Delta28L wrote:There was plans to add another cargo warehouse next to the UPS/WFS building and another ramp. It was in one of the master plans I saw a while back.
Here are the most recent public available documents:
The 2017 Draft Master Plan. Note- I can no longer find a link to this document nor a prior website dedicated to the Airport's Master Plan Update (not to be confused with the Terminal Modernization Plan).
It is important to note that the data used for this 2017 report is from 2014. Like the passenger forecasts this cargo data is obsolete as we've already seen.
According to that document Cargo Bldg 1 has some space available. It is currently used (at time of publishing) by FedEx for maintenance functions as well as Atlantic Aviation. Cargo A is primarily used by a tire distributor (non-cargo). According to the draft:
"The 2015 PIT ALP includes air cargo buildings with sizeable apron and truck parking areas adjacent to them on the north side of Runway 10L-28R. The estimated dimensions for these new buildings and associated facilities would increase the total square footage of the Airport’s cargo buildings by a factor of 7. Also on the 2015 ALP, new cargo buildings are shown adjacent to Cargo Building A. These facilities are no longer needed and are being removed on the updated ALP. PIT’s existing facilities have additional capacity for cargo throughput; the majority is concentrated in Cargo #1, since it is not currently used for cargo sorting with 34,300 square feet of vacant space. Therefore, any near-term or long-term growth in throughput, based on forecast levels, could be accommodated in Cargo #1, or in planned cargo buildings on the Airport’s north side. As shown in Table 7.4-1, the size of these planned cargo buildings would be more than sufficient to accommodate the moderate growth in cargo tonnage forecast for PIT; these planned cargo facilities are depicted on Exhibit 7.4-1."
"An analysis of air cargofacility adequacy illustrates that deficiencies exist among certain facilities and facility components at PIT. However, when examining the combined capacity of all of PIT’s cargo facilities, it is evident that, with relatively minor modifications, there is sufficient capacity to accommodate current and forecast air cargo volumes. Construction of additional air cargo facilities will not likely be needed within the current 20-year planning period, but this could be accommodated immediately west of Cargo #3."
So If I understand this correct, the 2015 Airport Layout Plan had facilities planned west of Cargo 3 and next to Cargo A but this has been removed by the 2017 draft master plan update. Here are/were the facilities west of Cargo 3 according to the 2015 ALP:
Looks like the building is set back further from Taxiway A to accommodate Group V/Code E aircraft (B777/B744).
Here's the final layout recommendation from that document:
The only thing addressed was more parking for trucks and employees. So the document was obviously out of date before it was completed.
Next up is the 2018 Operating and Capital Budget completed at the end of 2017, which has this:
- 2022: Taxiway A Phase 1 expansion $4,000,000
- 2023: Taxiway A extension $5,400,000
-2024: Construct Air Cargo Facility $10,000,000
http://www.flypittsburgh.com/getattachment/About-Us/Reports-Financials/2018-Operating-and-Capital-Budget.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US
(Page 96)
The 2019 OPerating and Capital Budget completed at the end of 2018, which has:
- 2022: Taxiway A Ext/Cargo 3 ramp phase 1 $2,000,000
- 2023 Taxiway A Ext phase 2 $5,400,000
*** no reference to a new cargo building in 2024***
http://www.flypittsburgh.com/FlyPitt/media/Documents/2019-Operating-and-Capital-Budget.pdf
(page 110)
Then there is the PIT International Logistics Centre, which still sits there vacant. Dicks Sporting Goods appears to take over this site (labeled "Northfield Phase 1") in this now dated schematic:
However, it still appears in the final environmental assessment for the TMP dated January 2018 (much more recent)
I hope that remains the case. Dicks already had their land grab for a campus in the forest. They should have more than enough land within their current footprint for more buildings. Perhaps they can give up some of their baseball diamonds, tennis courts, basketball courts, etc. Plus, they can expand to the west.
So, what to make of all this?
- Firstly, the ACAA has long been deficient in both air cargo facility development and service recruitment. There have been a few exceptions such as QR Cargo and the 30 or so China charters in 2010. Also the development of Cargo A. But there again, it is mostly leased to a non cargo entity, does not have its own suitable ramp, and the rest of that plan was abandoned:
- As we can see above, plans change and that's a good thing. Taxiway A has been extended (although in a haphazard way which we discussed months ago) and the Cargo 3 ramp expanded when needed.
So hopefully this marks a shift toward cargo for the ACAA. Because having a tiny bit of room in Cargo 1 with no ramp space (already taken by FX) is not gonna cut it if Prime Air decides to add PIT or DHL decides to make a return, both of which can happen tomorrow. Not to mention any possible future int'l cargo addition such as LH Cargo. Having QR Cargo back on a deice pad - even for just one flight - is a joke.
) which they obviously never have.