Airport Advisory Board

DEKALB TAYLOR MUNICIPAL AIRPORT AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES February 27, 2018 Chairman Bob Owens called the meeting to order at 7:00pm Roll Call: Robert Owens, Paul Borek, Matt Duffy and Gary Hanson. Absent – Ryan James, Bernie Pupino and Jim Rhoades. Guests: DeWayne Brown and Bessie Chronopoulos APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Motion by Gary Hanson. Seconded by Matt Duffy. Motion passed. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Guest DeWayne Brown asked about the twin engine aircraft accident, nose wheel collapse, that happened in the beginning of the month whether it was considered an incident or an accident. Airport Manager Tom Cleveland and Fly America Owner Jeff Kohlert explained that the FAA usually base it on the amount of damage, the cost to repair the damage and if anyone was hurt or not. As far as we know, the FAA has not yet determined whether this was an incident or an accident. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Motion by Paul Borek. Seconded by Gary Hanson. Motion Passed. OLD BUSINESS – None New Business – Airport Board Chairman Bob Owens introduced Jeff Kohlert. Mr. Kohlert is the owner of the Fly America Flight School and Aircraft Maintenance operation at DeKalb Airport. Mr. Kohlert told the Board about his business at the airport. They have about 20 student pilots learning to fly. It costs approximately $8000 to $10,000 to attain a private pilot’s license. To be able to be hired by the airlines, you need to have a private, instrument, commercial and multi-engine pilots license and accumulated at least 1500 hours of flight time. This would cost an individual over $150,000. Most young pilots become flight instructors to build flight time. The aircraft maintenance business is going well. Many of the airport’s current tenants bring their aircraft to Fly America for work. Many off airport aircraft come specifically to Fly America for the aircraft maintenance. Mr. Kohlert stated that there is a pilot shortage and he is doing everything he can to attract new aviation students to DeKalb Airport. Mr. Kohlert told the Board that they have a very good relationship with airport staff and work together to improve the airport any way that he can. The Airport Advisory Board thanked Mr. Kohlert for his presentation. Airport Advisory Board Chairman Bob Owens introduced Mr. Bruce Griffith, Director of the Kishwaukee Education Consortium – High School Aviation Program. Mr. Griffith told the Board that the high school aviation program has been very successful. Currently the program has 26 juniors and seniors from all the area high schools including Rochelle. Many of his students have gone on to major universities and have become military pilots, commercial pilots, drone pilots, cargo pilots and aeronautical engineers. Mr. Griffith discussed the aviation training that goes on in the classroom and simulator room at the airport. He also discussed the continued support from local business owners through donations to the program. There is about $500,000 worth of flight simulators in the airport classroom. This includes a state of the art glass cockpit simulator that mirrors what airline and corporate pilots have in the jets. About 98% of the money that is used for the program is from generous donations from local businesses and through aviation education related grants from aviation organizations in the Chicagoland region. The Chicago Area Business Aviation Association has given the Kishwaukee aviation program over $10,000 to improve the program. Mr. Griffith told the Board that many other communities in the State of Illinois have approached him to inquire how they would be able to start a program like his in their community. Mr. Bruce Griffith and the Kishwaukee Education Consortium were inducted in the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame in 2008 for the exceptional work that they have done promoting aviation to the youth in the community and the training of high school students to become pilots. Airport Managers Report Airport Manager Tom Cleveland reported on the success of the jet fuel incentive program in January. Approximately 12,800 gallons of jet fuel was sold. He also mentioned the National Business Aviation Association Conference he attended to promote DeKalb Airport and the jet fuel incentive program. Approximately 2600 aviation professionals attended this conference. Jet charter companies and corporate flight departments from around the country were given DeKalb Airport promotional material and talked to about the jet fuel incentive program. One of the companies from Virginia that was spoken to at the conference came in to purchase fuel for their corporate jet last week. DuPont Corporation flew in to purchase jet fuel last week Jack Penning, Volaire Aviation Consultants, will be back in March to finish up the airport strategic plan with the Airport Advisory Board. Airport Staff and the Airport Advisory Board plan to take the Airport Strategic Plan to the City Council in April. The Airport Advisory Board was invited to the Kishwaukee Education Consortium – High School Aviation Program classroom for a tour by Mr. Griffith. Many of the flight simulators were operating. Mr. Griffith explained how they all work and how the students can fly anywhere in the world and fly in any weather condition. The Airport Advisory Board thanked Mr. Griffith for his presentation and tour of the high school aviation facility. Meeting adjourned at 8:55pm. Minutes submitted by – Tom Cleveland – Airport Manager Minutes - APPROVED March 27, 2018