Traffic at the McComb-Pike County Airport is falling.
Rick Simpson, owner of fixed-base operator Air Services of Mississippi, said the airport had only 94 landings in February.
Use of the airport “is falling dramatically,” Simpson said. “Higher gas prices are really hitting us.”
Simpson also gave airport board members gathered Monday a list of prospective projects to pursue as funding opportunities become available, including:
• Repair of windsock lights.
• Repairs to the tractor shed where maintenance equipment is stored.
• Construction of a wash rack.
• Installation of a mirror at the runway gate.
• Paving the parking lot.
• Security for the Federal Aviation Administration building.
• LED lighting for fuel tank gauges.
• Expansion of the conference room in the FBO building.
• Reroofing the shade hanger.
• Installing security cameras.
Board president Bob Hensarling said the airport would need fiber optic cable for high-speed internet service for a decent security camera system to work.
The city had given its approval for the installation at the time of the airport board meeting. County supervisors approved the installation by C Spire the next day,
In other business, the board:
• Learned the electronic gate next to the terminal and fixed-base operator’s building allowing access to the runway has been repaired, and another gate which was damaged will remain locked and inaccessible for the time being.
• Noted receipt of a copy of the disadvantaged business enterprise listing of possible contractors on federally funded construction projects.
• Agreed to rent out an unused hangar for three to four months for $200 per month.
