AIRPORT TERMINAL RENOVATION SHOULD PROMOTE GREATER UTILIZATION

Cape Girardeau dedicated its newly-remodeled airport terminal building over the weekend. About 150 people turned out to take a peek at the new facilities. Most came away impressed.

We agree. The improved facility and full-service restaurant are good strides in upgrading the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport - breathing new life into sagging commercial boardings and spurring general aviation traffic.

But a new look is not enough. Commercial services will only improve and expand with demand. Cape Girardeau and the region must change attitudes and air travel habits. Airport Manager Randy Holdman and his crew face quite a challenge in changing those habits. It's especially hard since delays in the renovation closed the terminal for an unbelievable year and a half.

The terminal building renovation represents the first phase of a $4.5 million airport improvement project. In the coming few years, a number of improvements will be completed, including a new fire protection water system, a new aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle and expansion of the general aviation apron. The city also plans to construct a new taxiway and install new airport lighting. Work has already begun to rebuild the airport entrance road and improve the terminal building parking lot. With all these improvements, the airport should become a model facility for a community this size.

The renovation and restaurant should help spur commercial aviation. Currently, Trans World Express (TWE) offers six flights a day - three departures and three arrivals. The number drops to six for Saturday and Sunday combined. Holdman is working hard on obtaining a new carrier with expanded destinations, but many want to see an increase in passengers first.

He said boardings have already increased tremendously since the first of the year, but did not top 500 a month all summer. Boardings are averaging about 450 departures and 450 arrivals each month. The numbers include not only TWE, but other charter traffic as well. It's not enough to reach that "magic" number of 10,000, which opens up federal funding. The last time Cape reached that figure was in 1989.

While the terminal renovations may not directly increase general aviation, it sure won't hurt. The return of a full-service restaurant has already spurred increased traffic in recent weeks. It has brought a return of cross-country traffic stopovers at the airport.

General aviation represents the bulk of the traffic at the airport, with an average of 100 to 130 operations a day.

Cape Central Airways, under the direction of former airport manager Mark Seesing, is also taking an aggressive stance on growth. The fixed base operator coordinates charter service for people and freight. A new aircraft has increased their capacity for freight from 2,000 to 3,500 pounds, which should boost business. They now boast of nine aircraft. In all, about 50 to 75 planes are stored at the municipal airport - the majority of which are private aircraft.

The company has also embarked on an air ambulance certification that should add considerable traffic. This is more of a transporting service than an air ambulance. They cater to stabilized patients traveling between hospitals and nursing homes or clinics.

Cape Girardeau's Municipal Airport holds much promise. The terminal building improvements are an important step along the way to greater utilization. This airport really serves as a front door to Cape Girardeau and a gateway to the region. Through word of mouth and regional promotion, this airport could prove a real catalyst for economic growth and development.