EKAD's 'Git 'er done' reputation earns $1.7 million grant

MOJAVE - The East Kern Airport District's reputation as an agency that can get things done qualified it for a $1.7 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration this week.

District Financial Manager Tom Weil told EKAD board members Tuesday that the FAA had money available for the fourth quarter and called the district to see if they could use it, "because we have a 'git 'er done' reputation."

FAA doesn't want to deal with airports where the project would get mired in bureaucracy, Weil said.

The money is for building two Aircraft Engine Run-Up Pads on Runway 30, which was recently extended to 12,500 feet - with another FAA grant.

The pads will allow aircraft engines from F-4 fighters to Boeing 747-400 airliners to run-up engines during tests. The project includes blast shields for the pads.

"Completion of the project will increase the Mojave Airport/Spaceport's ability to earn additional revenue," the agency told FAA. Primary users of the pads will include the National test Pilot School, BAE Flight Systems, and CalSpan's Bicycle Works, all of which operate jet aircraft.

Weil said the project is in the budget for next fiscal year, and the FAA decision will move it ot this year. He said the district has received three other FAA grants this fiscal year.

Another 2009 project, upgrading the entire airport apron from the main control tower south to the T-hangars, is all ready to go, Weil said.

Board President Jim Balentine congratulated Weil and district staff for always having "hip-pocket" grant projects ready to go.

Promotional video
Out-takes from a new, seven-minute promotional video developed for the district by the Long Range Institute can be used by airport tenants to promote their businesses as long as the use also promotes the airport, board members decided.

Robin Snelson of LRI said some 17 hours of tape was shot preparing the video. Material not used for the promotional video could be used on a case-by-case basis to promote airport tenants, district counsel Scott Nave told the board.

Snelson said her company has worked with tenants including XCOR Aerospace and Protoflight on other films, and that they might want to use some of the footage shot for the district video on their projects. She said her firm can develop B-roll and other projects to help promote the airport.

Board members agreed to have Nave work with Snelson and the district on agreements to let the material be used.

Balentine and other board members congratulated Snelson for the video.

"You did an excellent job," he said.

Magazine ad
Board members also approved spending $11,615 for a half-page advertisement in Aviation Week and Space Technology, the world's leading aerospace weekly.

They asked that the ad be timed to appear in the issue that is distributed at the Society of Experimental Test Pilot's annual dinner.

Board member Cathy Hansen noted that the airport has received "tons" of publicity in AW&ST and other aerospace magazines over the years. A clipping service reported more than 150 mentions of last week's WhiteKnightTwo rollout in publications around the world, including AW&ST and The Economist.

Airport Operations Manager Bob Rice said the next airport-wide safety meeting will be held in Shibley Hall at 9 a.m. on August 20th, and the tourism kiosk and highway signs for Legacy Park will be dedicated at 9:30 a.m. on August 22.