Business View Magazine | August 2020

166 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE AUGUST 2020 renting former Air Force buildings and properties. The resulting limited cash reserves are then utilized as local matching funds when competing for grant funding from the FAA, the Michigan Department of Aeronautics, and other sources. In short, the ongoing challenge for Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Authority involves having to compete and rely upon discretionary awards of grant funding in order to maintain its extensive inventory of pavements, buildings, and infrastructure. As for future development, Kellan says that representatives of the Airport Authority are often asked if commercial airline service might eventually be offered from Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport. He replies, “Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport is not likely to attract commercial airline service providers during the near future. The reason being our relatively low local population and near proximity to other area airports that are already providing commercial airline service”. Instead, Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Authority’s current plan involves continuing to attract and support further development of aircraft MRO service providers. He adds, “At Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport, those MRO service providers are not competing with scheduled commercial airlines for use of the airfield facilities. In other words, the MRO service providers have greater flexibility to utilize run-up areas, taxiways, and the runway without interfering with schedule commercial air traffic. So, for the foreseeable future, anyway, Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport Authority is attempting to become a full service, one-stop location as a maintenance depot for heavy aircraft.” When asked about comparable base reuse success, Kellan states that, “Admittedly there are former military facilities redeveloping faster and to a greater extent than Oscoda-Wurtsmith. But those faster redeveloping facilities are typically located near cities, or extensively developed urban areas and high capacity transportation routes. In terms of comparing Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport with former military bases located within relatively rural/low population areas, Oscoda- Wurtsmith Airport has been relatively successful in repurposing and growing business operations.” PREFERRED VENDOR n Instacoat Premium Products www.instacoat.com Instacoat Premium Products was founded with the aim of perfecting liquid rubber technology, allowing new construction installation, but more importantly, “Repair and Restore without Replacement”. Following research, development and testing, a superior fluid applied rubber evolved. This formulation was further developed to form today’s multifaceted product line of seamless, monolithic membrane systems gaining valued customer acceptance ranging from private building owners to global corporate clients. Instacoat has a fully equipped training center for certification of applicators and designs and manufactures their own specialized spray equipment. Interested? Contact us at 877.552.6724 or www.instacoat.com/contact-us