Morehead - Rowan County Clyde A. Thomas Regional Airport Board

The Morehead - Rowan County Clyde A. Thomas Regional Airport (KSYM) continues to upgrade infrastructure, technology and safety at the airfield. Recently completed capital projects total nearly $3 million from federal, state and local sources. Additionally the airport has just received authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to design a new corporate apron north of the terminal building that will entice private business to construct hangars to store their corporate aircraft. An airport apron is an area of an airport where aircraft are parked, unloaded, loaded, refueled, boarded or maintained.

The airport’s 10-member volunteer board appointed by the city and county works closely with federal, state, and local governments to maintain and upgrade the airport to the highest standard. Garver, a multidiscipline engineering, planning and environmental services firm with a nationwide footprint, is now in its seventh year as the Board’s aviation engineering partner for all airport projects. Our communities “new” airport is now almost 15 years old and serves an ever increasing number of operations such as, medevac, business, military, training and recreational.

The airport board and the Morehead-Rowan County community have been fortunate to have strong federal, state and local (County and City) governments’ support. FAA and state funds through the Kentucky Department of Aviation (KDA) are our primary funding partners. The City and County provide annual funding to the airport to meet the matching fund requirement of the Federal Airport Improvement Grants – usually five (5) percent, as well as general operational support.

A recent fuel system renovation involved replacing or updating worn components such as a cellular credit card “pay at the pump” system for both Jet fuel and General Aviation fuel (100 low lead). The project included the interior cleaning of the tanks, repainting of the exterior and new placards.

A runway renovation project repaired a section that was damaged by drainage issues and concluded with a full width and length repaving and stripping. Paving an airport runway is not like paving a road, as the asphalt has to be a special mix that will hold up to the rigorous use from different types of aircraft. The striping was completed with a reflective paint that helps pilots during night landings. This project has been substantially completed.

An airfield lighting project corrected chronic issues with the initial installation. Garver and the FAA’s research showed that a complete makeover of the lighting system utilizing new LED technology would net the best long-term safety. This project was completed in 2021.

All capital projects meets FAA standards, are competitively bid and completed in a manner that is least disruptive to our airport patrons.

The airport board is looking to the future by installing the new north apron for corporate aircraft.When completed the estimated $1.6 million project will add another economic development asset to support the community’s aggressive economic expansion initiatives. As needs are identified, more capital projects will be undertaken as we intend to be the #1 general aviation airport in the region.

For more information about the airport visit its website www.mrcairport.org.

Members:

Bruce Mattingly- Chairman

Ron Oliver- Vice Chairman

David Perkins- Secretary-Treasurer

Tim James

Porter Dailey

Shannon Murphy

Charles Derrickson

Wes Holland

Tom Fossett

Aaron Roberts