Wellington Airport History

1967 ---- Purchased acreage adjacent to current runway. Total acreage 29.902

1969 ---- Lengthened current runway 17/35 to 3500', FAA grant with 20 year obligation

1970's

1974 ---- Site selection and Environmental Impact Study.

Elvin Brown - Airport Manager - 1975 - 1992

1975 ---- Airport Master Plan.

1976 ---- Application for FAA funding of new runway and land acquisition $760,000.
City election Bond Issue passed for 10% matching funds.
Taxiway improvements south end.

1977 ---- Purchased ground for Airport lagoon system. 3.983 acres

1978 ---- Appointment of 5 member Airport Authority Board

1980's

1980 ---- Land and building acquisitions by City and Airport Authority, purchased with FAA grant to City, SCKEDD loan to Authority and bank loan to Authority. Total acreage: 187.731

1980 ---- Sold acreage to WIDC. 22.254
NDB installed
City installed airport sewer, lagoon and water lines

1981 ---- Rotating Beacon installed

1983 ---- New ramp taxiway, access road, runway 17/35 overlay installed by FAA grant
ALP update/Bucher & Willis
Revision of Minimum Standards for commercial use of airport
Proposal for automated FSS Station

1984 ---- Authority completed new terminal building
Future T-Hangar site survey performed by Bucher-Willis
Fuel & Delivery System for avgas/mogas installed

1986 ---- VOR/DME Instrument approach designed and approved

1987 ---- Fuel & Delivery System for Jet A installed
New 4-Unit T Hangar constructed/ concrete floors & ramps
FAA Grant application for land acquisition, relocate 2 businesses, MIRL, REILS,
PAPI, taxiway reflectors and relocate rotating beacon
New building additions constructed; Horton, Inc. & Lamar Electro-Aire
New building additions planned: PreMac & Air Plains

1989 ---- Purchased equipment for snow removal
ALP update Bucher Willis & Ratliff
New 6-Unit T Hangar constructed/concrete floors & ramps

1990's

1990 ---- ALP update Bucher Willis & Ratliff
FAA Grant application for new runway

1991 ---- Purchased mowing equipment

1992 ---- Purchased fuel truck
Purchased mowing equipment
Expansion Precision Machining Bldgs.

Bob Courtney - Airport Manager 1994 - 2000

1994 ---- Purchase mowing equipment
Expansion Air Plains Bldgs.
Refinanced airport loans @ lower interest rates
Cracks repaired on runway & taxiway
Expansion private t-hangars

1995 ---- Plans for constructing new 10-unit T-Hangar initiated
Port Authority By-Laws updated
DTN weather system established by donations
Purchase ground adjacent to airport with maintenance shop. Total acreage: .75
Expansion Horton Bldg. & parking

1996 ---- 3-mile Ordinance limiting structures near an airport in Sumner County established and approved
Bridge constructed between terminal bldg and t-hangars
New unicom and base station
New 10 unit T Hangar constructed/concrete floors & ramp

1997 ---- New ALP Hub+Garver, partial

1998 ---- Acquired 1.6 acres adjacent to airport
Purchase ground equipment
New hangar built Meridith Trust
Demolition of old T Hangar unit south end ramp area
Fuel tank replacement per federal guidelines, partial
New ALP & Environmental Assessment Hub+Garver, partial

1999 ---- Mogas Tank removed
Environmental Assessment approved by FAA
New Minimum Standards approved and adopted
ALP completed and approved by FAA
Developed Airport Pavement Maintenance Program

2000's

2000 ---- Bird proofed new T Hangars
Completed Landscaping Terminal area
Airport Survey Updated
Runway & Taxiway Cracks filled, updated PMP
DBE Program filed with FAA

Carol Courtney - Airport Manager 2001 - 2005

2001 ---- Purchased additional (190 acres) 142 acres for runway project
Applied FAA Land Acquisition project
Applied FAA Runway 17/35 Project Pre-Design Phase 1
Demolition of existing hangar for new runway project

2002 ---- Purchased ground equipment
Installed Direct Weather Access computer, software & high-speed modem for pilot use
Road Closing 40th Ave. North for new runway project
Received FAA Grant Land Acquisition
Demolition of existing hangar for new runway project
Applied to KDOT for AWOS Installation Grant
Renewed engineer contract with Garver Engineers, LLC
Restructured existing debt to GOB's
Received KDOT AWOSIII P/T automated weather system 75/25 Grant
Received FAA Runway 17/35 Runway Project Phase 1 Pre-Design Grant

2003 ---- NOAA Airport Survey completed
Pre-Design Phase 90% Complete Plans & Specifications
Received FAA Approval Pre-Design & Authorization for Project Bid Ads
Bid Opening for New Runway 17/35
Applied FAA Runway 17/35 Project Phase II
Received FAA Runway 17/35 Runway Project Phase II Grant
Awarded Bid Contract New Runway 17/35
Ground-Breaking New Runway 17/35, 4200' length/100' width to include new rotating beacon tower, new wind cone, new runway end lighting system, Pilot remote lighting system, Pilot Approach Path Indicator system (PAPI's) and access connector from existing runway (new taxiway) to new runway.
Purchased new T Hangar snow removal equipment
Began new Runway 17/35 Project

2004 --- Received Taxiway/Ramp Rehabilitation Grant 95/5
New Runway 17/35 Completed, Open August 27
Began Taxiway/Ramp Rehabilitation Project
Began AWOS installation
Applied for FAA Airport Improvement Grant South Taxiway/Ramp
Applied for KDOT Airport Improvement Grant T Hangar Approaches
Applied for RBE Grant Airport Feasibility Study
Purchased new self-recoil hose reel
Purchased new snow removal equipment

2005 --- Taxiway/Ramp Rehabilitation Completed, Open April 27
AWOS Installation Completed
Began Airport Layout Plan Update
Applied for FAA funds for Airport Master Plan
Applied for FAA funds for South Ramp rehabilitation
Applied for FAA/KDOT funds for north T hangar ramp

James Knight - Airport Manager 2007 - 2008

2006-- Airport Manager hired, effective 01/08/2007

2007-- Bucher Willis & Ratliff hired to update Airport Master Plan
Formed AMA Jet Ralley in cooperation with local AMA members
Purchased 1989 Garsite 3000 gallon Jet A refueler