Benton County Daily Record - Thursday, January 20, 2005
ROGERS — Airport commissioners agreed Wednesday that it is probably time for the Rogers Municipal Airport/Carter Field to have a full-time manager.
For years, the second busiest airport in the state has been run by the Office of Transportation and Planning, the airport supervisor and the chairman of the Airport Commission. With the recent resignation of airport supervisor Frank Speer, the need for a full-time manager has been highlighted.
Another reason for hiring a manager is that the airport has steadily increased its number of operations and projects, such as taxiway and control-tower construction.
Airport commission chairman Alan King said he feels the lack of a manager has slowed progress for getting grants to fund the airport. A timeline for making the control tower operational was also presented to the Airport Commission. The tower has been basically completed since early fall of last year, but problems with funding have kept the airport from hiring air-traffic controllers to staff the tower.
Roger Luck with the Federal Aviation Administration and Razorback Control in Fort Smith told the commission the only thing standing in the way of hiring air-traffic controllers was installing a direct line to Fort Smith’s control tower.
The direct line could be installed in 60 to 90 days. He said the FAA is trying to fast-track the project, which could get the line installed sooner. It was also announced Wednesday that airport employee Jeremiah Gridley will serve as acting supervisor for the airport.
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/story/brog/18510
ROGERS — Airport commissioners agreed Wednesday that it is probably time for the Rogers Municipal Airport/Carter Field to have a full-time manager.
For years, the second busiest airport in the state has been run by the Office of Transportation and Planning, the airport supervisor and the chairman of the Airport Commission. With the recent resignation of airport supervisor Frank Speer, the need for a full-time manager has been highlighted.
Another reason for hiring a manager is that the airport has steadily increased its number of operations and projects, such as taxiway and control-tower construction.
Airport commission chairman Alan King said he feels the lack of a manager has slowed progress for getting grants to fund the airport. A timeline for making the control tower operational was also presented to the Airport Commission. The tower has been basically completed since early fall of last year, but problems with funding have kept the airport from hiring air-traffic controllers to staff the tower.
Roger Luck with the Federal Aviation Administration and Razorback Control in Fort Smith told the commission the only thing standing in the way of hiring air-traffic controllers was installing a direct line to Fort Smith’s control tower.
The direct line could be installed in 60 to 90 days. He said the FAA is trying to fast-track the project, which could get the line installed sooner. It was also announced Wednesday that airport employee Jeremiah Gridley will serve as acting supervisor for the airport.
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/story/brog/18510
