Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 9

209 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 9 growing.” Another company the airport works closely with is DBT Transportation Services; the group that provides all the navigational aids, instrument landing system (ILS), and the AWOS weather tracking system. All this state-of-the-art equipment at Thomasville Regional allows for a variety of navigation under all circumstances. Petty reports, “In terms of infrastructure, another interesting project we are undertaking is to do some corrections to our line of sight within the primary runway by using milling and paving. Essentially, we have to make a slight correction to comply with FAA and Georgia Department of Transportation regulations. We have been working with Passero Associates as our consulting company and they have determined that if we can raise the end of the runway using the pavement, and then mill out several inches of a “hump” in the middle of the runway, we will bring it into compliance. We are quite happy about this because what looked like a multimillion-dollar project has become quite a bit more manageable.” An airport is an essential economic driver for a community but can also be a center point for community pride. Each year on the second week of October, Thomasville Regional holds a three- day event, sponsored by the local flying club, which brings throngs of people from around the region out to the airfield. There are airplane rides and opportunities to get up close to planes and explore. It is a great opportunity for young people to learn about aviation as a career, but also for the airport to show what it has to offer. “We have tours of all of our facilities,” says Petty, “and of a local museum called Power to the Past, which is an aircraft engine museum. They have a couple of antique biplanes there as well. It is a great place to discover.” Looking ahead to a positive future for Thomasville Regional Airport, Petty notes, “We THOMASV I LLE REGIONAL A I RPORT are definitely growing, and the creation of more hangar space has been identified as the number one priority for the airport. I would also like to see the Southwest Development take root with new hangars and taxiways. Developing the PDA land along with that over the next three to five years is going to allow us new growth opportunities and ensure that we can offer Thomasville the best service possible. I only see good things ahead.”