In this edition:
Airside Updates        Administrative Updates 
airside
TRAFFIC OPERATIONS 


With the arrival of Spring, the month of April brought us back on trend with increased air traffic counts. April 2018 saw an increase of 31% over April 2017 and 60% increase over April 2016.

The increased activity reflected in these traffic counts helps us secure funding for future airport projects and improvements.
TAXIWAY DELTA REOPENED

The FAA has flagged Taxiway Delta as a "hot spot" due to its location (adjacent to two intersecting runways) and the fact that it does not conform to the current FAA airfield design standards. With the increase in traffic over the past 12 months, we've received several reports of concerns from local pilots.
 
To get an idea of how the closing of Taxiway Delta would impact operations, it was temporarily taken out of service.
 
Taxiway Delta was reopened on May 14.   We are compiling feedback that we have received while the taxiway was closed and will report back in our June newsletter with our findings.
BERRY AVIATION INC. BREAKS GROUND $2.7 MILLION EXPANSION AT SAN MARCOS 
REGIONAL AIRPORT

Community Impact
By: Marie Albiges
April 23, 2018

Officials gathered at the San Marcos Regional Airport on Friday morning to celebrate the ground breaking of a 31,000-square-foot aviation maintenance and supply chain headquarters expansion.

Last year, Berry Aviation Inc., which provides airlift and aviation services for commercial, private and government entities, signed a 40-year land lease with the city of San Marcos.

On Friday, the company broke ground on the new $2.7 million facility, which will include a 20,000-square-foot maintenance hangar, a machine shop, a nondestructive testing lab, a state-of-the-art parts retrieval system, and more than 10,000 square feet of office space.

According to a news release, the new facility will allow Berry Aviation to work on larger aircraft in a controlled environment and perform component overhaul for third-party air carriers.

The expansion, which is set to be complete in late fall 2018, is expected to bring an additional 20-30 high-skill jobs to the area.

The regional airport is operated by Texas Aviation Partners as part of a contract with the city.

Berry Aviation will celebrate 35 years in business this October and conducts flight operations in 24 countries. www.berryaviation.com
UPCOMING PROJECTS

As we dive into the last six months of the fiscal year, there are several exciting projects underway.
 
  • Airport Electric Loop: In an effort to reduce power outages and interruptions to the airport, PEC will install a loop along Highway 21 as a backup feed for the airport. This should mean fewer surges and interruptions for all our tenants. Work is underway which means there will be an increase of movement along Highway 21 and the fence line. The project should not interrupt aircraft operations.
  • Airfield Striping and Signage: This project was approved in the City's FY 2018 budget. It will include new illuminated sign panels for most runways/taxiways and striping lead-in lies onto Runway 13/31 and other movement areas around the airport. Airport Management is working with the City's purchasing department to scope the project and anticipates it has gone out for bids. 
  • Master Plan: The airport's Master Plan was last updated in 2001 and is being updated to account for changing demand. The Master Plan looks at long-term airport use, anticipated projects, and funding needs over the next 10 years. A Request for Proposals will go out through the City's procurement process by the end of the month. The entire project takes up to two years to complete.
  • TxDOT Hangar: Design for an FAA/TxDOT-funded hangar should be complete by the end of May and is estimated to go out for bid in early June. Construction, which will occur near the airport entrance adjacent to Taxiway Kilo, is anticipated to begin in August.
Once exact dates for the projects have been determined, we will send out special notices to inform tenants and users of ongoing construction schedules and any associated closures.
Admin
FLY-IN OR DRIVE-IN AT KHYI
 

Join the CAF on Saturday, June 2 for Stephanie Nichols' Fly-In or Drive-In Plane & Car Show! Proceeds benefit Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force .
LOCAL PILOT RESTORING AIRCRAFT 
FOR CHARITY FLIGHTS
 
Local pilot Greg Hughes is restoring a Cessna 150 in an effort to give back to the community and introduce and inspire kids in the world of aviation.  
 
Once restored, Greg will use the plane to offer free and low-cost flights to children as part of the EAA Young Eagles program, Flying Vikings, Make-A-Wish, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and other deserving organizations. 
 
For more information about the project or to donate click here
AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
 
Our next Airport Advisory Board Meeting will be held Monday, June 11 at 10:00 am.
 
The meetings are held at the Airport Management offices at 4400 Highway 21.
 
Come by to learn more about what's happening at your airport, meet the Board, and enjoy a free cup of coffee and donuts!
EAA CHAPTER 958 MEETING

Local EAA Chapter 958 meets every 3rd Saturday of the month at 10:00 am, at Redbird Skyport in the conference room.
 
Meetings are preceded by the VMC club at 9:00 am in the conference room.
 
Their next meeting will be May 19.  Click here for their latest newsletter.  

For more information visit their website .
HYI INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CLUB MEETING

The KHYI Instrument Meteorological Club (IMC) meets the third Thursday of each month at Redbird Skyport at 6:30 P.M.
 
Their next meeting will be held on May 17. Complimentary pizza and soft drinks will be provided. 
 
To learn more, or be added to the newsletter list, email Gary White.
CIVIL AIR PATROL TEXAS WING 435th 

The Civil Air Patrol Texas Wing 435th meets the every Tuesday at 6:00pm and is open to members of the public who express interest in joining the Civil Air Patrol.

The unit headquarters is a white building with "435" painted on the door, just in front of the old airport control tower.

Address:  1915 Airport Drive,    San Marcos, TX 78666  
Contact Information:  cc@texhillcap.org(512) 710-8435
FREE POLOS

We had a great response from airport users regarding our free San Marcos Airport polos. If you haven't had a chance to pick yours up, don't fret! We recently received a new order so we're stocked up.

Pictured is the men's polo which we have in large, x-large, and xx-large. We also have a women's version in small, medium, large, and x-large.

Swing by 4400 Highway 21 Monday-Friday between 8:00am and 5:00pm.