Meetings watch: Civil Aviation Board

The following were actions taken at the Civil Aviation Board meeting Tuesday evening at the Clovis Municipal Airport:

• Airport Director Kyle Berkshire reported to the board he is in the process of finalizing the airport’s fuel farm, with the goal of getting it compliant and in use using the least amount of funds possible within three days.

• Berkshire reported the city commission approved selling of Moby LLC’s Anderson Hangar.

He said the city has a lease and will start building a ground lease to the new tenant, William O’Malley, a former armory gun salesman who is working on his ratings to be a pilot.

Berkshire added final drafts of the agreement have been signed.

• Berkshire reported parachuters with Cannon Air Force Base were still looking to do training at the airport, but would probably be unable to in the near future due to budget constraints.

• Berkshire reported members of the Canadian military have been working on missions and training with CAFB, and are purchasing 700 to 900 gallons of fuel from the airport.

He added 12 to 15 members currently meet at the airport to discuss missions and are using a Convair 580 Aircraft at the airport.

• Berkshire reported Boutique Air called the airport and suggested replacing a Dallas mid-afternoon flight with a flight routed to Denver.

He added the plans are simply in the opening stages, as nothing is yet in the works or has been approved. Berkshire added he was unsure how the plans would be incorporated.

Commissioner Chris Bryant asked if there was anyone requesting a Denver flight, to which Berkshire said he received more requests for an Albuquerque flight.

Board Chairman Tom Phelps said the benefits of having a Denver flight are there for those traveling southwest, while member Donald Sharer said the route would benefit people traveling west.

Bryant said with funding from service flying from the Dallas flight, he is not sure if funding would continue with another flight added, “so we would end up having to subsidize the flight to Denver.”

Vice Chair Donnie Lewellen said a potential drawback is people coming in from an early morning Dallas flight would have to wait for the afternoon flight getting back to Denver.

— Compiled by Staff Writer Kurt Munz-Raper