Managing the Skies: A Day in the Life of an

Air Traffic Manager at Kissimmee Airport

Chris Mathis has been an Air Traffic Controller at Kissimmee Gateway Airport since 2007 and recently took over as Manager in 2022. He is responsible for ensuring that air traffic runs smoothly and efficiently, all while adhering to strict federal regulations. With a team of eight under his guidance, Mathis manages air traffic control, ensuring that planes land and take off safely. On a typical day, Mathis oversees his team, making sure they are following procedures and meeting their responsibilities. In addition to administrative tasks such as record keeping and documentation, he ensures that safety protocols are followed by his team, especially during emergencies.



Mathis joined the military after finishing high school and served for several years. It was while serving in the Marines that he first became interested in aviation and air traffic control. He worked as a controller in the Martin State Airport in Maryland after leaving the military, before moving on to Naples Municipal Airport in Florida, then eventually landing in Kissimmee Gateway Airport. When asked what inspired him to become an air traffic manager, Mathis revealed that he followed his recruiter’s recommendation, who believed he would do well in aviation and ended up pursuing traffic control. He relishes the job and believes that his team's job is vital as they safely keep aircraft separated. Being an air traffic manager at Kissimmee Airport can be a high-pressure job, but it’s one that Mathis is uniquely equipped to handle. With years of experience and an unwavering commitment to safety, Mathis manages to juggle his responsibilities, ensuring that every plane takes off and lands smoothly. Thanks to his team’s efforts, every traveler arriving and departing Kissimmee Gateway Airport can do so safely.

Kissimmee Gateway Airport Debuts New Mural

for "ISM" Campaign

Kissimmee Airport, located in the heart of Central Florida, recently debuted a new mural to promote our "ISM" campaign. The campaign aims to highlight the airport's unique location, which offers quick and easy access to some of the state's most popular tourist attractions. The "ISM" campaign incorporates the airport's IATA three-letter code and highlights words that embody their values, such as "professional-ISM" and "adventur-ISM." The campaign is a great way to promote the airport and the City of Kissimmee as a top year-round travel and tourism destination.



The airport's new mural is a vibrant and colorful representation of the "ISM" campaign. The mural features a variety of different images and phrases, all of which capture the spirit of the campaign. Overall, the "ISM" campaign is a fantastic way to showcase all that the Kissimmee Airport has to offer. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly adventure or a new place to locate your business, the airport is the perfect choice. So why not book your flight today and discover the wonders of Kissimmee? To learn more the amazing things you can do on your next vacation to Kissimmee, click here and visit our partners at Experience Kissimmee, our area's official tourism agency.

Kissimmee Gateway Airport Wins

National Communicator Award 🎉🏆

Exciting news alert! Our airport has won a Communicator Award of Distinction for our Let's Talk Aviation monthly newsletter. This prestigious national award is given by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA) and we couldn't be more thrilled about it! This recognition wouldn't have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our team, and we're grateful for all the efforts put in. We take pride in our efforts to bring quality content to our readers, and this award is proof that our efforts are being recognized on a national level. Let's keep the aviation conversations going!

Happy 22nd Anniversary to SunState Aviation!

🎉🎉🎉

We're proud to be celebrating the 22nd anniversary of SunState Aviation at Kissimmee Gateway Airport! For over two decades, this amazing company has been providing unparalleled flight training, aircraft rental, and maintenance services to countless students and customers. SunState Aviation has become a beacon in the Kissimmee community, providing an unparalleled learning environment for anyone who walks through their doors. But the real magic of SunState Aviation lies within its passionate and dedicated team. Thank you for all the years of exceptional service and here's to many more! 

City Names New Economic Development Director

The City of Kissimmee has announced the selection of Tom Tomerlin as the new Director of Economic Development. City Manager Mike Steigerwald appointed Tomerlin to serve as a liaison between the City and the businesses in the area after competing against applicants from across the nation.

“I am thrilled to have Tom lead Kissimmee through a period of commercial growth post-pandemic recovery,” said City Manager Mike Steigerwald. “His work ethic and positive attitude are a valuable asset and will be instrumental in advancing the City’s economic growth.” Steigerwald believes Tomerlin will play a pivotal role in building on Kissimmee’s strong economic position as a local, national, and international business and visitor hub. 

Tomerlin is a seasoned economist with over 20 years of experience in a variety of fields including economic development, real estate, and land use decision making. Tomerlin is the former Economic Director for the City of Sanford, making him familiar with the area. He is also a native of Central Florida. Tom earned his PhD in applied economics from the University of Florida and his Master’s degree also in applied economics from Clemson University in South Carolina.  

“I look forward to serving the City of Kissimmee. The City has many economic engines, and most exciting is the potential for all of them to grow,” Tomerlin said. “For example, our two redevelopment districts, the Medical Arts District, and Airport are all positioned for new quality growth. Of special note, the Airport offers exceptional opportunity for new growth given the amount of developable land that can gain access onto the airfield.”

Tomerlin is looking forward to cultivating business recruitment, property development and promoting tourism. His goal is to set forth strategic plans and help foster, protect and promote thriving local economies. He wants to persuade new businesses to move into Kissimmee and to encourage existing businesses to grow.

Although Tomerlin recently started his new role, he offers what he believes is a good first message regarding Kissimmee, “Kissimmee is a complete city. We can see that in our active historic downtown, and in the economic engines I mentioned earlier. I believe the rest of Florida will become aware of Kissimmee’s story because we are going to see a lot of exciting new things happen here,” Tomerlin added. 

Whelan Associates Florida to Develop Airplane Hangar and Office Complex for

Aviation Businesses at Kissimmee Airport

Whelan Associates, a national commercial real estate investment and services company, will construct a 12,000 square foot airplane hangar and 8,000 square foot office at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport. The 20,000 square foot building will serve as a primary maintenance facility and operations center for aviation businesses. The parcel of land is three acres located in the Northwest corner of the airport, west of Runway 15-33 and North of Taxiway C. The project will include the construction of one 20,000 square foot airplane hangar with office component, preparation of a future pad site for a similar 12,000 square foot hangar, creation of 35,000 square foot ramp surface, ramp entrance to Taxiway C, and a parking lot with 64 parking spaces. Click here to learn more!

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE:

Taxiway Echo "E" Extension

We're making progress on ISM's Taxiway "E" Extension Project, which is slated for completion in October. Our thanks to Hubbard Construction and AvCon for bringing this project to life!

Cirrus Aircraft Service Centers Earn FAA Certification

Cirrus Aircraft announced that all four of its company-operated Service Centers have now earned FAA Part 145 certification under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulation (14 CFR). This certification signifies another milestone for Cirrus Aircraft delivering the highest standard of quality repair service by professionally trained technicians and mechanics. 

Part 145 involves the maintenance, inspection and alteration of aircraft and aircraft products; it ensures that programs, systems and intended methods of compliance with regulatory requirements are thoroughly reviewed, evaluated and tested. FAA regulations are specific on who can perform maintenance and approve an aircraft, airframe, engines, etc. for return to service after maintenance has been performed. 

“Cirrus Aircraft’s company-operated Service Center expansion has created more opportunities for SR Series and Vision Jet owners to service their aircraft. Today, we celebrate the diligent work by our team to achieve FAA Part 145 certification,” said Zean Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer of Cirrus Aircraft. “Our goal is to continue growing our global service capacity through both our authorized network and company-operated facilities to ensure we deliver a world-class ownership experience.” 

Cirrus Aircraft’s SR Series and Vision Jet company-operated Service Centers in Duluth and Knoxville received FAA Part 145 certification in 2021, McKinney received certification in 2022 and Kissimmee received certification in 2023.  

This newsletter is a publication of Kissimmee Gateway Airport. For more information about this publication, please contact us at [email protected] or call (407) 847-4600.



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