Phone: (870) 367-9250
E-Mail: minutemn@ipa.net
Runway length: 5030 feet
Runway surface: Asphalt
Lighted: Yes - radio controlled
Fuel: Yes - 24-hour service
PLASA landing system: Yes
Charter Service: Furlough Aviation Service
James Barnett
Airport Manager,
(870) 367-8963
Greenville, Mississippi - 67 miles
Web:
http://www.greenville.ms.us/airport/
Little Rock, Arkansas - 94 miles
State Highways 35 and 83
US Highway 425 and 278
Name Location Distance
------ ---------- ----------
Crossett Port Crossett, AR 40 miles
The Port of Yellow Bend McGehee, AR 35 miles
Union Pacific System (main line) Connecting with Arkansas Midland Rail
Road
870-222-4113
The
Monticello Municipal Airport was added to a prestigious list of Arkansas
airports last month when it was named 2008 Airport of the Year for its ability
to expand to meet the growing demands of Monticello and Southeast Arkansas,
according to a citation from Gov. Mike Beebe and state Department of Aeronautics
director John Knight.
“Excellent communication between (the Monticello Airport Commission), FAA,
state, city and county officials, and aviation users has been the key to success
for Monticello Municipal Airport,” Knight said in a memo announcing the
designation to the Arkansas Airport Operators Association.
Previous recipients of the “Airport of the Year” honor were the West Memphis
Municipal Airport, Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, Hot Springs Municipal
Airport, Little Rock National Airport, Rogers Municipal Airport, Searcy
Municipal Airport, Stuttgart Municipal Airport, Marianna-Lee County Municipal
Airport, Fayetteville’s Drake Field and the Saline County Regional Airport.
Monticello’s airport of the year designation was based upon its completion of
six projects last year, using $355,055 in state funding to leverage $95,715 in
local funds. Those projects included a new eight-bay T hangar, access apron and
taxiway, public parking lot, the relocation of wiring for runway lighting, 7,200
feet of seven-foot high chain-link fence with a barbed-wire extension, and
runway directional signs, according to Bennie Ryburn III, chairman of the
Monticello Airport Commission.
The airport, which had 4,800 operations (take-offs and landings) in 2005, has
already exceeded the state’s growth projections for the number of local based
aircraft.
According to the state Department of Aeronautics’ 2005 plan for the Monticello
Municipal Airport, the airport was projected to have 22 aircraft based here by
2010 and 24 by 2015 but the local airport has already exceeded those numbers.
Ryburn said there are 25 aircraft based here; all but three belong to private
individuals and local businesses. The Arkansas Forestry Commission has two based
here and the Civil Air Patrol has one.
In addition to the “Airport of the Year” designation, the airport recently
received some good news when it was approved for a north approach.
Before the north approach was approved, aircraft, during a south wind, would
have to do a circling approach.
“Now that the north approach has been published (approved) pilots have the
ability to descend 260 feet lower to 620 feet while making an approach to the
Monticello airport, making the airport accessible more often in poor weather
conditions,” Ryburn said.
Future airport plans call for additional public use space.
“We’re going to apply for a 90/10 state grant to remodel the old CAP (Civil Air
Patrol) building for use as a flight-based operation area,” Ryburn said.
The 2,000 square-foot building will include an office, pilot lounge, “snooze”
room, flight planning area and conference room. The project is expected to cost
about $100,000 with the state picking up the tab for all but $10,000.
Plans also call for the completion of the fencing project around the runway
environment. Ryburn expects the city will receive federal and state grants to
pay for the nearly 10,000 feet of additional fencing.
Additionally, the airport’s 20-year master plan and layout plan is currently
being updated, Ryburn said.
Garver Engineers, the engineering firm working on the Southeast Arkansas
Intermodal Facility, is currently working with the Monticello Airport Commission
to update the plans. Garver is also working with Glen Dabney, of Kingwood
Forestry, on an obstruction survey showing anything that would obstruct a future
approach to the airport. The survey will be a part of the airport layout plan,
Ryburn said.
“We’re working toward improving our airport to accommodate future needs,” Ryburn
said. “I believe, if the Southeast Arkansas Intermodal Facility attracts
multiple tenants, as expected, it will add pressure on our airport to handle
larger aircraft and more flights.”
Ryburn said the airport can accommodate a 17,000-pound aircraft (12 to 15
passengers). “Our objective is to get to 30,000-pounds,” he said.
Five airport commissioners, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city
council, oversee airport operations. The airport commissioners are Zach
McClendon, Richard Reinhart, John Porter Price, Charles Savage, and Ryburn. The
airport is managed by James Barnett.
The Monticello Municipal Airport is the only Level 4 airport in Arkansas south
of Pine Bluff and east of Camden. Level 4 airports include those in Pine Bluff,
North Little Rock, Springdale, Russellville, Mountain Home, Batesville, Walnut
Ridge, Newport, Searcy, Camden, Mena, Saline County, Stuttgart, Helena-West
Helena and Monticello. Eleven of the state’s 91 airports are Level 5 airports,
the highest designation an airport can achieve.
To receive the Level 4 designation, an airport must have a primary runway that
is 5,500 feet long by 100 feet wide supported by a full parallel taxiway; an LPV
(lateral precision with vertical guidance) approach supported by medium
intensity runway lighting and an approach lighting system; onsite weather
reporting capabilities; pavement strength of 30,000 pounds of dual wheel;
hangars for 80 percent of all based aircraft and an apron for all remaining
aircraft and 25 percent of daily transient aircraft; 5,000 square-feet of public
use space with telephones, restrooms and pilot and conference space; Jet A and
100 LL fuel and self service facilities; full service FBO and aircraft
maintenance facilities; access to rental cars; and an emergency response plan.
Eleven of the 91 airports in the state have achieved the Level 5 designation.
Copyright © 2008 - Advance Monticellonian
