Growth at Lamar Airport

Recently Constructed Hangars

Recent hangar construction at the Lamar Municipal Airport has helped reduce the lack of adequate storage for airplane owners.  The two most recent T-hangars were constructed through private funding, are owned by Peter Page and Dean Reed and are located on city owned land.  “With a tight squeeze, we can fit three planes in each hangar,” explained Page recently.  The new ones are on a 60 by 60 foot pad and are insulated and come equipped with electricity.  The others, orange and white in color, were built about 12 years ago and are located west of the terminal, along with the newer ones.  Older hangars are on the eastern side of the terminal.

Lamar from 3,000 Feet

“The City of Lamar did some planning on this and a survey was done for future additions and infrastructure and there is room for four more hangars if someone wants to fund them, but right now the city doesn’t have a budget for that.  The older hangars were funded through a DoLA grant,” Page said.  He added that more hangars could mean additional storage for other aircraft as some owners had to be put on a waiting list when space opened up.  “Some of these planes are around $1.5M and the owners don’t want to have them out in the open,” Page added.  The new hangars come with a forty year ownership lease after which, they’ll revert back to the city.

JBS Five Rivers

He said having around 30 planes in storage does help the revenue of the airport and Lamar Flying Service which provides everyday maintenance and supplies for the aircraft and owners.  “The planes have to have an annual inspection and general repairs as needed,” he stated.  One airplane owner estimated the annual inspection for his aircraft to be around $1,500.

Gravel Pit, East of Lamar Border

Page said the concrete north/south runway is longer than the cross wind east/west asphalt one and gets the most usage.  “Perhaps in the future, with enough grant funding, the asphalt can be upgraded and a concrete overlay would be provided for.  There would be considerable savings on upkeep if it were concrete,” he explained.  The city is always seeking funding for airport improvements.  About a year ago, the council approved an application for a CDOT grant to replace the aging Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights on the crosswind runway.  The lights let a pilot know if his aircraft is too high or too low during a landing.

LPR Coal Domes

“Quite a few pilots just fly for pleasure,” Page said.  “A couple of weeks ago seven of us from Lamar teamed up with two pilots from Springfield and we just visited a couple of different airports in our area for the day.  It gives us a chance to meet and talk with other pilots, compare aircraft and share common interests.”  Page met recently with the Lodging Tax Panel Board to discuss funding for the planned Fly In for this September.  “We’re planning to expand the entertainment to four aerobatic flyers instead of two and we may spread out the exhibitions into the afternoon and attract a larger crowd,” he explained.  Last year’s Fly In helped resurrect interest in the airport with professional teams, an emcee, a small car show, on-site BBQ and the YAK Red Star flyers.  Approximately 1,000 people attended the free event.  “We are looking at a way to charge a small fee in the future to help cover some basic costs for the flyers that come in for that day,” Page said.

Growth at the airport will be on the slow side, though.  About a decade ago, the city and other parties were looking at the airport as a second industrial park.  The idea at the time would be to use surrounding land as smaller, satellite industries which could work off Neoplan USA, or be self sustaining.  These businesses were thought of as being a prime customer of airport services, for transporting materials or people.  That situation was altered in part by the events of 9/11.  City Administrator, John Sutherland, explained, “The federal government became more airport security conscious after that event.  As a result, in part, the federal grants we’ve received for airport improvements have stipulated that the surrounding property can only be developed for businesses directly tied to airport interests.”  Sutherland said that has closed the door on potential, broad-appeal or usage for commercial development.  There is still room to grow, as hangar space has opened up with the construction of the newest hangars.  City Clerk, Linda Williams, said that hangars are rented out on a first-come, first-served basis, but the older hangars will be filled up first.

By Russ Baldwin