Thursday, August 25, 2011

Airport honored with statewide awards. Everett-Stewart Regional Airport (KUCY), Union City, Tennessee

Officials at Everett-Stewart Regional Airport are going to have to make room on the walls of their terminal for a couple of new awards. The local airport has been honored by the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission with awards recognizing the local airport’s appearance, management and programming.

Local airport manager Jo Ann Speer and airport commission chairman Dr. Chris Gooch were on hand at the Tennessee Airports Conference in Nashville last week to accept the two major state awards. Also attending the conference’s awards banquet were Obion County Mayor Benny McGuire and Weakley County Mayor Houston Patrick; Gooch’s wife, Cissy; and Mrs. Speer’s husband, Kerry.

The local airport won the Governing Body of the Year Award and the 2011 Red Carpet Award. In making the award presentation, Robert Woods said, “To be chosen as the Governing Body of the Year, they must demonstrate a superior leadership effort in overseeing their airport. The 2011 recipient formed a joint airport board in 2006 as a partnership of two counties to better serve the interest of both counties and the airport.

The (airport) board made a decision to jointly operate the airport and to equally share in the financial responsibility.” Woods, who is director of the state Department of Transportation’s aeronautics division, went on to say, “Since the formation of the airport board they have completed several projects, including extending the runway 1,500 feet, the installation of a new fuel farm, constructing a 10-unit T-hangar and airport security improvements.

The relocation of the existing ILS (Instrument Landing System) is currently under way.” “The organization of this joint airport board is a unique partnership between two neighboring counties that is a prime example of what a working partnership can accomplish,” Woods said. “The Everett-Stewart Regional Airport has positioned itself nicely for economic development, which will be coming to the area,” he said. “Weakley County joining with Obion County really made the difference in speeding up the expansion projects for the airport.”

This was the first year for the Red Carpet Award and the local airport was one of only three airports statewide to earn one of the awards. There are 73 public airports in Tennessee, according to Mrs. Speer. Of the two awards earned by the local airport, Mrs. Speer said she is particularly proud of the Red Carpet Award. “It’s very special because it’s based on what we offer as an airport to our customers,” she said.

Everett-Stewart Regional Airport won the prestigious Red Carpet Award based on exterior appearance, cleanliness of the airport, terminal and public areas, the airport’s service plan and airport activities, maintenance and operation of the airport and the airport’s unique programs and activities. “The work that has been done by all those involved is very deserving of these awards,” TDOT Aeronautics project manager David Moss said. “Momentum is picking up and the task now is to keep it going. Congratulations to you and the board for the recognition. I enjoy working with everyone and there is still work to be done.”

The awards will formally be presented to the airport commission at the board’s next scheduled meeting, set for the morning of Sept. 15. The state awards should have come as no surprise to local airport officials. There has been a major transformation taking place at and around the facility since it became a regional airport several years ago.

The airport’s regional status has helped pave the way for major investments from Obion and Weakley counties to go along with state and federal funding. Local, state and federal funding have already exceeded $6.3 million and the local airport commission is far from finished. One of the most significant upgrades at the local airport was the recent extension of the runway from 5,000 feet to 6,500 feet, allowing the airport to accommodate a significantly wider range of aircraft.

The airport commission held a special runway dedication ceremony in late June to promote the new runway and other airport improvements. Work is continuing on an access road from the airport to Highway 22 East and a new airport entrance sign will be going up soon. Coming up next month, the airport again will be in the spotlight when it hosts the 2011 Cornfest Airport Extravaganza on Sept. 10-11.

Events such as the runway dedication and Airport Extravaganza contributed to the airport’s recognition at the state conference. The upcoming Airport Extravaganza will cover two days of events that will include aerobatics demonstrations, a barnstorming show, a performance by the Special Forces Association Parachute Team and a wide variety of exhibits and children’s activities on the ground at the airport campus.

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