聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Carlyle Flying Club hosted their annual 鈥淔ly In Breakfast,鈥� on Saturday, June 27, with the help of the Moose Mountain Air Cadets.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Flying Club has been busy and continues plans of improvements into 2016 explained President of the Carlyle Flying Club, Brad Walker.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Last year the airport underwent a 550 foot expansion, which leaves the runway now at 3,650 feet. The construction of which was funded through largely private donations coupled with funds raised by the Flying Club and government grants.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Additionally they installed an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) which provides up to date information on wind speed and direction, altimeter settings, and visibility.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 New runway lighting was also installed last year.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This year the Flying Club hopes to continue their airport improvements, which includes the installation of an instrument approach system, sealing cracks in the runway, and painting the runway.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Next year鈥檚 vision includes finishing the expansion of the runway, which will be to 5,000 feet. This expansion that they have been working towards will allow light business jets to land in Carlyle. All of the facilities are in place to handle light business jets according to Walker who added that the only thing needed to bring them in is the finishing of the runway.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In 2016 the Flying Club will also be celebrating their 60th anniversary and are planning to host, along with their Fly In Breakfast, a small air show.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Walker went on to explain the intricacies of the airport.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he Flying Club and the Town work together as the Airport Commission,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e work together with it, but the airport is supported through a user pay model. We generate our funds through the hangar leases and that鈥檚 actually our operational budget.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e all want to move the facility forward, to improve and expand it for business operations here. To be able to have a vibrant and functioning, well equipped airport is important, it helps develop and support functions in the community: the Air Ambulance, the agricultural air spraying operations, and pipeline surveying.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he flying community here is a very active one and it takes a great deal of time and funds to improve the facility, which we鈥檙e always improving in small steps because it鈥檚 important to be maintaining the air port.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 If anyone is interested in joining the Flying Club contact Garnet Goud in charge of memberships at 1-306-577-7630.
