HASTINGS, Neb. --- The number of airplanes flying into the Hastings airport may not be soaring, but the city and local aviation enthusiasts say that doesn't mean it is not worth maintaining. Compared to the its neighbors like the Grand Island airport and the Kearney airport, the Hastings Municipal airport is lagging in some areas.
The airport was built in the 1930s and has mainly served as a general aviation airport, serving non-commercial airplanes.
"When major manufacturers, major employers have salesmen, when they go out, come in, conduct business, they utilize the airport. When they have suppliers come in when they have potential customers come in they utilize the airport," said Aaron Shardt.
Shardt is a member of the recently formed Hastings Airport Association. Their main goal is to serve as advocates for the airport and help the city figure out ways to revive the airport.
The airport was taken over by the city more than 10 years and is mainly funded through tax dollars.
Last year it had a 24 thousand dollar deficit but council member Kathy Duval said it is not a burden on the city and that certainly doesn't mean they are going to give up on the airport.
"Right now we're losing a little bit of money because we aren't selling a lot of fuel and I think we can increase that fuel if we had possibly a fixed based operator," said Duval.
Fuel can be a major money maker for an airport like Hastings. Last year the airport sold about 46 thousand gallons of fuel compared to the 300 thousand sold by Kearney or 100 thousand sold by Fremont.
Along with a partner, Shardt met with city council members and officials in October to present some ideas on ways the airports can be improve and just how much of an asset it can be to the city.
He said, "we have the runways, we have the lighting, we have the storage, we have the weather reporting."
But the airport is lacking some of the services necessary to attract more pilots to utilize it.
"When pilots fly into airports they're looking for ground transportation, they looking for the ability to have their aircraft fueled for them, they are looking for services."
Shardt said with those additions will come more people using it and pilots stopping by for fuel, generating more more to not only maintain it but make some revenue.
- Source: http://www.nbcneb.com
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