December is General Aviation Appreciation Month.
The City of Bellefontaine has an active operation at the regional airport.
It’s not unusual to see 30 to 50 flights a day, training flights intermixed with regular general aviation traffic. Charter jets and turboprops are regular visitors to the airport for both passengers and freight.
“It’s not unusual for members of our community to overlook this “gem” of a facility,” said Bellefontaine Mayor Ben Stahler.
The Bellefontaine Regional Airport is wholly owned by the City of Bellefontaine and operated by Midwest Corporate Air (MCA). Under the direction of CEO Steve Buchenroth, (ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI, DPE, FAA Gold Seal) MCA is the Midwest-US leader in flight training. Their flight school continues to grow.
In 2019 there were 195 certificates issued. So far this year, over 300 certificates were issued.
In addition, pilots must pass a check ride. With over 400 pilot check rides to his credit this year alone, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration says Buchenroth is a leading instructor nationwide.
Students come from near and far (more than 34 states including Alaska, Hawaii, other territories and countries, some from other countries) to train at Bellefontaine’s Regional Airport.
Midwest Corporate Air employs 12 instructors and ten staff members. Our airport facility provides complete airfield services with fuel, hangers, maintenance, flight training, terminal, charter services for passengers and freight. Officials say 37 planes call Bellefontaine home. Midwest Corporate Air owns fourteen of them. They recently added a powered glider and a seaplane to their fleet. They are now training pilots in these unique aircraft.
“As Mayor of Bellefontaine, I’m so proud of our regional airport! Amazingly, someone could begin their classes here and become certified and fully capable of piloting a single-engine, multi-engine aircraft up to and including the skills required to be a jet pilot. We are fortunate to work closely with Midwest Corporate Air and continue to offer such a facility in our community,” said Mayor Stahler.