With a light agenda, the Carroll County Airport Commission heard at the June 16 commission meeting some promising news about a flight school.
Trainers from Springdale plan to offer pilot training two or three days a week. A Memorandum of Understanding will be prepared to outline expectations for the airport and the school. Education has been at the forefront of recent discussions, and an event on May 9 brought high school students to the airport from across the county to consider careers in aviation.
In other news:
- During public comments, commissioners heard a warning that some cities are eliminating their local airports. As cities have grown, they sometimes begin to envelop airport locations, and that property becomes worth more money. Encroaching development also raises noise abatement problems. Some municipalities have outlawed leaded fuel, effectively shutting down an airport. Unleaded aviation fuels are coming, but this approach has closed some airports, especially on the east and west coasts.
- Commissioners would like to keep a tee hangar in place to provide more affordable hangar space. The present tee hangar needs a new roof and will need some structural repairs before the new roof can be added. Bids for repairs or complete replacement should be available for the July meeting. The airport will be eligible for a 90/10 grant next year, and it may be used for this project.
- Fuel sales have almost doubled compared to last year, and a new fuel order comes every other month.
- A breakfast Fly-in was scheduled for June 17.