Local airport leaders look to the future

Planning the future of the Grand Coulee Dam Airport was the topic of discussion at a July 29 Grant County Port District 7 meeting, where commissioners were joined by citizens, the airport manager and members of J-U-B Engineers, the consultants working on the airport master plan.

The master plan is in the works, and members of J-U-B explained where they were in the process, what the next steps are, and took comments from those present.

Ideas discussed for the future of the airport include making fuel available at the airport, installing helicopter pads, lengthening the runway to accommodate other types of planes and jets, the possibility of building new hangers, lighting the runway, providing tie-ups for seaplanes, and more.

Presiding Commissioner Jim Keene noted that helicopters have parked at the airport while fighting fires in the general area, even parking on just the natural land, and also that, with the trend of fires in Eastern Washington in recent years, it would be better to accommodate emergency aircraft at the airport with helipads or otherwise, and even to keep emergency craft on standby at the airport.

Airport Manager Bob Babler spoke about how local pilots are getting older, and that younger people don’t seem as interested.

“In 20 years, most of the pilots will be in their mid-80s or pushing 90s, and most of those hangers will be for sale,” Babler said. “You don’t have as many young people interested.”

“Everybody wants to fly drones!” said Steve Marshall of J-U-B.

“Or play with their phone!” Babler responded. “Drones and phones, that’s about it.”

“They don’t know what they’re missing,” said Scott Ross, running for a commissioner spot in the upcoming election.

But Keene said that “affluent retirees” are attracted to the area, and that as the nearby golf course — in the process of being sold by the port district to Rattlesnake Ridge — is developed, he can foresee an increase in airport activities.

Scott Gerrits, president of Rattlesnake Ridge, was also present at the meeting.

The group also discussed airplanes and airports in ways only those familiar with the nuances of flight could understand, including some of the finer details of how weather and humidity affect flight, the difficulty for some craft to fly within the coulee walls, and more.

Another meeting with J-U-B concerning the master plan is anticipated for either late 2019 or early 2020, with the final draft slated for either late 2020 or early 2021, according to a schedule presented by J-U-B.