March 2023 | www.flysanmarcos.com
Greetings to the San Marcos Airport Community!

As the new president of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce, I’m honored to have this chance to introduce myself. I arrived in October 2022 and have now been at the helm of this Chamber for five months.

Previously, I was the president of the Brenham/Washington County Chamber for over 14 years and the Texas City-La Marque Chamber for 2 years. In Brenham, we enjoyed lots of fun times at our municipal airport, because the Southern Flyer Diner (formerly located there) was the home of the “Best $100 Hamburger” for six years in a row! I’m guessing many readers of this newsletter may be familiar with that!
Over the past couple of months, I’ve learned a lot about the San Marcos Regional Airport and its value to the community. With 15 businesses located there, and more in the planning stages, its economic impact is huge. It is a vital part of our region’s infrastructure.

On February 24 we gathered at the San Marcos Conference Center with business and public-sector leaders at the “2023 Transportation Summit,” co-hosted by the Chamber and the Greater San Marcos Partnership. This is an annual event that helps local leaders take an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities facing our region’s transportation systems.

This year’s Summit had a special focus on aviation, the growth surrounding the SMRA, and how that growth will impact transportation systems across the Innovation Corridor. There was an excellent line-up of speakers including Jim Wimberly from TAP, Stan Finch from Berry Aviation, Josh Crawford from Garver Engineering, and John Colglazier Jr. from Partners.

It was highlighted by several speakers how the San Marcos Regional Airport serves as a catalyst for economic development by making the region more attractive to developers and investors. They also emphasized the first-class customer service provided by TAP which adds exponential value!

The Chamber is supportive of the business growth and job creation that the airport is generating. It promotes a dynamic local economy and opportunities for all area businesses. Likewise, the Chamber exists to help businesses grow.

There is a host of benefits available through the Chamber, such as network building opportunities, professional education, advocacy, and access to resources and business services. We are proud to have TAP Vice President Cassidy Berenato on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Along with 18 other volunteer leaders from a cross-section of the business community, the Board of Directors steers the Chamber to maintain the pulse of the local economy.

Please feel free to reach out to us at the Chamber if we can be of service!
Page Michel, President & CEO
San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce
page@sanmarcostexas.com
DEMAND AT SAN MARCOS AIRPORT GROWS
Sarah Al-Shaikh
KXAN Austin
February 19, 2023

As Hays County continues to grow, so does demand on its airport. Nestled between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and San Antonio International Airport is the San Marcos Regional Airport.

It services everything except scheduled commercial aircrafts.

“Whether you’re just an itinerant pilot flying through to stop and get gas, or airplanes that are based here, or we have jets that are based here,” said Jim Wimberly, president of Texas Aviation Partners, the group that operates the airport.

Wimberly said it also acts as the designated reliever airport for both Austin and San Antonio.

“It’s another airport that’s identified as an option for when air traffic becomes too congested,” he said. 
At a transportation summit Thursday, Wimberly discussed how more people are relying on them. “Our takeoffs and landings have doubled in the past four years.”

He said there’s also been more demand for services that would typically go to San Antonio or Austin.

“We’re getting more interest with cargo operations. We’re getting more interest in charter operations,” Wimberly said.

It’s only a matter of time until one day the airport will look more like the airports north and south of it.

“I think it’s just kind of logical to, to presume that there will be at some point scheduled airline service,” Wimberly said. “I don’t know when that’s going to happen. But it’s almost a physical necessity. Austin and San Antonio cannot keep up with the demand.”

Click here for story and video
TRANSPORTATION SUMMIT RECAP
Barbara Audet
San Marcos Record
Managing Editor
February 19, 2023

Local transportation leaders and aviation industry officials came to San Marcos recently to talk about development of infrastructure for the future of this region, sharing that the assets and land available here offer unlimited potential for years of economic growth.

At the core of any future transportation expansion is the San Marcos Regional Airport and the surrounding footprint, officials said. This airport is considered unique in the United States by the group of speakers who shared their insights in two panel discussions during the Transportation Summit 2023 held Thursday, Feb. 16, at the San Marcos Conference Center at the Embassy Suites.

The 2023 Transportation Summit, that brought these leaders together to share ideas, was sponsored by the Greater San Marcos Partnership and the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, with the contributions of many area businesses and organizations.

The approximately 150 guests included government officials and local business leaders from across San Marcos, Hays and Caldwell counties.

This year’s summit was organized to highlight transportation but especially aviation issues that include the parallel growth of non-aviation industries including hospitality and manufacturing— the kind that would spring from the various expansion projects under discussion now for the San Marcos Regional Airport and the acreage in its vicinity.

San Marcos Chamber Vice President Brad Cesak opened the luncheon by introducing a video summarizing highlight related to the airport. Following the video, he introduced Jason Giulietti, the president and CEO of the Greater San Marcos Partnership.

Giulietti spoke briefly and then brought to the stage, the other members of the airport overview panel. Offering an overview of the airport in its current management configuration and operations status were Jim Wimberly, president of Texas Aviation Partners, which manages and operates the airport, and Josh Crawford, Texas aviation director for Garver, an engineering, planning, and environmental services firm connected with the creation of the airport’s master plan.
Wimberly explained that TAP took over management of the airport in October 2010 with several goals, including moving the airport from a small-town mentality into a new perspective. San Marcos Regional Airport serves as what is called a reliever, taking overload from both Austin- Bergstrom International Airport and San Antonio International Airports.

Wimberly said, “It means you take congestion,” when these airports are at capacity, noting that this is a fortunate circumstance for the San Marcos facility.

He added that the goal for TAP in the beginning and now is still to encourage and promote self-sufficiency for the facility, incorporating sound master planning, understanding how to coordinate and support aviation and non-aviation business, and ways to make the airport a hub for any new business coming into the area.

In this way, Wimberly said the airport may be considered to be the driver for future development in the region and an anchor from which more business may flourish. With approximately two million people within a 25-mile radius of the airport to serve, growth with a plan makes common sense.

Looking to the future, there was discussion of proposed rail lines that would cut through the center of this region. Additionally, the highways that serve the airport and San Marcos are continuing to develop.

Wimberly said the airport “was not well known when we arrived,” and that communicating to the public what is in place and how it can improve is essential.

“We have to stand out,” Wimberly said.

Crawford agreed with the need for getting clear information out to the public, saying one of the challenges faced in the future is the potential lack of support for growth.

Giulietti described the new stretch of FM110 that opened last year and said when the last stretch connecting this highway to I-35 is completed, the change will be considerable in its impact here.

For Crawford, the master plan that was published in 2020 outlines specifically what the airport has now and is a helpful document for city and airport officials to rely on in this new era of expansion.

Crawford said, “The public needs to know,” what is there, from micro to macro data: a utility map and outlines of areas for development. The master plan even included a socioeconomic study.

There is already a strong group of local businesses that call the airport home, Giulietti said, and this can only increase in the future.

During the second panel looking at logistics, Page Michel, president and CEO, San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, brought Stan Finch, president of Berry Aviation, and John Colglazier, a partner with Partners Real Estate, into the conversation.

Finch said Berry Aviation, a decades-old company, is committed to the airport and the region. His company works with the United States Air Force and other defense- related projects.

Also, part of their day-to-day efforts are private aviation needs which are actually quite high in demand at the San Marco facility. Finch was asked about the national pilot shortage facing the U.S. To that question, he said that Berry Aviation has “a flight training device” and has designed an innovative pilot training program. Generating a talented and dependable workforce is a long-range plan for his company, he explained.

Finch also spoke to the changes in the supply chain due to the COVID 19 pandemic. “COVID exacerbated that supply chain shocks,” he said, adding that there was an upside to this for them in some respects. The company has significantly increased its flight activity to and from Mexico, more than doubling it.

Future considerations according to the speakers at the event do include working with the Gary Job Corps Center to continue a program of training and employment.

Click here for link to story
T-HANGAR REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS
Improvements are underway on the city-owned T-Hangars. Work began several weeks ago, and the newly painted hangars are looking great. We are expecting this project to be completed by the end of March and are looking forward to seeing the end result!
DECOMMISIONED RUNWAY ALIGNMENT INDICATOR LIGHTS (RAIL)
Several years ago, the FAA notified the airport of their intent to decommission the RAILS. While Texas Aviation Partners aggressively appealed this decision to the highest level within the FAA, ultimately, the decision was made remove the lights. 
Construction to demolish and dispose of the RAILS and associated foundations has already been completed. The main approach light system for Runway 13 has not been effected and will remain in use with the ILS. 
TAXIWAY CHARLIE RECONSTRUCTION UPDATE
The taxiway Charlie reconstruction project is moving along as planned. There was a slight delay from the ice storm, but contractors have made up for lost time and are working diligently to stay on schedule.
Please be extra cautious when operating vehicles and aircraft in this area as construction trucks often move up and down the ramp.
SH 21 LANE CLOSURES
On February 26, TxDOT began a paving project to repair and resurface old sections of Highway 21 between SH 80 and SH 130. This work will require nightly lane closures on Sundays through Thursdays from 8pm to 5am.

They expect the initial work to take about 20 days and once full depth repairs are complete, crews will wait for proper temperatures to place the new surface and pavement markings. The majority of this work will occur overnight, so they anticipate minimal impact to the airport. 
AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
Our next AAB meeting will be held Thursday, April 20 at 10:00am at the Airport Management offices located at 4400 Highway 21. Anyone interested in the airport is encouraged to attend. Come by and learn more about what's happening at your airport.
SAFETY BULLETIN
We recently experienced a situation involving a multi-engine aircraft and a personal vehicle that highlights the critical need for vigilance while on all aircraft movement and parking areas. The car did not see the aircraft propellers turning and drove under the left wing. Glare from the sun and lack of situational awareness created a potentially fatal situation.

Please remind everyone that aircraft ALWAYS have the right-of-way and vehicles must stay in the marked roadway.
MONTHLY TRAFFIC OPERATIONS
Annual total operations by year:

2019: 63,955
2020: 78,010
2021: 82,368
2022: 91,852
2023 count through February:

15,630
We monitor operations each month to help us secure funding for future airport projects and improvements. The operations (aircraft landings and takeoffs) are counted every day during the Air Traffic Control Tower's hours of 7:00am to 9:00pm. Operations that occur outside of these hours are not tracked.
FREE AIRPORT SHIRTS
Airport t-shirts are now available!

Feel free to swing by the Airport Management office during the week to grab yours.

Did we mention they're free?!
COVID RAPID TESTING
We are excited to announce that we are now able to provide free rapid COVID-19 testing. The test kits have been provided by the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce via the Small Business COVID-19 Rapid Testing Program.
 
Testing is available by appointment only Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. To schedule a test time, please call the office at (512) 216-6042.
LOCAL AVIATION NON-PROFIT MEETINGS
EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION CHAPTER 958

Meetings are held every third Saturday at 10:30am in the CAF Hangar, Officers Club.

For more information visit their website.
CIVIL AIR PATROL TEXAS WING 435

Meetings are held every Tuesday.

For more information, visit their website, send an email, or call (512) 710-8435.
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