“The gateway to everywhere” is a nickname provided to the city of Dyersburg through avid aeronautic enthusiasts thanks, in part, to the stability of our local airport. Nearly three years ago, the city of Dyersburg assumed the everyday operations of the Dyersburg Regional Airport, located at 315 Airport Road. Since that time, continuous improvements have been made to the landscape of the area including clearing trees and overgrown kudzu vegetation. Landscape improvements in conjunction with the implementation of a $3.7 million grant that allowed for the resurfacing of the main runway continues to attract more air traffic through the city of Dyersburg.
The Tennessee Aviation Association, a division of Tennessee Department of Transportation, sponsored the Tennessee Airports Conference on March 18-20 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. During the conference, Dyersburg Regional Airport received the 2015 Award of Excellence for the Most Improved Airport by the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission.
William Orellana, director of Aeronautics, along with Tennessee Aeronautics Commissioners Chairman Nisha Powers, Fred Culbreath and Secretary Butch West, presented the award to Dyersburg Mayor John Holden and the city of Dyersburg.
“This is a great honor for the city of Dyersburg. We would like to thank Tommy Gibbons and the airport staff for the hard work in the improvements made to our airport,” said Holden. “I would also like to thank the Tennessee Aeronautics Division and the Tennessee Aeronautics Commission for their support in providing grants that allow us to make improvements at our airport. Personally, I would like to thank Tennessee Aeronautics’ Chief Engineer Tom Burgess and Tennessee Aeronautics engineer Jim Currey who have been very instrumental in assisting the city of Dyersburg with guidance through the process with all of the projects that we have been involved with at the airport.”
In November 2011, Tommy Gibbons was named DRA’s operational manager, upon his appointment of this position he has strived to improve the airfield and operation of the airport.
“I was surprised at this award, you never really expect anything like this,” said Gibbons. “You come out every day and work and do your job, then all of a sudden something like this comes up. The people who work here, Dian Dawson and James Milligan, we are all proud of this award.”
In 2013, Dyersburg Regional Airport fuel sales totaled 74,028 gallons sold, with revenue of $455,946. An increase to 118,375 gallons of fuel sold, with a revenue of $638,205 occurred in 2014. From 2013-2014, the airport ‘s increase in fuel per gallons sold was 37.4 percent; increase in total revenue was 39.9 percent.
Services provided at DRA include aviation fuel, aircraft ground handling, aircraft parking (ramp or tie-down), hangar leasing and sales, passenger terminal and lounge, flight training; aircraft cleaning, washing and detailing; large aircraft hangar space, catering, pilot supplies, rental cars, crew cars, pilots’ lounge, computerized weather updates, Internet access and freight-handling services.
The airport is also home to Catfish Corner, a full-service restaurant located on the airfield grounds.
Dyersburg Regional Airport is located at 315 Airport Road, Dyersburg. Hours of operation from Nov. 1 through March 31 are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., April 1 through Oct. 21 Monday-Friday 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, please contact airport manager Tommy Gibbons 731-287-8181.