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Friday, May 30, 2008 Pahrump Airport is
approved By CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT The Pahrump (NV) Valley Times John Sanders, of Aries
Consulting, Ltd., briefly explains the master plan for the Pahrump Valley
Airport to the Pahrump Town Board and meeting attendees May 27. The master plan
was approved by the board and the project will move on to the next phase, an environmental
assessment. Five years in the
making, the Pahrump Valley Airport master plan was approved by the Pahrump Town
Board Tuesday, opening the door for the next phase in the project, the
environmental assessment. The airport, to be located about two-and-a-half miles
south of the end of Gamebird Road near the California border, is expected to be
operational by 2012 but will continue to expand until about 2025. The Pahrump Valley Airport will be owned and operated by
the town and accommodate the smallest of mail planes, private small aircraft
(charter planes like a corporate Cessna), and the popular "air taxi,"
which is exactly what it sounds like; privately owned planes that charge people
who want to go from point A to point B. Even small airports aren't cheap, but the good news is
that when all is said and done, the Federal Aviation Administration will be
paying approximately $17 million of the estimated $20 million it will cost in
the initial phases. Other funding comes through the state, such as the
$15,789 from the Nevada Department of Transportation grant approved by the
board January 2007. That grant, in turn, was the match to a $375,000 FAA grant
the town received in 2003 as part of its Airport Investment program. Also putting another penny in the piggy bank, Sen. Harry
Reid announced last year Pahrump would receive $475,000 of a U.S. Department of
Transportation grant to pay for the environmental impact study. Charlie Gronda, who has spent hours on the project, is not
paid for the work he has done, but his efforts are also part of the town's
in-kind contribution for funding. The remainder of the funding is expected to come from the
private sector, such as hangar rentals and other investments. Bill Thompson, with NDOT, drove down from Carson City to
make the meeting and wished the town's airport well. "I know that NDOT has been supporting Pahrump for
many years, and we're excited to have a master plan," Thompson said.
"The FAA has told me they're excited and they definitely want to support
this plan. With that, just want to say good luck on your airport -- we're
excited about it." John Sanders, of Aries Consultants, Ltd., gave the board
a brief presentation on the master plan, showing the blueprints of where hangars,
tie-down areas, administrative buildings, a firefighting facility, and other
necessities would be constructed. After a few questions about the money, the meeting
attendees expressed support for the project. Butch Borasky, the board's county commission liaison,
said he supports the airport. "The aviation industry is changing tremendously and
we're looking forward to the airport, instead of being a town subsidy, becoming
something that can generate revenue," Al Balloqui, chairman of Pahrump
Alliance Valley Economic Development, said. "I just wanted to thank these gentlemen, I think
this was a very informative presentation," Vicky Parker, town board
candidate said. "I especially want to thank Charlie Gronda for the years
and years he's put in." "I'd like to second that," Sanders said.
"Charlie has put in a tremendous amount of time and we certainly
appreciate his efforts and everything else that he's done on this
project." |
