Creston airport improvements

Creston Municipal Airport sees an average of 10 landings a day. In “ag season,” that number climbs to 100 or more as planes land several times a day to reload and refuel.

The single hard-surface runway at the airport serves as the runway for landings and take offs and the taxi-way for airplanes returning to the hanger or to the fuel station. Until recently, pilots had to complete their “run-ups” — last minute checks that involve checking operational systems, ignition sources, propeller, and running the engine up to a high rpm — on the ramp near the terminal.

Larry West of West Aviation, which manages Creston’s airport, said the turnarounds at each end of the runway, which have just been completed, solve this problem. West said aircraft can hold at a safe distance from the runway and pilots can perform their run ups safely without being in the way of landing aircraft.

Creston’s airport is considered a part of the National Plan of Integrated Airports System, which makes it eligible to receive federal grants. The $800,000 turnaround project was 90% funded with a Federal Aviation Administration grant. The remaining 10% was funded through the city budget.

West said Creston’s airport receives an annual $150,000 entitlement grant from the FAA for airport improvements such as lighting, and runway construction and maintenance that can be used during the year or rolled over to pay for larger projects. Additional funding may be available from unused entitlements from other airports.

FAA grant money comes from aviation related fees: the tax on aviation fuel and ticket surcharges. State grant money comes from similar aviation sources and requires at least an 85/15% split with the airport’s own funding.

Projects

West is currently planning two large scale projects to upgrade the airport.

The runway was last resurfaced in 1986 — 33 years ago, 20 years past its expected life span. West said the condition of the runway makes it the highest priority for large projects.

The second project is to construct a taxi way between the two turnarounds. Currently, a plane sitting at the turnaround must wait until the runway is clear to taxi up to the fuel station, terminal or hanger.

West said landing aircraft always have priority, so a taxiing craft would have to wait. A separate taxi way would allow aircraft to move about the airport without obstructing the runway.

A smaller, 85% state-funded, project to replace the wind cone has been approved. This $34,000 project will include the construction and lighting of a 10-foot wind sock to replace the current 3-foot one. West said pilots have stated the current wind sock is difficult to see due to its placement and size.

The new wind cone will be placed more centrally, between the terminal and the runway, instead of beside the terminal where it is not visible to aircraft approaching from the north. It is expected to be completed this fall.

Previous improvements

During his tenure as manager, West has overseen more than 15 major airport improvement projects through a combination of federal, state and local funding. An aircraft maintenance hanger was built. The entrance road, hanger access and terminal parking were paved.

Precision approach path indicators, which change color to show whether the approaching aircraft is at the appropriate height for landing, and runway end identifier lights were installed to make landing safer. More lighting along the edge of the runway will be installed during later projects.

A self-serve, 20,000 gallon fueling system was installed. Previously, when a plane needed refueling, West had to come out to the airport to pump the fuel. West said he didn’t mind doing this, but it led to missed traffic as pilots often look for self-serve systems when mapping out their flight plans.

Revenue

West said that although rural airports are not generally self-supporting, the Creston Municipal Airport does generate some revenue through the rental of farm land on its property and from aviation fuel sales.

Pilots are not charged fees for using the runway. West said this would be impractical — the airport is not manned 24 hours a day — and it would deter traffic from utilizing the airport.

One major benefit to the community is the draw for industrial and agricultural traffic.

He said during the summer months, a majority of the landings and take offs are agricultural in nature, such as crop dusting. But the airport provides a valuable service to the area’s economy by attracting industry, for example Bunn-O-Matic, which uses the airport for its company plane.

“Bunn would not be here if it wasn’t for the airport,” West said.

He said they also get traffic from Wellman Dynamis and from Bell helicopters in Texas.