When the general public thinks of small airports such as those in Carson City and Carson Valley, too often their thoughts run to the noise made by the planes, not the dollars they pump into the local communities.
The Carson City Airport and Minden-Tahoe Airport are seen as economic drivers for the area. Not only do they pull in revenues directly from aircraft operations, but both airports also serve as hubs for industrial growth.
Carson City Airport finds new runway for growth
An economic impact study of the Carson City Airport conducted by the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Nevada, Reno, between October 2003 and March 2005 estimated that the airport creates more than $30 million in economic activity a year.
"City planners back in the late 1970s decided that the best way to develop this industrial area is to develop it around an airport, so you would have this transportation mode available," said Steve Tackes, general council for the Carson City Airport. "And it worked. There was a lot of manufacturing businesses going into that area. It's dipped a bit because of the recession, but for the most part there are still a lot of healthy economics going on out there."
Tackes pointed out that there are seven fixed-based operators at the airport, businesses that repair and maintain aircraft, offer flight lesson and other services. And even though there is no scheduled passenger service, the Carson City Airport is a busy place, especially during sessions of the Nevada State Legislature.
"There is still a lot of business traffic at the airport, even without commercial service," Tackes said. "People with business needs at the airport use it frequently. Many of these business owners have their own planes, and you see airplanes coming in to visit these factories."
Because the airport has two competitive fuel providers, manager Casey Pullman said, Carson City has the lowest fuel prices in the West. That means there are pilots who stop in just to fill up, leaving many dollars behind that feed the local economy.
According to economic development consultant Mike Licciardello, every dollar invested in a general aviation airport creates $2.50 in economic benefit for the community.
Another major economic impact will be the new runway relocation project that kicked off on July 20, Pullman said. The project will realign the runway to move it away from nearby homes and roads, and add more length for larger planes. Most of the $9.6 million budgeted for the project comes from Federal Aviation Administration funds collected through taxes on airline tickets.
"With this new infrastructure, we already have a lot of interest from businesses that want to relocate and base their aircraft here in Carson City," Pullman said.
Because aircraft are taxed as personal property, having planes that can cost $10 million or more based locally can benefit local governments.
"We have four or five business jets that are thinking of relocating here," Pullman said. "Just those four or five aircraft could mean an extra $100,000 a year in tax revenue."
Carson City Airport is also in the process of developing a 30-acre parcel within its boundaries, for hangars and other related uses. Pullman said the development is being put out for bids in August.
"It's a growing operation," Pullman said. "This airport in a few years will be ready for commercial service if we want to go down that path. I really feel it's going to be the crown jewel of Nevada airports."
The soaring success of Minden-Tahoe Airport
The imposing Sierra Nevada rise out of the floor of Carson Valley, its peaks creating one of the best spots in the world for glider enthusiasts.
And those winds bring a lot of dollars to the area.
"Mention Minden-Tahoe Airport, and glider pilots all know about us," said Keith Kallman, manager of Minden-Tahoe Airport. "The glider operations bring money into the community, because people come from overseas to glide here, and they stay in town and spend money."
Minden-Tahoe was built during World War II and used as a place to train military pilots. It later became a base for firefighting aircraft. Those aircraft are no longer based at Minden-Tahoe, although the Sierra Front Dispatch Agency still operates there, directing air tankers based at other airports to where they are needed.
Kallman describes Minden-Tahoe as a relatively busy general aviation airport. Besides being a base for glider operations, it also serves as a destination for people flying in to vacation at Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area, as well as a home for approximately 250 locally based aircraft.
A study done in 2006 by the Bureau of Economic Research at the University of Nevada, Reno pegged the economic impact on the community at $46 million a year. This includes the operations at the airport, as well as the adjacent industrial center.
Minden-Tahoe has no plans to expand or relocate any runways. And as with any airport, Kallman said there are conflicts with the community, and there is a balance that must be maintained between economics and quality of life.
"The community has always been worried about the airport," Kallman said. "No one here seems to want to see any growth, whether it's houses or businesses or the airport. People don't want the airport to become something they are uncomfortable with."
The Attraction of Airports for Businesses
When it comes to luring businesses to Northern Nevada, airports play an important role.
"The airports are an essential member of our economic development menu," said Rob Hooper of Northern Nevada Development Authority. "It is a question we are asked almost in every inquiry. Our airports show well and have great management."
Hooper said he currently has several aerospace firms interested in relocating to Carson City due to the fact they need direct access to the airport for their operations. These kinds of businesses like to cluster together, Hooper said, which attracts other businesses to the airports.
There are also many companies that need to have nearby facilities for business jets, which both Carson City and Minden-Tahoe provide.
There's a personal side to general aviation airports that help draw business owners to the area, according to Kris Holt of Nevada Business Connections.
"For 50 percent of people I'm recruiting, quality of life is a main factor, and having a good airport for people who own planes is a plus," Holt said.
Both Carson City and Minden-Tahoe airports are popular for people who need hangar space to store their planes. And the sheer size of Nevada and surrounding states makes travel by private plane even more of a business necessity, Holt said.