The Columbia Gorge Regional Airport will hold a fly-in Saturday, June 13, to raise money for fire services and celebrate improvements that are aiding in economic development around the area.
Timothy McGlothlin, who represents The Dalles City Council on the airport board of directors, said the fly-in from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. will offer a variety of activities.
All proceeds will go to the airport and the Dallesport Fire Department, which provides services to the airport that is co-owned by the city and Klickitat County.
“The long-term goal is to have a fire station on the airport grounds but we are not there yet,” said McGlothlin. “Until that day we want to help keep the fire department, which is manned by volunteers, equipped to handle anything that comes up.”
People will be able to purchase a breakfast and lunch cooked by personnel with AA&L Emergency Fire Apparatus Repair.
Children are being offered a bounce house and demonstrations of fire apparatus.
Adults will be able to access a beer garden, visit vendors and participate in a live and silent auction.
The day’s activities include a golf ball drop from the air and the ticket holder in a numbered raffle that is closest to the target’s center will win a prize.
Leading Edge Aviation is lined up to provide helicopter rides. McGlothlin said classic car clubs are being invited to bring automobiles from different eras.
He said the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River may provide cars and vintage planes. World War II aircraft from a special collection in Madras are also expected to fly over the site.
McGlothlin said organizers hope to have a display of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle manufactured by Insitu, which is headquartered in Bingen.
“We are still lining things up but expect to get a lot of participation because this is a great location and the weather is so good,” he said.
He said efforts are also being made to add a military band to the festivities, as well as armed forces displays.
He said the fly-in ties in nicely with the Civic Auditorium’s fifth annual beer garden that will be going on in downtown The Dalles.
McGlothlin has served on the airport board for six years and is proud of the multi-million dollar investment to strengthen the main taxiway and then extend it to 5,097 feet. The runway has also been widened to 100-feet so it can accommodate jets of 60,000-70,000 pounds instead of the previous 12,000.
In addition, a high-tech lighting system was installed and more hangars built to provide private rental space.
There is also a second runway at the airport of 4, 647 feet and the third has been turned into a staging area for fire crews during emergencies.
The airport has two instrument approaches making it possible for planes to land safely during cloudy or foggy weather conditions.
In addition, a business park on 35 acres has been developed and these 17 lots are now shovel ready for construction. Roadways and utilities, including high speed internet, are provided to each lot.
Dallesport is the only landing strip in the region with instrument approaches, which is increasing its usage by companies and visitors to the area, said McGlothlin.
“We have made huge gains in the last several years,” he said. “This is turning into a major stop and one of the economic engines of the area.”
Next on the list is having the architectural firm, Aron Faegre & Associates, design the first building for the business park that will be used to house a plane and helicopter operated by the Life Flight Network.
“One day we are going to have a charter service for customers from Seattle, Yakima, Bend and Pendleton,” said McGlothlin.
The expansion of facilities on the 1,000-acre property is the result of determination by officials from Oregon and Washington to keep the airport from shutting down more than two decades ago. Also located at the airport is an ambulance garage for Skyline Hospital, Advanced Navigation Positioning Corporation and American Aerospace Engineering, LLC. Sherar’s Sprayers leases land, as does LifeFlight, which also rents a hanger to house a helicopter. The air ambulance service is getting ready to build larger quarters so a plane used for emergencies can also be stored inside.
About 50 acres is leased to the Bonneville Power Administration for equipment used in construction of a new high-voltage line.
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