroyo Hondo and the Earthships and from the South over Ranchos de Taos (including the housing developments to the South of the Airport).
Increased “Airport” Noise
The main reason for the increase in noise is due to the increase in the number of large aircraft as well as the new approaches to the BIG runway. Mostly, these large aircraft are transients that drop in for fuel, aircraft that come from nearby to practice approaches, and landing corporate, charter, and regional jets (like JSX Air and “Taos Air”). Many of these large aircraft transit the East mountains and the Town as they maneuver toward the BIG runway. Currently the established traffic patterns are left handed, so aircraft that are on “downwind” for landing on runway 13 are above the housing developments at 1500ft and 1000ft for larger and smaller aircraft, respectively. Another noise over town comes from the helicopters based at Taos Regional that transit to/from Holy Cross Hospital. There are also local and student pilots in small planes who have been around for years practicing in the airport patterns.
While the Town owns the Airport, the FAA and federal rules are what pilots must follow. Often, pilots of charter and regional jets set up for a “straight in” approach to the 13/31 runway (there is no FAA rule against this). This can result in various maneuvers over Arroyo Hondo and Ranchos de Taos. The Town can’t make rules for air traffic at the Airport and, thus, has no ability to control the aviation caused noise.
Federal aviation “charts” designate a region of airspace over the Taos Pueblo and surrounding land as the “Taos Pueblo Blue Lake Wilderness Area” and request that pilots “avoid flights below 3000’ above ground level.” The Taos Airport has posted signs to alert pilots and local pilots are well aware of respecting this request.
The Taos Pilots Association has newly formed (mostly out of the need to promote advocacy between the Town and pilots related to airport operation), is aware of the noise issue and the suggested avoidance of Pueblo overflights, and helps educate all pilots about being good “citizens” as they arrive and depart the Taos Airport.
In conclusion, there isn’t much that can be done about the noise. Now that we have a big runway, the noise has increased and probably won’t be reduced in the future.
Airport Fixed-based Operator Business and Airport “Administration”
Currently the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) business at the Airport is owned by Taos Aviation Services, Inc. (TASI) which is a subsidiary of the same company that owns the Taos Ski Valley resort. It’s main business function is provide aviation services to local and transient aircraft and pilots (selling fuel, parking and moving aircraft, etc.). Many of the employees are locals and, in general, the business is appreciated greatly by Taos Airport patrons.
Taos Aviation Services, Inc. (TASI) also has a contract with the Town of Taos to be the Airport “Operator”: to manage the Airport operation and maintenance. This contract includes among other things “assuming all existing obligations of the Town”, being “responsible for all activities related to Airport leases”, and to “coordinate and assist with TSVA Holdings’ Inc. “Taos Air”, and other authorized commercial providers.” The contract pays TAS about $8000 per month This contract was put in place by the Barrone Town administration and we feel this is a case of a ‘Fox in the Henhouse’. In the past few years, TASI has been mostly attending to Taos Air flights with occasional snow removal, etc, but not carrying out the contractual duty of being responsible for all activities related to airport leases. The problem is claimed to be that the Town isn’t providing key authority (and legally approved leases) to TAS to carry out this duty. Without the Town having a firm understanding and grip on the operation of the airport, there exists a confusing and problematic situation that can lead to potentially harmful socioeconomic effects.
Draft Airport Master Plan
Developed under the Barrone administration. The Armstrong Consulting Firm was hired to make the draft Airport Master Plan and coordinate work at the Airport. The Plan is a document that seems to have a dual purpose. The first being airport future development presumably driven by needs defined by the Town (but obviously quite grandiose toward extensive development and expansion), and the second being a document that satisfies state and federal (Federal Aviation Administration) agencies requirements for the Town to obtain funding. A few years back, the Barrone Town administration let the Airport Advisory Board go defunct and started an ad hoc committee to oversee the process of making the Plan formal. It became controversial due to the extensive scope and lack of public input. Just before the current Maestas Town administration was voted into office, Pascual Maestas as a Town Council member claimed the TAC approval of the Plan as illegitimate because there wasn’t a quorum of Council members on the TAC and last minute attempts by Barrone to get Town approval of the Plan failed. Thus, the new Mayor Maestas inherited the process and the responsibility to formalize the Plan after public input including an open house. The fate of the Plan and Town administrative transparency has been missing for more than a year.
Once key aspect of the Plan is to what extent it allows for development that could support, and satisfy FAA requirements for Airline service to Taos Regional. Airline service would require an FAA Part 139 designation which would require runway capability for larger regional jets and required facilities and security measures including the ability to process passengers at a TSA security level. Taos Airport does not have that designation now. When, and if, a public open house is held to review the Plan, we hope the public will take the time to learn about this aspect and give feedback related to this developmental aspect. Do the Taos communities want this level of air service? More about this below.
It seems things may be getting back on track as a revised Airport Master Plan (presumably with written public input) and an open house for the public was mentioned at an Airport Advisory Board meeting January 2024.
Airport Manager
For all intents and purposes, the current “management” of the Airport is in a complex entanglement between a new Town administration and a corporation. The Town has had a job posting for an Airport Manager, but it has not been filled. Perhaps because it doesn’t offer enough money to attract an excellent candidate? The Town does not share what it is doing regarding plans for getting the management of the Airport back under the control of the Town. At past Airport Advisory Board meetings, the Town had placed the Town Public Works Director, Francisco (French) Espinosa in an ad hoc position as the “Airport Manager” to give Airport updates and answer questions about Airport issues and activities. Mr. Espinosa is often hard-pressed to provide answers when ideally the Town Manager or Mayor should be available to represent the Town’s Airport plans and related activities at these meetings.
Airport Advisory Board
This Board became defunct during the Barrone Town administration but was revived at the beginning of the Maestas Town administration with a governing Ordinance 12-12 and specific “Roles and Responsibilities” document which specified the Airport advisory board will “provide current knowledge, critical thinking and analysis to assist the Town with decisions” as well as “advisement and recommendations regarding the operation, facilities, or services provided at the Airport.” Despite these legislative and administrative directions to the new Board members were forbidden by the Mayor from discussing anything but the draft Airport Master Plan for which the new Town administration wanted public comment and approval. It was impossible for the Board members to accomplish due diligence on the Plan without discussing many of the operational and facility aspects that were serious issues at the airport and integral to the document itself. A key issue was the failure of the Plan to address existing and new general aviation hangars. The Town has not renewed the leases for existing private hangars putting the local pilots at risk and failing to collect ~$50,000 per year in Town revenue. Members of the Board pushed this issue asking that it be discussed in order to provide a comprehensive recommendation to the Town for the draft Airport Master Plan. The request was refused and Mayor Maestas eventually had two of the Board members removed. Before the Board members were removed, the Board accomplished a collection and analysis of public input about the Plan and produced a report for the Town. This report was not discussed in the Board meetings since and there is no word about the status of the Plan until about a year later.
In January 2024, the Airport Advisory Board met after a disbandment of many months and included two new members. Kino Chavez who retired from Taos Aviation Services, Inc. and Angel Pala, a local pilot (not a member of the Taos Pilots Association). Progress seems to be on track again for the finalization of the revised Airport Master Plan (see above), but strangely when asked at the January 2024 Airport Advisory Board meeting, the Town Mayor stated that supporting the local pilots by renewing their existing hangar leases can’t happen until after the Airport Master Plan is finalized. We don’t know if this is a political move to in some way satisfy constituents that his campaign promise against airport development. Most people involved in aviation at the airport know that there is no technical hurdle related to developing and implementing leases for all the existing hangars (including the new 60x60ft hangar funded by the state and completed in late Fall 2023). Also the acting Airport manager at that same meeting didn’t give a convincing reason why the leases are not ready. So why really? Not enough band width to conduct multiple operational decisions and actions? Some transparency please….
Airport Development
Besides the new runway, the Town has been given money from the State of New Mexico for replacing the existing terminal with a new terminal that will cost more than $5,000,000. There is also Federal money (which the Town sometimes has to match in part) for general upkeep of runways, taxiways, tarmac, etc.. The State also granted about $400,000 for the construction of a 60’x60’ hangar in large part due to the lobbying of a few of the general aviation community members (during the Barrone administration - construction is now complete). Despite this general aviation community effort and the lack of new hangar space for local pilots, the current Town administration refuses to talk about plans for occupancy of this new hangar or renewing leases of the existing hangars. Last Summer, there was significant renovation of the Taxiway in front of the FBO and existing hangars. The Town seemed to be unaware of this project and the construction proceeded without communication with the general aviation community. No one seemed to know who was coordinating the work and the local pilots and aircraft owners were severely inconvenienced - some could not access their hangars for weeks.
In early 2024 at the Airport Advisory Board meeting, there was talk of an upcoming project (paid by federal money already obtained) to renew the tarmac (asphalt pad) in front local pilot hangars. One extremely important reason for the Town getting its arms around the operation of its airport would be to oversee the Engineering firm execution of this project in a way that general aviation activities are minimally impacted.
Taos Air and Regional Air Services
Taos Air is a charter air service that is promoted by the Taos Ski Valley, Inc. resort and is operated by Taos Aviation Services, Inc. It can carry a limited number of passengers and has service to other small airports (Texas and California), most of which do not have convenient connections to other commercial airlines. The Town’s Airport Management contract with Taos Aviation Services, Inc. includes providing support to Taos Air. The aircraft first used were Fairchild Dornier 328 jets painted white with the Taos resort logo, then Embraer 135 jets operated by the regional air service JDX. The passengers are loaded and unloaded at the existing small Taos Regional Airport terminal several times a week. Taos Air and the resort have successfully convinced surrounding communities to contribute about 1.5 million dollars per year to support Taos Air operations and advertisement. A proponent of this financial support was Karina Armijo the Town Tourism Director. Mostly, the Winter Taos Air passengers go directly (and stay at) the resort. The claim is made that Taos Air revenue benefits local communities economically. Local business owners in Town that we have talked with don’t see it that way. It’s also pointed out that some passengers are local folks (not going to/from the resort). While perhaps true, they mostly have destinations that are convenient to these airports and can’t easily connect to other flights to destinations beyond.
Regional airlines are common. Sky West, Delta Connection, and Mesa Airlines are familiar examples of regional airlines. Taos Air and JSX are regional airlines that are currently providing air service to/from Taos. The difference is that because Taos does not have an FAA Part 139 designation including TSA-level security, JSX and Taos Air are limited to landing at airports and delivering their passengers outside of the security area. If passengers want to catch another flight to another destination, they must collect their bags and proceed to the airport entrance and TSA security to another airline with which they do not have a “connecting flight.” This is inconvenient and means buying separate airfares. This will always be the case with air service to/from Taos unless our airport gets the security “upgrade.”
The Town of Taos put out a Request For Proposals for a “regional airline” to provide service to Taos (with a connection to Denver). This idea is also part of the Town’s planning related to “Tourism Revisited.” Be careful to understand that this would not necessarily be an improvement over the existing regional air service situation at Taos because without the FAA Part 139, the service to Denver (International) would still have the same travel hindrances as say the Taos Air destination to Dallas. Perhaps even worse because of logistics comparisons between these airports. What might be different is the financial situation and the opportunity for the Town to redirect the purpose of a regional airline. Currently Taos Air (JSX) is receiving about 1.5 million dollars of subsidy from the Town of Taos (and surrounding communities and County). While not yet verified, the Town has evidently been awarded a one time grant of more than 3 million dollars from a State program to support small community air transportation service which would be provided to whatever regional service was awarded the RFP contract from the Town. So on one hand, the Town could benefit by not paying its share of the 1.5 million to Taos Air and Taos communities could get subsidized regional air service started by the >3 million subsidy. This is basically good news but we remain concerned that if Taos Air (or contracted affiliate) were to be awarded the RFP, the Town should be careful that measures are taken to ensure that the new air service supports local travel needs and all tourism enterprises equitably.
NEWS UPDATE: April 22 and 23 Town Council meetings consider and likely to approve the Regional Airline contract to JSX.
The upcoming Council Workshop (April 22) will cover:
"6B. Discussion of awarding RFP 23-24-06 to JSX to provide year-round air service at the Taos Regional Airport. (Town Manager Andrew Gonzales & Chief Procurement Officer Bailey Andrea)"
Comments/Questions:
At the April 22 Town Council workshop meeting, we learned that the money comes from the NM State Department of Transportation grant, and that the Town is required to contribute matching funds ~$300k from lodger’s tax revenue. There were 2 bidders and JSX “won.” Kino, French, and Mark were on the committee to decide and considerations came from the Embark Survey determining wishes from the community about regional airline service.
The routes emphasized are Denver/Broomfield, Dallas, and Las Vegas. Fares are expected to be ~$350RT and there was mention of an Uber subsidy for riders into Denver/Broomfield to get to DIA. The schedule of flights will be determined by JSX, but the Town will request a consideration of noise mitigation (presumably no early or late flights?). The Town will subsidize with the State money to meet minimum costs for conducting a flight, but they have asked JSX to create “flash” discounted fares at last minute to fill the flights and to minimize the Town subsidy.
The JSX application for the RFP is attached to the Town agenda but we don't see the required campaign contributions defined - Was it blank because there were no campaign contributions, or has this information been left out?
We would like to know under what program and from "Whose" influence was this State money awarded. Remember follow the money, right?
TSVI is still "involved" with JSX, so should we consider JSX/Taos Air to effectively be one and the same. The Dallas route will remain.
Will the Town continue to give $8000/month to TAS, Inc at TSM (Taos Regional) for services provided to the JSX flights? Will the Town charge JSX for the use of the Town Terminal? Will any of this budget will go to tourism advertisements for Taos Ski Valley Resort (like it did under Karina Armijo Lodger Tax expenditures)? What Lodger’s Tax money beyond this $1.85M will go for JSX/TSVI advertisement and promotion?
Airport Master Plan - Open House, May 24, 2024, 4pm-6pm at 120 Civic Plaza Drive
The Town of Taos is holding an open house to present the Airport Master Plan Friday and the pilots were not invited to have a booth because “politicizing’ wasn’t desired. The open house IS an appropriate venue for educating, bringing up issues, and stating concerns, especially from the local general aviation community.
After looking this “new” Plan over and comparing to older versions, it seems that there are no significant changes since the version from the Barrone Administration. There is no mention of the developments since that time including the studies done by the Airport Advisory Board that identified necessary corrections. Developments related to the new contract with JSK for air carrier services (including readjusted service to remote locations in Denver and Las Vegas) are not included (announced at a recent Town Council meeting). It still refers to the regional air carrier as “Taos Air” when the Town has formally contracted with JSX and identified it as independent of Taos Air. The Plan also designates new hangers on top of the location of existing hangers that are owned by local pilots (and have not had their leases renewed).
The Plan is just a tool for the Town to use to obtain federal and state funding, and perhaps to look good politically at a “dog and pony” show. Make the document formal, file it, and move on to more important matters. Namely, the Town should get its arms around the operation of airport and implement tangible decisions/actions related to:
Protecting the local pilots and their hangars by renewing the existing hangar leases so that big money interests doesn’t displace the local general aviation communityResuming regular Airport Advisory Board meetings so that pilots and concerned citizens can exercise their only connection to the Town's airport planning and project implementation
Engaging the pilot community through the Taos Pilots Association
Hiring a Town-employed airport manager who can take care of the operational needs in light of what is best for, and desired by, the Town without influences from wealthy interestsRevising the contract with Taos Aviation Services, Inc. (related to the resort business in TSV) to remove its defined responsibilities and compensation related to 1) administrative tasks best suited for the Town airport manager and 2) ramp services provided to the regional air carrier.
Presenting to the public the Town’s intentions related an FAA designation with a TSA-level security making connections to other airlines possible (direct flights to the major airports).
Assessment of Labor, Homeowner and Renter economies, and Affordable Housing Related Efforts
Coming Soon
Lack of Affordable/Usable TSV Resort Passes for Locals - Issues and Ideas
Coming Soon