Elford/Kalispell Airport valueDear Sirs,
I am sending this email to you to support the value of the S27
Kalispell city airport. I live in Calgary Alberta, Canada. I fly at and
into and out of S27 monthly. I choose S27 over the glacier International
because there are so many advantages and services available to me that
are not available at the international. My preferences for S27 are based
on the following:. I can fly in to S27 get fuel, maintenance weather
briefings, hangerage and washrooms 24/7. This is much more enticing and
simpler then using Glacier Park airport. Further, I can walk 2 minutes
and get a room at the Hilton, Aero Inn, or 3 other hotels. I have had
friends and family come to Kalispell from Canada and take rooms adjacent
to S27 (Hilton Garden) and fly with me using S27 as a base. We fly out
to homes (a helicopter) and hunting (spotted bear). Further, there is a
grocery store beside the hotel and FBO (Red Eagle aviation) as well as
Blue Canyon, McKenzie River, Los Corporales just to name the few that we
always frequent. The FBO also has made available a van for us to use and
we ALWAYS go shopping even if we are only there for 1 day. Our average
stay is 2 days per month and average 4 people per trip. That equals 2
rooms at $100 each, 24 meals at $10 each and $75 per day in Misc
shopping. Just I alone spend about $590.00 per month or $7080 per year.
in your city and this does not include auto fuel or misc snacks/treats
or skiing or the water park. I would not do so if I had to fly into
Glacier Park. I would choose to fly into Libby or Polson. Please
understand that I have come to know Kalispell because of your City
Airport. I traveled from Calgary for 15 months to take my flight
training through the outstanding services of Red Eagle aviation and Jim
Pierce. They are great advocates of the community and are the face of
Kalispell to us travelers. We plan on continuing our visits to Kalispell
through the future. I strongly feel that closing the airport would be a
detriment to your local economy and tourism. Because of the set up of
the city airport and proximity to services, I let everyone that I know
to go there.
I would like to see the airport expanded. Better lighting, a longer
runway away from the radio towers and some approach lights like VASI
would be excellent and would improve the venue for more aircraft types
in the private general aviation sector. I would not like to see heavy
jet traffic there – that is for the international. Please contact me if
you have any questions or concerns on my cell phone listed below.
Sincerely
Guy Elford
C.E.O.
1049508 Alberta Ltd.
403-880-2182
gelford@platinum.ca