Bartow Airport

well-regardedflight school.WhileBOWdoesget some fundingfromthe federal andstategovernments for capi- tal projects,itoperates self-sufficientlywithrevenues from aviationand industrial parktenants that leasehangars andbuildings,andfuel sales. BOWseesapproximately40-50,000operationsayear, rangingfromsmall,singleengineaircraft to largecorpo- rate jets.“Wehave threeactive runwaysonthisairfield, which is rare for ageneral aviationairport.Ourprimary runwayis5,000feet longand150feetwide,”saysHelms. “Wehaveanoperatingcontrol toweronthe fieldthat’s completelyprivatized.Wehave fullylicensedandcertified air trafficcontrollers,but theyareour employees–they workfor theAirportAuthority.Andwe’reprobablyoper- atingoneof theoldest,still activecontrol towers inthe country,datingbacktothewar era.” “Wehave27employeesaspartof theAirportAuthority, andtothisday,wecontinue that longtraditionasaprima- rypilot training facility,”Helmsadds.“We’reaprettyunique operation.We’reoneof thosemedium-level,general aviationairportswithanequallylarge industrial park,so it’saverydynamicoperation.It’sdifferent thanthemajority ofgeneral aviationairportsandevensomecommercial servicesairports.” AirsidebusinessesatBOWinclude threemaintenance facilities,anaircraftpainting facility,twomedivacheli- copter companies,thePolkCountySheriff’sAviationUnit, mosquitocontrol,andtheBartowFlyingService (operated bytheAirportAuthority)whichprovides lineservice,fuel, andflight training.“Inthe industrial park,wehaveover 60buildings thatweownandoperateand leaseout to multiplebusinesses,”Helms reports.“The industriesvary fromsteelmanufacturingtocar customization;wehavea plasticrecyclingcenter andcountygovernment facilities. Andwe’rea truemulti-modal hub inthearea.Wehavea truckingfacilityandwehavemultiple rail spurs.” THE BARTOWMUNICIPAL AIRPORT TerryBeacham,BOW’sDeputyExecutiveDirector,says thatBOWhasplans toexpandtheaforementioned intermodal capabilitiesof the industrial parkbyadding acommunityrail dockandtruckloadingfacility,aswell asadditional rail lines.“Itwould improve the intermodal functionof the industrial park,tyinghighway,rail,and aviationall together,”hestates. Other itemsonBOW’sagenda includea terminal apronexpansion.“We’re tryingtogetmorecorporate jet activityat theairport,andduringourbusyseason,our rampcompletelyfillsup,”Beachamexplains.“Longer term, maybe five tosevenyearsout,we’re lookingat a runway extension,whichwouldallowus toget a littlebit larger aircraft in.We’realso lookingat some improvementonthe airside for convenience–buildingconnectingtaxiways –tomake theairfieldmoreefficient.Inaddition,we’re alwaysdoingrehabilitationprojectsbecausewehaveso muchpavement and it’samajor challenge tokeepup withthat.We’reconstantlytryingtogetmore fundingto rehabpavement andrefurbishour industrial parkbuild- ings,whichalsodatebacktotheWorldWar II era.”