Fort Smith Regional Airport expanding despite tough times

story by Marla Cantrell
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John Parker, Fort Smith Regional Airport director, is keeping tabs on every dollar next year. He calls the 2010 budget of almost $4 million “austere” but believes there is a chance the stagnant economy could begin to recover before year’s end.

Despite the downturn, Parker and the airport was able to accomplish a lot in 2009. There was the opening of the 28 new T-hangers and self-fueling station. Fifteen of the general aviation hangars are now in use. The approximately $1.29 million construction is an important piece of the airport’s master plan.

But one of the biggest wins had nothing to do with planes or runways. Homewood Suites, on Phoenix Avenue, opened in June. There are 88 guest rooms and a meeting center, which caters to the business traveler. The hotel leases its land from the airport.

Parker said most people only think of commercial planes when they think of the airport.  But there is much more to it, with at least 85 general aviation planes based out of Fort Smith.

The Arkansas Air National Guard is another big component.

“We provide all the aviation infrastructure for their (188th Fighter Wing) operations,” Parker said. “They’re just like any other general aviation user at the airport. We maintain the runways, taxiways, lighting systems and obstruction avoidance. They pay only for the lease hold area of their base.”

These tangible results aren’t all Parker cites as accomplishments. He believes managing a tight budget this year was a feat in itself. And with recession hanging on, it will be good practice for the next.

The airport is in a holding pattern right now. And while Parker would like to see more airlines move in, now is not the time.

“In a declining market as it is it is difficult to see our numbers decrease by 10%, as they have here,” Parker said. “At the same time it is hard to ask another airline to come into a pie that is decreasing. That’s the case for almost every airline in the country. There are very few exceptions. The capacity has been reduced so it’s a difficult time to do that.”

In fact, Fort Smith has two fewer flights per day than it did when the year began.

“Fort Smith was successful in enticing Delta to come into the market in 2007 with air service to Atlanta,” Parker said. “And then very shortly after Delta entered the market they absorbed Northwest in a merger. So instead of having three airlines serving the market, it went to two.”

In June the direct Delta flight to Atlanta ended. American Eagle Airlines continues to operate five flights a day — all connecting to Dallas-Fort Worth — out of Fort Smith. Delta/Northwest has three flights a day to Memphis.

The number of travelers continues to fall. In 2007, there were 99,127 enplanements at the Fort Smith Regional Airport. That number dropped 12% to 87,030 in 2008. For the first 11 months of 2009, enplanements total 72,545, down 9.6% from the 80,287 enplanements in the same period of 2008.

None of that stalls progress. Parker and the airport commission are always looking forward. They’ve already laid out a plan for next year, and it includes the completion of a new Taxiway Bravo and perimeter road.

“We are working at the north end of our field,” Parker said. “This road goes around the perimeter of the north/south runway. That allows us to traffic with ground vehicles around the movement surfaces for aircraft. So we can have a fuel truck and still land aircraft and taxi aircraft and not have to the chance of having a vehicle cross a runway or a taxiway when there’s an aircraft on the ground. That’s a huge safety and accessibility issue.”

While that is going on, the design of the Alpha West Taxiway will be completed. That project should include additional parking. The airport will also get a new snow plow next year. The current one, which is a 1970s model, keeps running on a wing and a prayer. Parker said it will be a priceless addition when winter weather hits.

One change next year should bring in some additional revenue. Parking rates will go up Jan. 1, from $6 a day to $7. The last rate hike was in 2005.

As for Parker, he will continue to look ahead at what the airport needs for future growth and then seek funding for infrastructure upgrades. It’s something that keeps him busy every day.

The airport director finds the work challenging and rewarding. He is proud of the ongoing improvements and feels a certain responsibility to the city.

“This is the front door to Fort Smith for anyone arriving by air and it’s the last impression they have when they depart,” Parker said.