"Airports' race to diversify"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Monday, January 21, 2008

Airports across Colorado woo go-kart tracks, museums as new revenue streams
By Kelly Yamanouchi
The Denver (CO) Post


Many of Colorado's general aviation airports are hosting developments
ranging from racetracks to nonprofits to help to diversify business and
extend reach beyond recreational pilots and jet- setters. 

At Centennial Airport, a go-kart track opened in March 2006, a Wings Over
the Rockies Air & Space Museum location is being planned and a nonprofit
child-abuse prevention program will open on airport property. 

While the projects, in some cases, are a far cry from typical airport land
uses, they offer general aviation airports an opportunity to generate lease
income and tap other revenue streams. 

The go-kart facility at Centennial was a way to use land for 20 years until
the airport needs the area to develop more hangars. 

"We felt that the racetrack would make a good add-on and diversify our
economic basket, if you will," said Centennial Airport director Robert
Olislagers. 

That can be a useful strategy, particularly because aviation operations can
decline with the economy and be affected by high oil prices. 

At Front Range Airport, managers want to attract major development to take
advantage of the land and infrastructure. They also hope developments, such
as the possibility of a NASCAR track and a cargo facility, can spur more
funding and development at the airport. 

The National Western Stock Show is considering teaming with NASCAR for a
combined facility. While it is unclear precisely where it would be located,
it's likely to be somewhere near Denver International Airport. 

That's still close enough to benefit Front Range, airport director Dennis
Heap said. 

"Anywhere close to us, it would be phenomenal for the airport," he said. 

Front Range is already planning for growth with the construction of a $1.8
million wastewater-treatment plant, expected to be operational around May. 

"Some communities think that (a general aviation airport) is just something
that provides amusement to a small group of people," Heap said. "What's
missed is the huge economic impact that airports provide." 

In Pueblo, airport development has stayed a bit closer to the aviation
arena. A year-old Air Force flight training facility operated by Doss
Aviation at the Pueblo Airport Industrial Park is nonetheless driving growth
in the area. 

While Pueblo Memorial Airport has some commercial flights, general aviation
drives much of the activity, and the military flight training is generating
more flight operations and more government funding, said state aeronautics
director Travis Vallin. 

The Pueblo airport has also built a hangar in hopes of attracting
businesses. 

At Centennial Airport, in addition to the go-kart track, SunBorne Cos. is
developing Centennial InterPort - a space for aviation and business offices
- and recently leased another 69 acres of land that it plans to start
infrastructure development on in the spring. Centennial InterPort now has a
total of 125 acres for development. 

At Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, land has been rezoned as airport
officials prepare for development, said airport manager Kenny Maenpa. The
airport is also filling in what used to be a lake to create more land for
development. 

"You've seen new companies continue to grow and continue to relocate to the
Denver metropolitan area," Maenpa said. "We hope that they recognize that
the airport is an important tool for their business needs."


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