The Gulf Stream IV, the number one transportation aircraft of the U.S. FAA, sits proudly, its tail decorated with an image of the American flag, at the Artesia Airport. Its passengers arrived yesterday for a visit to FLETC concerning the facility's U.S. Marshal program.
By BRIENNE GREEN
Daily Press Staff Writer
"The private Cessna-type planes, owned by whoever has hangar space, and crop dusters ... that's about all that goes in and out of there, right?"
This misconception about the Artesia Airport is all too common within our community. Most believe the airport is only accessible to those who own private planes. Some don't even know the airport exists.
It's there, though, right out west Main Street on Airport Road (you know, the one the little sign with the airplane on it points to), and Jimmy Joseph, airport manager, wants to make it clear to the public that the airport is "Artesia's outlet to the world."
The landing of the United States Federal Aviation Association's (FAA) number one aircraft, Gulf Stream IV, yesterday was just the sort of high profile happening the airport needs to bring it more into the public eye.
Joseph notes that especially with FLETC functioning on a larger scale than ever before, and with the U.S. Sky Marshals training program soon to be in effect at the facility, the day-to-day action the airport experiences will be much more frequent and on a much larger scale.
"Most people don't know that the airport can handle planes of this size and larger," says Joseph, motioning to the FAA aircraft.
Over 10,000 operations, landings and take-offs occur annually on the Artesia Airport's two runways. A large portion of these are corporate flights.
"Many businesses located in Artesia have outside ownership or management," Joseph says. "The airport fulfills the need for these owners and operators to monitor their businesses by getting in and out of Artesia in an expeditious manner."
This ability to take people to and from Artesia, who, without the option of air travel, might otherwise never visit at all, is the force behind the airport's economic impact on the community. People brought into Artesia by way of the airport stay overnight, eat lunch or dinner, and sometimes even turn their visit into a mini-vacation -- all of which add up to extra funds for local merchants.
"The airport is a vital part of the community," says Joseph. "It's a real key to economic development within the city."
The freshly repainted airport lobby resembles a spacious living room, and Joseph says a remodeling is ongoing at the terminal, in order to improve the comfort and appearance for both the corporate and general aviation customers.
During the length of the interview with Joseph, the FAA came for a visit and two other planes landed -- a day at the Artesia Airport is anything but dull.
"I'd like to invite the community to come out and look at their airport," Joseph concluded. "It's here to serve them."
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