McKenna/Kalispell City Airport IssuesKalispell City Council
Kalispell, Montana
Date: 01-29-2010
RE: Kalispell City AIrport
Good Afternoon Council:
By way of introduction I am a life long (56 years) Montana native. I
grew up in Butte, Montana where I learned to fly, and have resided in
Bozeman, Montana since 1972. Aviation began for me like many others. It
started as a way to fulfill my dream of flight, and now after nearly 40
years with 4500 hours of flight time, I utilize aircraft for not only
personal use, but extensive business travel, primarily throughout MT and
other western states.
Kalispell has long been a destination for me. Our insurance practice has
developed a very large client base in the Flathead Valley with the
easiest point of aviation access for us being Kalispell City airport.
Its close proximity to town and ease of getting in and out of the
airport has been a long time attraction to me personally and to our
business as well. I have held countless meetings at immediately
surrounding businesses, as well as utilized the lodging that is so
convenient. To an aircraft owner/user who values their time, these
assets are ones that you need to know are very important to the reason
that one chooses a particular place to stop and do business.
Safety is always something that a conscientious pilot is concerned about
and it would sure be a benefit to have the issues that have been an
impediment to this airport solved. Those items like runway length and
alignment, along with making it wider and enhancing the navigational
aids would be important improvements.
In addition to the safety and business reasons, as a North Fork of the
Flathead property owner I frequently fly into Kalispell City Airport to
buy fuel, as well as groceries and other supplies prior to flying to our
property in the North Fork. The ability to easily buy fuel at a rate
that has been historically less expensive is yet another reason to use
this airport. Dating back to the times when Mike Strand was the
principle operator the Kalispell City Airport has been a convenient and
useable facility. I make frequent trips to the surrounding backcountry
landing strips with Kalispell City Airport more often than not being
where I stop on one way or the other.
I would urge this body to recognize the unique value of Kalispell City
airport, and do what you can to work with the parties at hand to enhance
this community asset.
I currently sit on the airport board in Bozeman and do believe I have
the experience to say that I understand many of the concerns that are
being voiced. Those concerns should not fall on deaf ears, but they
should not be taken out of context, nor should the typical
sensationalism that usually accompanies them be given an undue amount of
weight in the decisions that you will be making.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have regards
my comments.
In closing I would encourage and support the enhancements to your city
airport.
John J. McKenna Jr. MSFS
1711 West College Street
Bozeman, MT. 59715
(406) 587-5166 Office
(406) 581-8234 Cell
jt185@montanadsl.net