THE LEWISTONNEZ PERCE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY The LWS Airport Report Volume 4, Issue 1 Special points of interest: • Are you interested in helping host a 70th Anniversary Air Festival? If so, contact the Friends of the Airport • It’s time once again for the annual TSA-mandated access card audit. If you haven’t received notice, contact staff at (208) 7464471. If you have received notice, make sure you’re counted. TSA requires us to shut off cards that are unaccounted for. Inside this issue: Potlatch: Corporate Aviation Pioneer 2 Runway 26-08 to get a facelift 2 May 2014 70 Years and Growing! Legend has it that local aviation pioneer Bert Zimmerly in the 1930s took thenLewiston City Engineer William Hughes on a sight-seeing flight over the Valley. Toward the end of the tour, Zimmerly banked to the left over the south western edge of the hill, pointed to the agricultural land below and said, “Someday, that will be home to one of the best airports in the west.” History didn’t record Hughes’s response. But no one worked harder over the next decade to make Zimmerly’s prophecy a reality. Bulldozers, blades and bellydumps powered by Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration took the first bite out of the surrounding basaltic hillsides. The fledgling Civil Aeronautics Administration finished the project—the “million-dollar airport,” as the local newspaper called it. But it was local business that made the facility fly. The LewistonNez Perce County Regional Airport opened for business in July 1944. Zimmerly, who’d spent many of the intervening years training naval aviators for the war effort, turned his attention to airline service. In fact, the pavement paint on the new airport’s new runways had barely dried before his first flight picked up passengers, outbound for Boise. Years later during the Airport’s 50th Anniversary, Fred Zimmerly would laugh and explain the new airport’s security procedures to anyone who would listen and laugh with him. “Part of the co-pilot’s responsibility”, he said, “was to separate the three strands of (Continued on Page 4) Logos through the 3 Years Airline DNA 4 the barbed wire fence with a gloved hand and a Florsheim shoe so the passengers wouldn’t snag their Sunday-best clothes entering the ramp where the airplane was parked.” But simplicity in the airport world didn’t last any longer than simplicity of flight. Runway lights brought nighttime operations in 1946; windsocks and tetrahedrons followed in ‘48. Radio navigational aids came just before the decade was out. Welcome Bruce MacLachlan, AAE After conducting a nationwide search, the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport Authority Board of Commissioners Wednesday, April 23rd, announced their unanimous choice for the next airport manager, and it’s Bruce MacLachlan. currently serving as Manager of Operations and Maintenance for the Saint Joseph County Airport Authority at South Bend Indiana Regional Airport, he’s no stranger to the Pacific Northwest; he served as an airport operations manager at Spokane International from Although MacLachlan is (Continued on Page 2) Page 2 “Bruce brings a wealth of experience and professional knowledge to our airport.” -William Vern McCann, Jr., Chairman Airport Authority Board Newsletter Title Bruce MacLachlan, AAE 1998 to 2001. His career also took him to Tulsa and South Florida International Airports where he served as Senior Airport Safety Officer. Along with impressive credentials from other airports, Bruce brings a wealth of academic and professional knowledge. He earned his Bachlor of Science Degree from Indiana State University in 1990 and more recently passed his exams to become an Accredited Airport Executive with the American Association of Airport Executives. He (Continued from Page 1) also holds a private pilot certificate. Although the professional challenge will bring him here, Bruce acknowleges there’s something special about the Lewis-Clark Valley. “During my time [in Spokane] I had a few occasions to come to Lewiston, “ he said. “My trip back here [for interviews] reinforced my memory of the community as an extremely friendly, community-driven place. The people I met were genuine and welcoming.” Bruce is expected to be on the Job May 12th and attend his first meeting with the Idaho Airport Management Association that week. “I am excited that my family and I will soon be coming out and I can’t wait to get started.” Airport’s Main Runway to Receive Facelift Runway 26-08 at the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport will finally get a facelift this summer, courtesy of the Airport Authority’s pavement maintenance program. Built in the late 1960s, the original runway was reconstructed once ten years ago. Now, contractors will be grinding off the top layer of old asphalt, applying a new, “grooved” surface, stabilizing the runway’s shoulders and paving its associated blast pads. The first phase of construction will close the 6,512 x 150-foot runway for 14 days on July 14th; contractors are expected to work around the clock to bring the runway back on line within two weeks. During the time the main runway is closed, air traffic will be re-routed to the airport’s secondary runway 12-30 which will be temporarily shortened to comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) construction safety rules. The airport and its business community will remain open during construction, although airline service will be limited. Delta has announced it will cease all operations from July 14-28. For additional Delta scheduling information, customers should call 1-800-221-1212 or contact their travel agent. For Alaska Airlines scheduling information, customers should call 1800-252-7522 or contact their travel agent. Potlatch: Corporate Aviation Pioneer Lockheed Learstar The company green goes almost unnoticed out at the old mill site. And the color’s all but gone from the old corporate hangar. But stories of Potlatch and its fleet of aircraft will forever be tied to the history of the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport. Rightfully so, for the Potlatch Corporation, once a Lewiston company, had some truly special airplanes. One of company’s first aircraft was a Lockheed Learstar, a 250 mph, 12passsenger aircraft originally designed as a bomber. Arnie Brandt, one of the senior Potlatch pilots, recalled that once the aircraft was drafted into civilian service, there was no need for a bomb bay. So they stuffed it with fuel tanks. He laughed, “That was one airplane you didn’t want to belly-land!” The Learstar lasted until 1964 when Potlatch took delivery of its first Learjet. The Lear 23, serial number 6, was only the second production Learjet delivered for use as a working model. “Its tail number was N505PF [for Potlatch Forests],” he explained, “and because it was only the second to be delivered by Lear, it’s now on display at the museum in Wichita, Kansas.” (Former Potlatch Pilot, Arnie Brandt) (Continued on Page 4) Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 Airport Logos Through the Years The term “logo” comes from the ancient Greek word “logos” which apparently, loosely translated, means, “I say.” Appropriate, since today’s public relations experts will tell you that a logo does indeed “say,” and it “says” a lot about the organization it represents. The first known logo for the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport (above) came in the late 1960s, about the dawn of the “jet age.” And Lewiston, wanting the world to know it had a “jet-capable airport” picked a logo that featured (with a little imagination) a series of DC-9 jets lined up (again with a little imagination) in front of its new terminal building. Not surprising then, that organizations and companies spend so much effort on their logo...because of what it “says” about them. And so it has been for your local Airport. The above logo was adopted in the 1980s, a time when serious airport marketing was in its infancy. It required a little more imagination to see the symbolism, but if you look with your mind’s eye, you might be able to see an aircraft in the circle. The original sketch had each of the red lines in the shape of an airfoil or perhaps a feather, a tip-of-the -hat to the region’s Native American heritage. The current airport logo (above) was developed by Advantage Advertising of Lewiston, Idaho with help from the Friends of the Airport. It’s up-to-date appearance was adopted in time for the Airport’s 70th Anniversary, and not only reflects action and forward progress, it hearkens back to the airport’s opening not long after World War Two’s D-Day, when the nation’s patriotic pride could be seen in its patriotic colors. Page 4 Newsletter Title 70th Anniversary Construction of a “modern” terminal building began in the early 1950’s (the original terminal was then moved to Linden Avenue where it became a residence—it’s still there). The 1960’s began the “jet age” and a new 6,512 foot “The original site selection by Zimmerly and Hughes coupled with modern technology made the...Airport ... the second most reliable airport runway (26-08) was built to accom -modate the new era. Instrument landing systems and an air traffic (Continued from Page 1) control tower soon followed. As the airport’s 70th birthday approaches, the original site selection by Zimmerly and Hughes coupled with modern technology made the LewistonNez Perce County Regional Airport (according to Department of Transportation statistics in 2013) the second most reliable airport in the nation. But business started the airport, business continued to be its lifeblood, and the bloodlines ran thick even 40 years later. The Hillcrest Aircraft Company was the first to be physically located on the airport. They built the first building, the first hangar to house their operation. Today, it is home to Stout Flying Service. Some of Hillcrest’s founders spun off other businesses, including probably the premier aerial application aircraft (don’t call them ‘crop dusters’) repair and maintenance company in the United States, Gustin Aviation. Ivan Gustin founded the company; his son, Ron still runs the operation today. FedEx joined the airport business community in the 1990s, changing the very way businesses stocked their shelves by ushering in the era of overnight delivery. Odonata, after the turn of the century, brought helicopter flight and flight training within reach of the common citizen. Today, the terminal building is still symbolically the heart of the airport. Over a quarter million people will come and go through its doors this year, some returning from round-the -world trips, some picking up parcels shipped from southern Idaho, some just to have their hair done at Amelia’s. But they return having received worldclass service from local business. After all, don’t you suppose that’s what Bert and Bill had in mind? in the nation.” Potlatch (Continued from Page 2) Learjet N505PF Now if buying the second Learjet in history doesn’t convince you Potlatch was on the cutting edge of transportation in its day, their next acquisitions should. Potlatch’s second Learjet was a Model 25, tail number N256PF, the first of its series off the assembly line. And the last Potlatch Lear? A model 35 (N356P), the first corporate aircraft in history with Turbofan engines and you guessed it—it went to Potlatch. “Folks called us from all over the world to tap our experience with that technology,” said Arnie. “It was a good airplane,” added Doug Black, one of the last of the Potlatch pilots.” It would outclimb Seattle’s radar!” Then they both laughed. “We had a standing practice,” said Arnie. “Once tower cleared you for takeoff, you had to cross the mill at 17,000 feet or buy lunch.” What are they most proud of? “Before Lifeflight,” Doug reminisced, “before there was aeromedical evacuation in Lewiston, if company officials didn’t need the plane, they’d allow it to be used for emergencies.” Potlatch was a good citizen,” Doug said. “I remember bringing heart patients to Seattle. They needed specialized medicine, and they needed it fast.” Yes, Potlatch was a special company. A special company with some very special planes and some very special pilots. Doug Black Volume 4, Issue 1 What Ever Happened to…(Lewiston’s Airline DNA) Zimmerly Air Transport Zimmerly Airlines Empire Airlines West Coast Airlines Air West Hughes Air West Republic Airlines Northwest Airlines Alaska Airlines* Delta Airlines *Northwest had a code sharing agreement with Alaska prior to being acquired by Delta. Page 5 For 70 years... Large enough to take care of your needs, small enough to care! THE LEWISTON-NEZ PERCE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY 406 Burrell Avenue Suite 301 Lewiston, ID 83501 Feedback...It isn’t just something we put up with. The Airpor t Authority Board and Staff welcome input and suggestions—not just about this newsletter—but about ways we can improve our airpor t and the ser vice we provide you. Phone: (208) 746-7962 Fax: 208-798-0591 E-mail: [email protected] WE’RE ON THE WEB: GOLWS.COM William V. McCann, Jr. Chairman Mike Martin Vice Chairman Pat Nuxoll Treasurer Verl Long Secretary Chris Hayes Commissioner
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