By Vanessa Overholser
January 4, 2011
The Morehead area’s new airport is open for business.
Pilots needing maintenance and out-of-town guests needing a place to rest or rent a plane can now do so at the Morehead-Rowan County Clyde A. Thomas Airport.
The airport terminal is open to the public.
The Morehead-Rowan County Airport Board hired Mike and Tracey Potter as the fixed based operators to oversee the daily operations of the facility, according to Board Chairman Mike Gray.
“They were the best choice,” Gray said. “They provide the services and amenities found in larger airports such as flight ground instruction and mechanics.”
The Potters came to Morehead from Shelbyville, Ill., and have 21 years of experience in aviation mechanics and airport operations at the Shelby County Airport.
“Fixed based operators take care of the daily operations of an airport,” Mike Potter said. “We pump gas, mow grass, and remove snow. In addition to our other services we take care of airplane rentals and maintenance as well as flight training.”
Tracey Potter described how they found out about the FBO position.
“We saw the ad that said they were looking for managers or FBOs for the airport,” she said. “We saw the facility and this area and we fell in love with it.”
“We started working here on Sept. 1,” Tracey Potter said. “That was the first day this terminal was open and available to the public.”
The terminal is open 24 hours a day seven days a week, she added.
“We have a waiting area here in the front entrance,” she said. “We have a vending area, a conference room, and a maintenance area that is equipped to store commuter-style planes.”
The terminal also has 10 tie-downs and T-hangars available for rent, she said.
“The airport has 5,500 feet of runway,” Mike Potter added. “It is the largest general aviation runway in Northeast Kentucky. Plans are to add more T-hangars. We also have a 24-hour credit card fuel system available for our pilots.”
He continued:
“We have two fuel tanks that hold 12,000 gallons of fuel. We have one tank that supplies fuel for regular airplanes and we have one that supplies fuel for jets.”
At present, there are 14 privately owned planes are being stored at the airport.
Mike Potter said the airport is a great asset to Morehead and Rowan County.
“I think the potential is great here because of the MMRC Industrial Park, Morehead State University, the Maysville Community and Technical College Rowan Campus,” he said. “Within 10 years, it will be a very busy place.”
“The public is more then welcome to come here, check us out and talk to us,” Tracey Potter said. “We will do tours for anyone who wants to see the airport.”
Gray said the airport board is happy that the Potters are on board.
“They are a great fit in the community,” he said. “They have children who go to school here and they are interested in the success of the airport.”
The airport opened in phases. The first phase was the runway opening on Aug. 30, 2007. The old airport at Farmers was closed officially on November 1, 2007.
The new airport is located at 1000 Kissick Road off KY 801 near Morehead.
For more information, contact the Potters at 780-0085.
http://themoreheadnews.com/local/x1961024135/New-airport-now-fully-open-for-business