New equipment allows larger planes to land at Aiken airport

FLY BOYS: General Aviation Commission members and City Council members stand with the first plane that used the new Instrument Landing System at the Aiken Municipal Airport on Thursday. Pictured, from left, are Steve Peterson, John Owen, Craig Jarvis, Don Barnes, Mayor Fred Cavanaugh and Councilman Steve Homoki. Staff photo by Amy Banton.

For more than a decade, the General Aviation Commission and City officials worked toward getting the equipment at Aiken Municipal Airport that would allow it to support the landing of larger planes.

Early Thursday morning, that dream officially became a reality when a new precision instrument landing system was used for the first time at the city's airport.

Commission Chair Don Barnes and Vice Chair Craig Jarvis were on the first aircraft that took off using the new system.

"We were a part of history," Jarvis said with a grin.

The instrument landing system provides navigational guidance - both horizontal and vertical - to properly equipped aircraft, allowing them to land at the airport in very poor weather conditions of cloud ceiling and visibility, according to commission member John Owen. This will permit additional piston-powered and jet aircraft at the airport.

Before, these aircraft were diverted to other airports with ILS, such as Augusta Bush Field and the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, Owen added.

City of Aiken officials said they are quite excited about the new equipment because this could act as a catalyst for economic activity.

Not only could it attract more corporations to visit the area for possible site plans, but it could also increase the airport traffic in general. For example, with this new system in place, the airport expects a higher volume of traffic during the week of the Masters Tournament.

According to Barnes, that influx in traffic will benefit the city because it accrues a fuel flowage fee for every gallon pumped at the public airport.

The ILS project cost a little more than $1 million with the City's share around $300,000, according to Public Works Director Larry Morris. A federal grant also assisted with the costs.

Councilman Steve Homoki flew the second plane using the ILS.

Homoki said he believes Aiken probably has one of the nicest airports in the state, and the new system certainly enhances that feeling.

"Now, with the ILS, it's a tremendous boom to the City of Aiken and the aviation commission," he said.

Mayor Fred Cavanaugh, who was also a passenger in one of the first flights, thanked the commission for its part in the process of getting the ILS in place.

"It works nicely, and we are very pleased," Cavanaugh said. "It's a wonderful asset for our city."

The General Aviation Commission is in place to assist City Council with issues regarding operation and development of the Aiken Municipal Airport. Currently, all members are pilots or aircraft owners.

For the airport, it's another monumental addition for the growing facility. Over the last 12 years, the airport has had a terminal built, a runway lengthened, other runways resurfaced, a new light system installed and more.

The Aiken Municipal Airport is the 11th busiest airport out of approximately 60 in South Carolina, according to Barnes. It is the 12th airport in the state to have ILS.

Amy Banton is the city beat reporter and has been with the Aiken Standard since May 2010. She is a native of Rustburg, Va., and a graduate of Randolph Macon Woman's College.