Airport finishing runway, equipment improvements

Airport finishing runway,

equipment improvements

Manager says facility received ringing endorsement from feds

Work is continuing to improve operations at the Havre City-County Airport, with a nearly $1 million runway project almost completed and new snow removal equipment en route.

"The runway opening should be today," said Jim Lyons, manager of the airport.

Lyons said the airport's north-south runway was in need of resurfacing, and the Knife River construction company of Kalispell was finishing up striping and electrical work. The project, paid for with federal grants and loans, had a total cost of $957,834.

The new snow removal equipment, a key to meeting increasingly stiff federal regulations, has a price tag of $348,809. Lyons said the equipment includes a new plow, brush and blower.

The equipment will improve the efficiency of snow removal exponentially, Lyons said — the blower is rated to remove 2,750 tons of snow an hour.

"This puts us up to speed," he said.

Lyons credited the board of the airport with the work improving the facility.

"It just speaks so highly, with what's going on with the airport due to wonderful foresight by the board," he said.

He said all of the work is coming together, including looking into a request from Great Lakes Airlines, the company providing federally subsidized Essential Air Service passenger flights, to provide flights to Denver instead of Billings.

Lyons said the chance of having some flights to Billings while primarily switching to Denver could tie in perfectly with the improved transportation aspects of the airport.

Having flights directly to a major international airport — Denver has some 135 possible destinations with 900 flights a day versus six destinations with 35 flights from Billings — could benefit more than Havre travelers, Lyons added.

The international aspect of the connection could bring travelers from Canada to make the flight to Denver, he said.

Some residents of the area have expressed concern about losing their connection to Billings if the switch is made.

The increased connections could even bring travelers from Great Falls to catch the Havre-to-Denver flight, he added, echoing a comment from Montana State University-Northern Chancellor Frank Trocki in a separate interview.

Lyons said the work the board has done in the last three years has turned around the situation at the airport.

"We kind of got through the crisis mode, have done well on tactical, daily level and now we're focusing on the strategic side, where we will be in one year, two years," he said.

In December 2007, the company that had provided Essential Air Service in Montana since 1984 announced it was being disbanded and giving up the contract with the federal government — which had not yet gone into effect — to provide the service.

Big Sky Airlines quit flying in March 2008.

The company selected to continue the service, Wyoming-based Great Lakes Airlines, was not able to pick up enough planes to provide a seamless transition. While service was restored to Sidney and Lewistown — to Denver — in September of that year, service was not restored to Havre, Wolf Point and Glasgow until February 2009.

Later last year, the airport faced another set of problems. With the number of workers at the airport at that time — one — the airport board was unable to meet increasingly stiff Federal Aviation Administration requirements. Those included additional paperwork, inspections, maintenance — particularly 24-hour snow and ice removal being available — and other duties, the airport had failed to meet many of its requirements.

District IV Human Resources and Development Council stepped in to help, providing three temporary full-time workers through grant funding in its subsidized employment program to help then-manager Tim Solomon, also mayor-elect of Havre at the time, with the work.

Then Lyons and the board of the anti-poverty organization Opportunity Link Inc. stepped in, offering to use staff members of the North Central Montana Transit system, which Lyons directs, to meet the requirements until a permanent source of revenue and additional positions can be put in place.

The City Council and county commission last month approved a contract continuing to use Opportunity Link's services to manage and run the airport, with Lyons continuing to act as airport manager.

The work has continued, and Lyons said the FAA seems to be more than satisfied.

"The first thing was, they were very impressed with the sustainability," Lyons said, adding that the contract for management was part of that. "That put us way ahead of many smaller airports."

He said the people reviewing the airport also were impressed with the maintenance, including items like the cleanliness, keeping grass mowed and care of the facilities.

"It's much to the board's credit that this is going on," Lyons added.

Manager said facility received ringing endorsement from feds

Work is continuing to improve operations at the Havre City-County Airport, with a nearly $1 million runway project almost completed and new snow removal equipment en route.

"The runway opening should be today," said Jim Lyons, manager of the airport.

Lyons said the airport's north-south runway was in need of resurfacing, and the Knife River construction company of Kalispell was finishing up striping and electrical work. The project, paid for with federal grants and loans, had a total cost of $957,834.

The new snow removal equipment, a key to meeting increasingly stiff federal regulations, has a price tag of $348,809. Lyons said the equipment includes a new plow, brush and blower.

The equipment will improve the efficiency of snow removal exponentially, Lyons said — the blower is rated to remove 2,750 tons of snow an hour.

"This puts us up to speed," he said.

Lyons credited the board of the airport with the work improving the facility.

"It just speaks so highly, with what's going on with the airport due to wonderful foresight by the board," he said.

He said all of the work is coming together, including looking into a request from Great Lakes Airlines, the company providing federally subsidized Essential Air Service passenger flights, to provide flights to Denver instead of Billings.

Lyons said the chance of having some flights to Billings while primarily switching to Denver could tie in perfectly with the improved transportation aspects of the airport.

Having flights directly to a major international airport — Denver has some 135 possible destinations with 900 flights a day versus six destinations with 35 flights from Billings — could benefit more than Havre travelers, Lyons added.

The international aspect of the connection could bring travelers from Canada to make the flight to Denver, he said.

Some residents of the area have expressed concern about losing their connection to Billings if the switch is made.

The increased connections could even bring travelers from Great Falls to catch the Havre-to-Denver flight, he added, echoing a comment from Montana State University-Northern Chancellor Frank Trocki in a separate interview.

Lyons said the work the board has done in the last three years has turned around the situation at the airport.

"We kind of got through the crisis mode, have done well on tactical, daily level and now we're focusing on the strategic side, where we will be in one year, two years," he said.

In December 2007, the company that had provided Essential Air Service in Montana since 1984 announced it was being disbanded and giving up the contract with the federal government — which had not yet gone into effect — to provide the service.

Big Sky Airlines quit flying in March 2008.

The company selected to continue the service, Wyoming-based Great Lakes Airlines, was not able to pick up enough planes to provide a seamless transition. While service was restored to Sidney and Lewistown — to Denver — in September of that year, service was not restored to Havre, Wolf Point and Glasgow until February 2009.

Later last year, the airport faced another set of problems. With the number of workers at the airport at that time — one — the airport board was unable to meet increasingly stiff Federal Aviation Administration requirements. Those included additional paperwork, inspections, maintenance — particularly 24-hour snow and ice removal being available — and other duties, the airport had failed to meet many of its requirements.

District IV Human Resources and Development Council stepped in to help, providing three temporary full-time workers through grant funding in its subsidized employment program to help then-manager Tim Solomon, also mayor-elect of Havre at the time, with the work.

Then Lyons and the board of the anti-poverty organization Opportunity Link Inc. stepped in, offering to use staff members of the North Central Montana Transit system, which Lyons directs, to meet the requirements until a permanent source of revenue and additional positions can be put in place.

The City Council and county commission last month approved a contract continuing to use Opportunity Link's services to manage and run the airport, with Lyons continuing to act as airport manager.

The work has continued, and Lyons said the FAA seems to be more than satisfied.

"The first thing was, they were very impressed with the sustainability," Lyons said, adding that the contract for management was part of that. "That put us way ahead of many smaller airports."

He said the people reviewing the airport also were impressed with the maintenance, including items like the cleanliness, keeping grass mowed and care of the facilities.

"It's much to the board's credit that this is going on," Lyons added.

Work is continuing to improve operations at the Havre City-County Airport, with a nearly $1 million runway project almost completed and new snow removal equipment en route.

"The runway opening should be today," said Jim Lyons, manager of the airport.

Lyons said the airport's north-south runway was in need of resurfacing, and the Knife River construction company of Kalispell was finishing up striping and electrical work. The project, paid for with federal grants and loans, had a total cost of $957,834.

The new snow removal equipment, a key to meeting increasingly stiff federal regulations, has a price tag of $348,809. Lyons said the equipment includes a new plow, brush and blower.

The equipment will improve the efficiency of snow removal exponentially, Lyons said — the blower is rated to remove 2,750 tons of snow an hour.

"This puts us up to speed," he said.

Lyons credited the board of the airport with the work improving the facility.

"It just speaks so highly, with what's going on with the airport due to wonderful foresight by the board," he said.

He said all of the work is coming together, including looking into a request from Great Lakes Airlines, the company providing federally subsidized Essential Air Service passenger flights, to provide flights to Denver instead of Billings.

Lyons said the chance of having some flights to Billings while primarily switching to Denver could tie in perfectly with the improved transportation aspects of the airport.

Having flights directly to a major international airport — Denver has some 135 possible destinations with 900 flights a day versus six destinations with 35 flights from Billings — could benefit more than Havre travelers, Lyons added.

The international aspect of the connection could bring travelers from Canada to make the flight to Denver, he said.

Some residents of the area have expressed concern about losing their connection to Billings if the switch is made.

The increased connections could even bring travelers from Great Falls to catch the Havre-to-Denver flight, he added, echoing a comment from Montana State University-Northern Chancellor Frank Trocki in a separate interview.

Lyons said the work the board has done in the last three years has turned around the situation at the airport.

"We kind of got through the crisis mode, have done well on tactical, daily level and now we're focusing on the strategic side, where we will be in one year, two years," he said.

In December 2007, the company that had provided Essential Air Service in Montana since 1984 announced it was being disbanded and giving up the contract with the federal government — which had not yet gone into effect — to provide the service.

Big Sky Airlines quit flying in March 2008.

The company selected to continue the service, Wyoming-based Great Lakes Airlines, was not able to pick up enough planes to provide a seamless transition. While service was restored to Sidney and Lewistown — to Denver — in September of that year, service was not restored to Havre, Wolf Point and Glasgow until February 2009.

Later last year, the airport faced another set of problems. With the number of workers at the airport at that time — one — the airport board was unable to meet increasingly stiff Federal Aviation Administration requirements. Those included additional paperwork, inspections, maintenance — particularly 24-hour snow and ice removal being available — and other duties, the airport had failed to meet many of its requirements.

District IV Human Resources and Development Council stepped in to help, providing three temporary full-time workers through grant funding in its subsidized employment program to help then-manager Tim Solomon, also mayor-elect of Havre at the time, with the work.

Then Lyons and the board of the anti-poverty organization Opportunity Link Inc. stepped in, offering to use staff members of the North Central Montana Transit system, which Lyons directs, to meet the requirements until a permanent source of revenue and additional positions can be put in place.

The City Council and county commission last month approved a contract continuing to use Opportunity Link's services to manage and run the airport, with Lyons continuing to act as airport manager.

The work has continued, and Lyons said the FAA seems to be more than satisfied.

"The first thing was, they were very impressed with the sustainability," Lyons said, adding that the contract for management was part of that. "That put us way ahead of many smaller airports."

He said the people reviewing the airport also were impressed with the maintenance, including items like the cleanliness, keeping grass mowed and care of the facilities.

"It's much to the board's credit that this is going on," Lyons added.

Manager said facility received ringing endorsement from feds

Work is continuing to improve operations at the Havre City-County Airport, with a nearly $1 million runway project almost completed and new snow removal equipment en route.

"The runway opening should be today," said Jim Lyons, manager of the airport.

Lyons said the airport's north-south runway was in need of resurfacing, and the Knife River construction company of Kalispell was finishing up striping and electrical work. The project, paid for with federal grants and loans, had a total cost of $957,834.

The new snow removal equipment, a key to meeting increasingly stiff federal regulations, has a price tag of $348,809. Lyons said the equipment includes a new plow, brush and blower.

The equipment will improve the efficiency of snow removal exponentially, Lyons said — the blower is rated to remove 2,750 tons of snow an hour.

"This puts us up to speed," he said.

Lyons credited the board of the airport with the work improving the facility.

"It just speaks so highly, with what's going on with the airport due to wonderful foresight by the board," he said.

He said all of the work is coming together, including looking into a request from Great Lakes Airlines, the company providing federally subsidized Essential Air Service passenger flights, to provide flights to Denver instead of Billings.

Lyons said the chance of having some flights to Billings while primarily switching to Denver could tie in perfectly with the improved transportation aspects of the airport.

Having flights directly to a major international airport — Denver has some 135 possible destinations with 900 flights a day versus six destinations with 35 flights from Billings — could benefit more than Havre travelers, Lyons added.

The international aspect of the connection could bring travelers from Canada to make the flight to Denver, he said.

Some residents of the area have expressed concern about losing their connection to Billings if the switch is made.

The increased connections could even bring travelers from Great Falls to catch the Havre-to-Denver flight, he added, echoing a comment from Montana State University-Northern Chancellor Frank Trocki in a separate interview.

Lyons said the work the board has done in the last three years has turned around the situation at the airport.

"We kind of got through the crisis mode, have done well on tactical, daily level and now we're focusing on the strategic side, where we will be in one year, two years," he said.

In December 2007, the company that had provided Essential Air Service in Montana since 1984 announced it was being disbanded and giving up the contract with the federal government — which had not yet gone into effect — to provide the service.

Big Sky Airlines quit flying in March 2008.

The company selected to continue the service, Wyoming-based Great Lakes Airlines, was not able to pick up enough planes to provide a seamless transition. While service was restored to Sidney and Lewistown — to Denver — in September of that year, service was not restored to Havre, Wolf Point and Glasgow until February 2009.

Later last year, the airport faced another set of problems. With the number of workers at the airport at that time — one — the airport board was unable to meet increasingly stiff Federal Aviation Administration requirements. Those included additional paperwork, inspections, maintenance — particularly 24-hour snow and ice removal being available — and other duties, the airport had failed to meet many of its requirements.

District IV Human Resources and Development Council stepped in to help, providing three temporary full-time workers through grant funding in its subsidized employment program to help then-manager Tim Solomon, also mayor-elect of Havre at the time, with the work.

Then Lyons and the board of the anti-poverty organization Opportunity Link Inc. stepped in, offering to use staff members of the North Central Montana Transit system, which Lyons directs, to meet the requirements until a permanent source of revenue and additional positions can be put in place.

The City Council and county commission last month approved a contract continuing to use Opportunity Link's services to manage and run the airport, with Lyons continuing to act as airport manager.

The work has continued, and Lyons said the FAA seems to be more than satisfied.

"The first thing was, they were very impressed with the sustainability," Lyons said, adding that the contract for management was part of that. "That put us way ahead of many smaller airports."

He said the people reviewing the airport also were impressed with the maintenance, including items like the cleanliness, keeping grass mowed and care of the facilities.

"It's much to the board's credit that this is going on," Lyons added.