Despite the lack of commercial service, the Baxter County Airport at Midway remains a center of activity for the area’s aviation enthusiasts and the business community, highlighted with the construction of a corporate hangar underway adjacent to the terminal and the development of a new master plan.
The Baxter County Airport Commission gave its approval for the hangar construction in May 2017. The approved proposal came on behalf of a subsidiary of Auto Services Company (ASC), Incorporated of Mountain Home for construction of an approximately 12,000-square-foot facility.
Airport Manager Kathy Frederick says Auto Services has applied for grant funding to assist with construction costs estimated at $600,000.
Frederick says a $250,000 grant has been secured for the project, with Auto Services covering all remaining costs.
Under the commission approved proposal, ASC entered into a 15-year lease with Baxter County, renewable for an additional 15 years. After the expiration of the lease, the structure will revert to Baxter County.
Meanwhile, the commission is continuing work on the airport’s first master plan update since 2005.
Baxter County Judge Mickey Pendergrass says the goal of the master plan is to increase traffic at the local airport, while remedying a couple of issues.
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Judge Pendergrass says county officials have received a draft of the master plan from Coffman Associates, Inc. of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, in association with Grimes Consulting Engineers of Little Rock. The master plan is grant funded and intended to evaluate the airport’s role, to forecast future aviation demand and to plan for facilities to meet those needs.
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Pendergrass says many of the area who do not utilize the airport may not appreciate its economic impact.
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Pendergrass says the airport master plan is expected to be finalized in mid-2020.
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