The Fort Smith Regional Airport, the big business entry point for the manufacturing hub of Arkansas, has seen monthly increases in airport traffic this year.
With
business travel an economic indicator, steady traffic in and out of the
Fort Smith airport is a good sign for the direction of the local
economy. Passenger traffic has increased 7.2 percent on average the first five months of the year, according to monthly reports.
“It’s
the front door to the community and an important component of the local
economy,” Michael Griffin, airport director of operations, said of the
airport on a recent tour. “A large percentage of people coming through
that terminal are business travelers.”
Operating in the same
business format as a shopping mall, where other businesses lease space
from the main facility, the airport has a 2014 budget of $5.5 million
with total liabilities and net assets of nearly $39 million.
Construction of the final third phase of a multi-year taxiway project
recently was recently bid out for $4.6 million. Another $25,000 safety
project for new terminal roof ice guards will begin soon. Federal and
state agencies reimburse a large part of the bill.
One of the
more interesting behind-the-scenes aspects to the Fort Smith airport is
that it is home to Razorback Approach Control, a TRACON (Terminal Radio
Control) designated air-traffic control group that serves as the central
air command for all air traffic in northwest Arkansas. TRACON centers
handle all flights from, and to, airports.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Razorback Approach Control provides “separation services” for flights at Fort Smith Regional Airport (FSM), Drake Field Airport (FYV) in Fayetteville, Springdale Municipal Airport (ASG), Rogers Municipal Airport (ROG), and Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA).
Air service providers Delta and Envoy, a subsidiary of American Eagle, offer competitive flight prices, Griffin adds. Tulsa International Airport is also a competitor.
“You
just need to check early and often,” Griffin said. “That’s the only
advice I can give you. We don’t have anything to do with the prices.”
The
airport also does not have anything to do with operations of rental car
companies, or else National Car Rental’s 4 p.m. closing time on
Saturdays without arrangements made with the other two car rental
companies could be altered.
The airport operates with a staff of
14 people, including grounds and maintenance, so when the bad winter
weather strikes, Griffin and Airport Director John Parker also can be
found behind snow plows late at night and into the early morning. At
least five snow and ice events occurred this winter, though there is
usually only one or two.
Opened in 2002 to replace another
50-plus-year-old terminal building, the Fort Smith facility has built a
reputation as a connector that takes pride in its amenities. In 2005 the
airport received an odd but prestigious honor in the form of Cintas
Corporation’s America’s Best Bathroom. The bathroom continues to be upgraded, most recently with an automatic toilet seat paper wrapper.
Calls
to two Fort Smith corporations, which often use the local airport for
both their corporate jet and commercial flights, report good marks on
both accounts.
Tracy Long, vice president of marketing for Baldor Electric Co., said the electric motor builders have used a hangar at the airport for more than 25 years.
“The
team we work with is very professional and prompt whenever we have a
question,” Long wrote in an email. “They are very proactive about
letting us know when things are happening around the airport that may
affect our schedules, like a runway closure. They make it very easy for
us to do business out there.”
Kathy Fieweger, chief marketing officer for ArcBest Corp., said the ArcBest employees use the airport frequently, and it “serves the company very well.”
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