Everything Aviation on a ‘Smaller Scale’

 This aviation gem is proving to be the ‘little airport that could’

Boasting a runway that is just under 10,000 feet in length, Bert Mooney Airport which projects a dynamic and friendly passenger experience, can accommodate every type of aircraft from a C5 Galaxy down to the smallest private aircraft. Offering the perfect place to land for a multitude of aviation needs, this airport has the amenities in place to provide for a warm welcome and a seamless arrival for those passing through its terminal doors.

“We are a small commercial airport with commercial service from United Airlines and Delta Airlines through an EAS agreement with Sky West Airlines to provide that service,” begins Rick Ryan, Deputy Director with Bert Mooney Airport.

Situated in an area that is synonymous around the world with the splendor of the Rockies and a landscape that is tailor-made for exploring, Bert Mooney Airport has the logistical advantage of being in the center of it all. In a region that is both a tourist haven and a logistical hub for business travelers, the airport provides the perfect gateway to a thriving destination.

Bert Mooney Airport provides two daily flights from its two domestic carriers, United Airlines and Delta Airlines. As such, the airport is a Part 139 airport with a considerable amount of leasable land available for hangar development.

“We also have a daily service from Alpine Air that does FedEx and UPS flights,” Ryan adds. “This along with considerable corporate jet traffic coming up with business travelers. Vacation travelers also come down because we have a couple of high-end resorts around Butte that they fly into.”

Training the next generation

Added to the mix, the airport boasts a flight school through its successful Fixed Base Operator (FBO), Butte Aviation.

“The FBO has two small Cessnas that are up with students daily, and they have an avionics facility here at the airport,” Ryan relays.

“I know a couple of kids that got their private pilot’s license who are now in training for commercial airlines,” he highlights when describing the advantages of providing pilot training on the airport grounds.

Aware, along with his colleagues, of the ongoing workforce shortage that is proving to be a challenge for the aviation industry, Ryan points to other initiatives the airport has undertaken to help encourage a new batch of aviation enthusiasts.

“We try to do as much as we can on the airport side,” Ryan states, “like attending the Montana Aviation Conference recently. Butte Aviation was in attendance and Bert Mooney Airport is supporting the FBO’s efforts.”

“We are in the design phase of building a hangar that we will lease to them for more space for their avionics maintenance facility. They are growing and hiring a bunch of mechanics. Their business is expanding and we are going to expand here at the airport to help them out with a facility,” Ryan highlights.

Ryan also points to the airport’s willingness to expose the youngest members of the community to the world of aviation.

“Every so often we will have preschool and daycares come out and we take them on a tour of the airport.”

“We will show them snow removal equipment, our ARF capabilities, all those types of things,” Ryan enthuses.

Ryan also mentions that the area’s high school is aware of the significance of the airport’s operation through Butte Aviation which has continued relationships with some local trades, including aviation mechanics. “It is a good working relationship.”

 Tourism and the airport’s economic engine

“We are centrally located right between the two big national parks in Montana; Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park. So we have a lot of people that come through our area, either by vehicle or by aircraft and this has led to an increase in the number of boardings and deployments,” Ryan describes.

When asked about tourism and the airport’s role, Ryan confidently states that tourism remains the single most lucrative business sector and the airport provides the perfect gateway for the area.

“The tourist attractions throughout our area are just so diverse,” Ryan notes. “We have Blue Ribbon trout fishing 15 minutes from Butte, and we also have the Continental Divide Trial, mountain biking, horseback riding, and a host of Airbnbs all over southwest Montana.”

Tourists also flock to two well-known resorts in the area, Rock Creek Cattle Company and the Ranch at Rock Creek. “People, especially on the private charter side, are flying in to spend time at those resorts.”

“Tourism has a huge impact on southwest Montana and the airport tries to do as much as we can to help promote that.”

Beyond the tourist draw, the economic strength of the airport itself is reflected in its numbers.

“This airport brings into the local economy close to $40 million per year, which ranges from business travelers to tourists, you name it,” Ryan summarizes.

“We are a huge economic driver for the local economy.” “We support Montana Tech through the University of Montana system which is a top-notch engineering school and we support all of their efforts and travel whether it be sports teams or mining competitions that they put on.

Ryan adds that the Montana Connections Business Park is also a significant industrial area currently being developed west of the town and supports various businesses, adding to the local economy.

“We have all sorts of industrial growth and we [the airport] support and help as best we can.”

Ryan goes on to indicate that the area is expecting even more growth.

“The community is also trying to attract another airline through a minimum revenue guarantee. We are working on that and will try to get a third airline to start service in Butte which we are excited about and keeping our fingers crossed.”

 Landing infrastructure upgrades

Aside from welcoming increasing numbers of passengers through the terminal doors, the airport is busy at work on several key infrastructure upgrades as part of its overall master overlay plan.

“My last project that just was completed in January was a new passenger boarding bridge which was phase two of that project,” Ryan states. “We redid our commercial ramp space in phase one.”

Ryan relays that the airport has recently invested its time and resources in hangar development on the south side of the airport, and is also working on some new snow removal equipment, along with putting in new security gates and security systems required by the TSA.

“Then we have a runway rehab project that will be scheduled for next year which will rehab all of our runways and taxiways which is our next big capital outlay project for the next two years,” Ryan projects.

 Looking down the runway

When asked what the future holds for Bert Mooney Airport, Ryan reflects before answering.

“I think our number one priority is trying to attract additional airlines.”

He also adds that addressing infrastructure projects tops the list moving forward.

“Pavement maintenance is a huge thing for airports. That is one of our high priorities to get our main runway maintenance completed and our taxiways.”

When looking down the runway, he directs attention towards the most rewarding aspect of the job that he clearly loves.

“It is helping out the community; providing a portal to get people into Butte whether they are developing a business, visiting southwest Montana, or coming to see family.”

“I enjoy that part of it,” he concludes.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Bert Mooney Airport
What: A commercial and GA airport that is growing in aviation numbers and providing the perfect commercial and tourist gateway to a beautiful region
Where: Just outside of Butte in Southwest Montana, USA
Website: www.butteairport.com