The Frankfort Municipal Airport is about to undergo a name change.
“The name of the airport is still officially in the world of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the Frankfort Municipal Airport,” said Frankfort/Clinton County Airport Authority Board President Alan Dunn. “However, the governing board and the taxpaying base that supports the airport is the Frankfort/Clinton County Airport Authority. What we’d like to do is ask the FAA for approval to change the name of the airport from the Frankfort Municipal Airport to the Frankfort/Clinton County Regional Airport.”
Dunn said a name change would better reflect what the airport really is.
“We think that name more accurately reflects what we are which is a larger regional airport that draws from the Indianapolis area, the Frankfort area and the Lafayette area,” said Dunn. “We think that will be a big upgrade and help us in the marketing of the airport.”
Dunn added he doesn’t expect any problems from the FAA regarding the change.
In other news, the airport agreed to get some maintenance items fixed at the airport — one of which is its aging Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS).
“Anyone that gets online to look at the weather statistics for the area they often would see a report from the Frankfort Airport,” said Dunn. “That is the AWOS system that provides that information. That system has got quite a lot of age on it and we’re going to replace that system here by the end of the season. We think that’ll be a significant upgrade.”
One of the problems with the current system is that is hasn’t been detecting thunderstorm activity in the area which is key for airplane pilots. The cost of the upgrade will be about $142,000 and they will also be able to get some money out of the old system in the deal.
It is expected to take three days to a week to get the old out and the new one installed.
The board also approved to have crack sealing and line repainting on the runways for a cost of $23,500.
Following a presentation from Clinton County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Frank Wells, the board approved emergency behind the wheel training for the officers.