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TRAFFIC COUNTS CONTINUE TO RISE
Last month San Marcos Regional saw a 65% increase in traffic counts from August 2016. Keep in mind these numbers do not include flights that occur outside of the tower's operational hours! Year to date, counts are up 44%.
The increased activity reflected in these traffic counts helps us secure funding for future airport projects and improvements.
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RESERVED TIE-DOWNS
On December 6, 2016, Council established rates for reserved tie-downs on the ramp. These rates only apply to users and tenants who wish to establish and mark a specific location on the ramp for their aircraft. However, general parking will still be available and permitted at no cost.
We're in the process of marking and numbering 60 tie-downs on the ramp. Of those, 35 are currently reserved. Please take care to avoid parking in marked spaces.
If you're interested in reserving a tie-down for your aircraft or for you transient customers, please give us a call at (512) 216-6039.
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ACCESS GATES ARE ACTIVE
On Monday, September 4, 2017, the airport gates were activated.
Visitors or those making deliveries can access the ramp by using one of three (3) gates controlled by Berry Aviation and Redbird Skyport (Gates 1, 2, and 4).
The main objective for the fence and gate system is to limit unauthorized vehicles on the ramp and around taxiing aircraft. The maps above show the gate locations and public parking areas (shown in green) to be utilized by guests and visitors.
If you need access to the ramp, please call the office at (512) 216-6039.
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AN ACT OF KINDNESS, RETURNED
This story is a follow-up to the article published in our August edition. Read the original article about Greg Hughes, a KHYI tenant, and his meeting with a young future pilot at Oshkosh here.
By: Megan Easu in Airventure, Member Stories
When 17-year-old Camron Mitchell left an F-4 Phantom model on the wing of a retired fighter pilot's Mooney M20 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2017, he expected that the random act of kindness would stay just that: random.
But what can only be described as a harmonious series of events led to Camron receiving a phone call from that fighter pilot one month later.
The pair met on a bus at AirVenture after Camron, who dreams of flying in the Air Force, struck up a conversation with Greg, who was wearing a hat that identified him as a veteran Phantom pilot.
Greg had been hoping to see a Phantom at AirVenture, but after parting ways Camron browsed the schedule to find that no such plane would be appearing. So he decided to bring Greg the next best thing: his own scaled-down F-4 model. He located Greg's Mooney, leaving behind the model and sending an anonymous text letting Greg know to look for the airplane.
The story of Camron's altruism was
picked up by AOPA, but at the time his identity was unknown.
After EAA staffer Serena Kamps, who knows Camron through church and volunteer work, read the story and thought it sounded like an awful lot like one she had heard from her friend, she printed it off and brought the news to his front door.
"I started by pointing to the guy in the picture and asked 'Do you know that guy?'" Serena said. "He admitted he did, then quickly scanning the rest of the article his jaw dropped in disbelief. 'I was the one that did this!' he exclaimed. That look of shock mixed with pure amazement on his face was priceless!"
Serena decided that it was an act of kindness worth rewarding, and offered Camron his first Young Eagles flight, which he received one week later.
"I actually hadn't flown in anything other than a 737 prior to that," Camron said. "It was great. We got to fly over my house a little bit, I made a few turns out by Omro, and we came back."
Not only did Serena give Camron his first Young Eagles flight, she also reached out to Greg and helped the pair reconnect on the telephone.
Greg said he was endlessly thankful adding that he had undergone a search of his own after AirVenture to thank Camron, to no avail.
"Bottom line is that the aviation community offered tremendous response, which led to us finding him," Greg said.
During the course of their phone call, Greg said he not only had the chance to thank Camron, but to share some advice with him as well.
"Camron mentioned, quite off-the-cuff, that he would like to attend the [Air Force] Academy, but was quick to say that his grades were not all that sterling, to which I replied, 'You can work on that,' and added that many other factors would play a huge part in his application consideration," he said. "I underscored that with mentioning community involvement, CAP, Young Eagles, scouting, church involvement, etc. I'm sure I probably overwhelmed him with a to-do list. I also enlisted the help of Serena and David [who work in EAA's chapters office] in searching for an academy graduate in the Oshkosh area who might mentor Camron through the application process."
Camron himself said he was blown away by the response that has come from one single, simple act.
"I was looking around at the schedules to see if there was an F-4 coming," Camron said. "I'm a big Air Force enthusiast myself, so I just wanted to do a good thing for him."
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AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
Our next Airport Advisory Board Meeting will be held Monday, December 11 at 10:00 am.
The meetings are held at the Airport Management offices at 4400 Highway 21.
Come by to learn more about what's happening at your airport, meet the Board, and enjoy a free cup of coffee and donuts!
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KHYI INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CLUB MEETING
The KHYI Instrument Meteorological Club (IMC) meets the third Thursday of each month at Redbird Skyport at 6:30 P.M.
Their next meeting will be Thursday, October 19.
Complimentary pizza and soft drinks will be provided.
To learn more, or be added to the newsletter list, email Gary White.
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EAA CHAPTER 958 MEETING
Local EAA Chapter 958
meets every 3rd Saturday of the month at 10:00 am, at the Redbird Skyport in the conference room.
Meetings are preceded by the VMC club at 9:00 am in the conference room.
Their next meeting will be October 21.
For more information visit their
website.
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EAA YOUNG EAGLES EVENT
On October 21 kids ages 8-17 will have the opportunity to learn more about careers in aviation, discuss how aircraft fly, take a free ride in a light aircraft by a licensed pilot, plus other incentives for completing the program.
The event is free for the students and $5.00 donation for accompanying adults.
WHEN: Saturday, October 21 10:00 am
WHERE: RedBird Skyport
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FREE POLOS
We had a great response from airport users regarding our
free San Marcos Airport polos. If you haven't had a chance to pick yours up, don't fret! We recently received a new order so we're stocked up.
Pictured is the men's polo which we have in large, x-large, and xx-large. We also have a women's version in small, medium, large, and x-large.
Swing by 4400 Highway 21 Monday-Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm.
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