Air Show safety part of airport commission talk

story by Aric Mitchell
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With the Fort Smith Air Show slated for Oct. 1 and 2, safety was first on everyone’s mind at the August meeting of the Fort Smith Regional Airport Commission Tuesday. Executive Director John Parker noted three recent air show disasters as cause for concern.

The first two occurred on Aug. 20 at air shows in Bournemouth, Dorset, U.K., and Kansas City, Mo. The third happened at a Michigan-based Air National Guard facility. The three recent deaths were the first since July, and additions to the seven air show accidents that have occurred in 2011 alone.

“There will be an emphasis on safety,” Parker said, noting that “some of the operators signed” — he did not specify which ones — had been affected by “an earlier catastrophe this year.”

In spite of the down economy, the airport continues to post strong numbers, according to the August financials. While operating expenses were running slightly over the same period in 2010 with a 51.5% stake compared to 50%, revenues continued to perform well. For the month of July, the Airport posted $294,340.57 in overall revenue against $273,079.27 in overall expenses for a net profit of $21,261.30. Parker said commodities were still high due to the unanticipated spike in fuel costs, but that terminal revenues were at an impressive $653,953.85 year-to-date.

In other items, commissioners voted that Chairman Rick Deramus be granted with power to sign advance approval on an anticipated grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that totals $1,055,193. The signature is pending the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) 40 offer. The grant would be used for phase one of the Taxiway A West infrastructure improvements The City Wire reported on in July.

At the time of the July meeting, the FAA had been forced on furlough due to pending legislation in Washington, D.C. The agency has since returned to work, Parker said, but is playing catch-up. Parker told commissioners he expects the grant offer to come “any day now,” and that advanced approval for Deramus’s signature would help to expedite the process.

The FAA could be on furlough again if more permanent solutions are not reached in Washington before Sept. 16, the termination date of the extension that allowed them to go back to work.

Parker was happy to report that the bond refunding issue had come to a close on Aug. 2, and the final deal would recognize savings of approximately $32,000 in annual debt service. The new maturity dates for the Airport’s holdings will be in 2026. Parker noted that “financial reports next month will reflect some of those changes.”

Parker then called attention to next week’s FAA certified inspection, calling it “the Super Bowl” of inspections in aviation.

“It measures how we do things on the field,” Parker said.

He noted that September’s meeting would have more details regarding the outcome.

Finally, commissioners welcomed a new member to their board. Mac McGhee, a former president of the Rotary Club and advisory board member for the local Salvation Army, comes to the Airport Commission with 10 years of military experience. He is the systems analyst at Baldor Electric Co.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Fort Smith Regional Airport Commission will be held on Sept. 27, 2011.