Business View Magazine May 2023

240 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 5 build another hanger, but after that is finished, everything is tied up and we have no more space to build until we open a new section. Right now, I am receiving four or five calls a month from people wanting to build hangars,” he adds. Looking ahead, Chatfield explains that there is a major rehabilitation of the main runway planned for 2025. This is only in the consultation phase with the FAA now and it is too soon to tell whether this will be a remove-and-replace complete mill and overlay, done in sections, or even just a white top. This will be runway 34/16 which is currently a concrete runway. “That runway is actually 40 years old, and it has grown in and takes a lot of work to maintain. We need to cut down a side of growth and work on new drainage – and along with that we will be looking at an all-new LED lighting system as well as some other safety measures.” “We work really closely with the city,” says Chatfield, “as well as with the county, who owns the airport. We also work with the Chamber of Commerce and the tourist bureau in order to look at being really intentional about not only commercial development but making sure we have safe and reliable air service for whatever is happening.” Chatfield describes the way forward. “ We just had a meeting recently about how the Pathfinder Camporee is going to take place in Gillette next year. It is a church organization, and this camporee is going to bring 50,000 people into Gillette. Which is a city of roughly 38,000 people. So, it is a significant undertaking. So, this is going to be a coordinated effort with our airport, our new FBO, and the city to be able to provide air service for that number of people.” “My top focus really is to bring in more business and more hangars,” Chatfield concludes, “Whatever we can do as an airport, a board, as the city or the county to bring business here, we will do it. We would love to add larger T-hangars, a business park, or whatever it is that will draw people to the region, we are all for it. More people need to find out how wonderful it is here.” PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Gillette Main Street and the Campbell County Convention & Visitors Bureau www.gillettemainstreet.us If you are looking for a monumental vacation in one of the most wild and picturesque regions of the world, look to Campbell County. Downtown Gillette has the feel of the Old West, with a quaint downtown charm. At the Campbell County Convention and Visitors Bureau, you’ll be directed to a multitude of some of the most unique and largest concentration of shops and boutiques to explore. Visit our website to find out more about how Gillette Main Street and the Visitors Bureau can help make your trip a memorable one.