Rogers Airport Lands $5.8 Million Grant From FAA

Members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation announced Sept. 20 that the Rogers Executive Airport will receive $5.8 million from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to strengthen the airport’s runway at Carter Field.

According to a news release issued jointly by the offices of Congressman Steve Womack, along with U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton, the project includes a full-depth runway keel reconstruction, mill and overlay of the existing asphalt pavement, installation of pavement underdrains, crack repair, pavement grooving and rehabilitation of the runway lighting.

“We have been working in concert with our partners at FAA for several years to bring this project to fruition,” said airport manager David Krutsch, who has been with the airport since 2005. “We are very thankful to receive this grant.”

Krutsch said there are about 116 based aircraft at the airport, and approximately 25 of those are jets. The airport has close to 200 full-time employees, and Krusch said an estimated 50,000 to 75,000 travelers come through the airport annually.

Business travel at Carter Field is anchored by Beaver Lake Aviation, the airport’s fixed-based operator and a wholly owned subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

“Most people recognize that we have a lot of corporate jet activity in Rogers, but we also have several single-engine planes and a lot of small businesses that utilize the field,” Krutsch said. “It’s a diverse-use facility, and we welcome all sizes of types of business.”

Krutsch said Rogers is one of only two airports in Arkansas that has U.S. customs service on-site for international travel. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field in Little Rock is the other.

Though business travel is the airport’s primary market, Krutsch said the region’s growing number of amenities are also boosting the airport’s tourism segment.